For the first time in my whole life, I wanted to try writing in the perspective of a girl. But, as a guy, I don't know how do describe someone my character likes(a boy, of course) without making him sounds like a Gary Stu. I want to make him sounds perfect, since my character is a dreamer, but not to the point that make readers creep out because of the GaryStu-ness. Can anyone give me some advice?
Last edited by RainWanderer on Fri Feb 26, 2010 5:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Who am I? Just a wanderer, traveling from real life to dreams.
“Writing a book is a very lonely business. You are totally cut off from the rest of the world, submerged in your obsessions and memories.” - Mario Vargas Llosa
Perhaps try to stray away from all the clichés you're probably thinking. In a way, don't make the guy perfect, but make him perfect for the girl. So he's her type of perfect, and therefore not necessarily a Gary-Stu. Does that make sense?
"It is curious how often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want."
So! Aqua's on the right track. Give him flaws that the MC either overlooks, is compatible with, or is attracted to. That way readers can see the flaws and you have a fleshed out character, but he's the girl's dream guy.
A writer is a world trapped in a person— Victor Hugo
Ink is blood. Paper is bandages. The wounded press books to their heart to know they're not alone.
Those are the ones where you make a character "too good" at something, like too picky, too much of a perfectionist, too kind-hearted, etc.
To be honest, all "dreamer" characters are bad. Real characters are not dreamers. They have fundamental flaws, otherwise they're just another Edward Cullen. But hopefully you'll avoid that.
"A man's face is his autobiography. A woman's face is her work of fiction." ~ Oscar Wilde
With the response so far...I feel like shooting my character to death. A school president who is also handsome and intelligent...*cocking pistol* Maybe I will make him a player who preys on girls? But then that will be too heavy for the theme...A total new plot might be better... Writing in the perspective of a different gender is hard.
Who am I? Just a wanderer, traveling from real life to dreams.
“Writing a book is a very lonely business. You are totally cut off from the rest of the world, submerged in your obsessions and memories.” - Mario Vargas Llosa
Am I too late to advise? I would say, don't know enough about the story, but from what you say, I'll just give my two cents:
Basically, two-face it; it's when you've got a character with a good attribute (e.g. good looks) and then add a bad attribute to complement it (e.g. vain, will never do anything that might muss his good looks).
So, for your example, try:
-Handsome :: Like I say, he's not so much a risk taker, because he doesn't want to muss up that hairstyle, or he's very aware of his looks, and preys for compliments, or, like you say, is a shameless flirt (by the way, you don't have to make him a predator; just make it clear that he's not adverse to flirting with girls who like him, even if he has a girlfriend (like a character I had, who kept flirting with his ex-girlfriend, but wouldn't break up with his girlfriend for her))
-Charismatic (as he is school president) :: OK, maybe he is part of an in-group, who wouldn't be seen dead talking to a loser. Maybe he is popular with kids, but at the expense of badmouthing people in order to sound funny.
-Intelligent :: Make him a bit of a smart-aleck, or basically always showing off how intelligent he is.
So yeah. Complement each 'good' with a 'bad' and it makes a good character.
This guy is so evil you could put him in between two slices of bread and call him an evil sandwich.
Whatever you do, don't mention that his eyes are dreamy or he's "just too perfect". Have your MC get angry at him occasionally-- fights are realistic in relationships, and not the fights in a lot of romance novels, like:
"Oh, you're too good for me! We can never be!"
"Don't be ridiculous! You're amazing too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
Etc, etc.
Best of luck!
"Let's eat, Grandma!" as opposed to "Let's eat Grandma!": punctuation saves lives.
As I understand, this male character has flaws, but the girl doesn't see them because she's too in love. So much so, that it would be out of character for her to see his flaws. A possible solution is to add another viewpoint character. That way you can show an unbiased view of the boy, including flaws, yet still retain the authentic, in-love perfection the Main character sees in him.
Trust someone before you love them. I'm serious. If your girl is shy or has been abused, she will not throw herself at him. She'll want to know more about him first. So. Is he in the papers? Does she observe him?
I have to go soon, so. Another thing is chaste love. Which means not kissing the boy at all. Not sending him gifts. Which is only me talking; heaven forbid anyone should behave this way really
But yeah, if you are talking about teenagers here then don't forget that acne is a common thing. It can help in avoiding the "perfect" cliche.
"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” -John 11:25-26
Maybe I will make him a player who preys on girls? But then that will be too heavy for the theme...A total new plot might be better...
