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Character Trait Entry: Eccentric

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Definition: deviating from conventional or accepted usage or conduct, especially in odd or whimsical ways

Characters in Literature: Willy Wonka, Merlin, Miss Havisham (Great Expectations) 

Common Portrayals: millionnaires, geniuses, the elderly, celebrities, the mentally-challenged 

Clichés to Avoid: the gajillionnaire who does whatever he wants because his money and his lawyers will get him out of any fix, old ladies with too many cats, hermits living on the outskirts of town, the eccentric mentor archetype

Twists on the Traditional Eccentric: 

▪ Eccentrics are almost always old. Why not create an eccentric child or teen with mental faculties fully intact?

▪ What about an Eccentric who is admired by society? Instead of people dismissing his oddities, they emulate them and make them part of the culture.

▪ Eccentrics in literature are often secondary characters. Why not make your main character the odd duck?

Build a worthy protagonist with a mix of unique strengths that will help him overcome obstacles and achieve meaningful goals.

This sample, along with the rest of the character trait entries, has been expanded into book form. Together, the bestselling NEGATIVE TRAIT THESAURUS: A WRITER’S GUIDE TO CHARACTER FLAWS and POSITIVE TRAIT THESAURUS: A WRITER’S GUIDE TO CHARACTER ATTRIBUTES contain over 200 traits for you to choose from when creating memorable, compelling characters. Each entry contains possible causes for the trait, as well as positive and negative aspects, traits in supporting characters that may cause conflict, and associated behaviors, attitudes, thoughts, and emotions. For more information on this bestselling book and where it can be found, please visit our bookstore.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anna says

    Twists on the Traditional Eccentric:
    – Eccentrics are almost always old. Why not create an eccentric child or teen with mental faculties fully intact?
    – What about an Eccentric who is admired by society? Instead of people dismissing his oddities, they emulate them and make them part of the culture.
    – Eccentrics in literature are often secondary characters. Why not make your main character the odd duck?

    I wasn’t even planning this, but my character fits all of these twists. She is young and intelligent, admired by society and her peers, and she is the main character. It’s funny, but I use these thesauruses for everything I write.

  2. Emily says

    Great list!! I have an eccentric young couple raising a baby in a tiny apartment right now. Love it! Thanks for all the fantastic resources.

  9. Leslie Rose says

    What a great picture. I loved that movie and old weird Willy. Your comment about breaking the stereotype of the “old” eccentric is spot on. I see eccentrics in the making every year in my 5th grade class.

  10. Pk Hrezo says

    An apologetic eccentric! I love it!
    Luna Lovegood comes to mind. Eccentricity is one of my fave traits in others. Love the unconventionalness of it!

  12. tracikenworth says

    Perfect choice of a picture for this one!! It is difficult to discover an eccentric personality that isn’t cliche, but then Johnny Depp creates them all the time on screen. We have only to breath life into the mold and viola the eccentric will be there. Nice one!!

  13. Becca Puglisi says

    Glad you found us, Lola!

    I was a little scandalized when I searched for images of Willy Wonka and 9 out of 10 were Johnny Depp. I understand why, but still…!

    *sings I’ve Got the Golden Ticket*

  16. Julie Musil says

    I’m building characters for a future project, and you’ve given me a lot to think about. Eccentric characters have been some of my absolute favorites. Thanks!

  18. Kathryn Ross says

    I love the eccentric! Much of our best art – both literary and graphic/visual – has come from the personality with a touch of the eccentric-outside-the-box- quirkiness. Tempered with the positive spin – for me, at least – I love the mentor/inspiration eccentric who’s joyful view of life and living and the world at large injects hope and vision into the protagonist for victorious finish line crossings. Eccentric/Protagonist Hero/Heroine? On target – I use them all the time in my melodrama play writing and have had much performance success with them.
    Joy!
    Miss Kathy

  20. Janet, says

    Good post. You’ve given me an idea to maybe put an eccentric person in a story for kids. Kids would like quirky characters. Johnny Depp has played a lot of quirky characters in movies and fans love him.