Quick question on how to avoid Gary Stu

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?

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?

*Moved to Writing Tips*

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.

Give him real flaws that have real consequences in the story, not meaningless non-flaws like being bad at drawing.

And interview flaws. Interview flaws are bad.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Hey, I'm doing the same thing gender-wise.

Here is something a lot of people overlook.

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

Heh. Stori's post.

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.