What are the side effects of mind reading, thought control, heightened senses, and becoming a witch or werewolf? I'm writing a story and need to know what happens to the characters when they get their powers (if they get headaches, muscle spasms, etc.) 

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Lucy Burroughs Profile
Lucy Burroughs answered

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Fortunately, when you're writing speculative fiction such as fantasy or sci-fi, you don't really have to worry about what's right or wrong. As the powers you've described don't exist in our world, there's no single answer to your question. It's up to you what your characters experience when they use their powers. If you're stuck for ideas, try looking at existing characters with powers for inspiration, as you'll often find that they have limitations in common.

Telepathy: Mind Reading, Mind Control and Communication in fiction - Often associated with headaches, particularly on lower levels. People with weaker powers can usually only focus on one power at a time, whereas those who have mastered the skill can communicate telepathically on a mass scale. A good example is Professor X of X-Men fame.

Heightened Senses in fiction -  Too much stimulation can result in sensory overload, and magic can cause interference. DC Comics' Superman has extremely enhanced hearing and vision.

Becoming a Werewolf - Writers often portray transformations as being associated with loss of self-control and loss of memory, and as rarely voluntary. See Remus Lupin from the Harry Potter series, Van Helsing from Van Helsing and Jacob Black from Twilight.

Being a Witch - In most stories about witches, there aren't many side-effects referred to as being associated with sorcery, although spell-casting is often described as exhausting for the caster.

Luke Nelson Profile
Luke Nelson answered
Well, depending on the power(s) it would effect each individual differently. If your only thinking of using the above powers then, Mind reading sort of suggests that there brain power or there telepathy is better and if the person isn't born with this in the story this could cause a headache; Same goes for Twisting Thoughts, however I would suggest combining these into one power for one person unless the characters are closely connected within the story, like brothers or sisters. Becoming a Witch is slightly harder as when I think of a witch it could be different too your views, in different past story's withces powers change in a vast way so depending on the amount of powers they gain and what they are and how powerful depends on how greatly they are affect over all. Becoming a witch would change a personality more than any normal "Superhero" power, same goes for a Werewolf(s) I would suggest the person being drained of energy as they are changing there form but with other powers this isn't need as a simple change wouldn't effect them as heavily. So just work with combining what the power is and how it is most likely to effect them.

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