Strength in Awkwardness

hi, néed a little help brainstorming, yesterday I came up with the perfect words that explained my characters strength. I didn't have a notepad handy to jot it down so I lost the thought after a few seconds

The term was close to, strength in awkwardness. Being comfortable in the skin you are in after years of not being, can feel like a wonderful thing no?

The story "vampire and the doe" the title will probably changed. The underlying theme is how completely awkward the vampire makes everyone else feel, because she herself if the personification of awkwardness. But in her confidence of self, her nature, her character, to be simply who she is, without being like a person who is so stubborn they make themselves the rule. Sucking all the air out of the room, there ideas are the only ideas that matter.

The vampire tries not to step on any toes in such a way, the only sucking I like to do is that of blood from a persons neck.

See if we can come up with some confident phrasing for strength through awkwardness.

Confidence in awkwardness.
Power in awkwardness.
Fortitude in awkwardness.
Awkwardness in awkwardness.
Control in awkwardness.
Truth in awkwardness! Omg this maybe the one I thought of!!!!
Truth through awkwardness.

I may have answered my own question but I would appreciate anyone trying, perhaps you will come up with something good. *tips hat showing a fang filled grin*

 

So, after reading your description and looking at different words, I thought of this: Potency in Awkwardness. The defintion of potency is "the power of something to influence or make an impression." And since you said your vampire can basically influence others with her awkwardness, I thought you could maybe do something with that. I know the phrase doesn't flow too well, so just try working around that.

 

Thanks Andi, i like the definition behind it. I'll keep that in mind as i write my story. Very good!

 

Honestly, I'm not a fan of any of your examples and have a hard time believing they are actually going to convey what you want. Don't worry about trying to turn out a poetic phrase as much as that what you are saying is clear. Often, as writers, we can feel in awe of our own creations whether it be completing a novel or finding a way to show off our cleverness. But novels are rarely done when we think they are and clever to us isn't always as clear for readers. Really think about what you are trying to say. I'm not sure the answer is in any of your examples.

 

Most of what I wrote was lukewarm ideas at best. Except for truth in awkwardness. I see so many people feeling awkward going through life, I want to shine my light upon them and make there day better if I can. So many of these people going through life thinking of awkwardness as a bad thing as a stigma. Don't notice me... Don't notice me and my awkwardness. I wish they could understand that if you have always been awkward, if that's always been your way as it has been mine. Awkwardness doesn't become a strength until you accept it. That it is as much a part of you as the beating of your heart. I've found many of my truths, I've found my strength. I live it everyday and I'm filled with joy because of it, every second of everyday. Not to say the other feelings aren't there too, they are. But I'm stronger than I've ever been because I found my "Truth in Awkwardness"

deadrat whatever your truth is if you haven't found it already I hope you do.

 

Sorry for not replying earlier, but no problem!

 

Keep in mind that a perpetually awkward character can be squirmy to read about.

I know when I'm reading about characters whose authors make a virtue of them being out-of-step and clunky and uncool, I can begin to get impatient and lose interest in the story.

This is fine, because my taste isn't in any way universal. But it can be an annoying experience—UNLESS these characters have other, more interesting traits to keep me going. (These other traits could be what makes your story a winner for me.) However, I don't enjoy reading about self-absorbed, self-defeating characters being awkward all the time—unless there is a compelling reason for them being that way.

 

I've been told that my writing won't work because the psychological state of the protagonist is something that the reader can't identify with. I could perhaps tone it down but I feel that then it wouldn't be as interesting. Their state of mind is a product of their alienation and the story world in which they find themselves is as well.

 

Is there something in the concept of "grace"? In one definition, it's the opposite of awkwardness, but there's also the idea of it being a sort of gift ("there but for the grace of god..."). So maybe you could play around with that, and make the juxtaposition powerful.

That said, I kinda agree with @deadrats that this could be a "darling" from the "kill your darlings" school of thought: something that's incredibly vivid and meaningful to you but that may not have a similar effect on your readers. I also agree with @jannert that this kind of character might be kind of annoying to read... it sort of approaches the Mary Sue idea of the author treating the character's flaws as secret virtues. Grace through self-acceptance I could see, but grace through awkwardness itself stretches things for me. (Partly because I feel like a big component of awkwardness is how self-conscious and miserable the awkward person is. Without the self-consciousness and misery, the awkward person is just sort of a dick, blithely trampling on social conventions and the preferences of others without even feeling bad about it. And with the self-consciousness and misery, it's hard to see any grace or truth or power.)

ETA: Oops. This is a bit of a necrothread. Probably the issue is long resolved...

 

I think there's a big difference between 'won't work' and 'didn't work.' If you feel strongly about your character this way, then by all means write him or her that way. If your betas then tell you it 'didn't work,' then is when you start to worry and/or make changes or rethink your target audience. I think there are lots and lots of successful writers out there who write alienated characters.

It's kind of what gets said a lot here on the forum, when folks ask if they should do this or that. The answer is usually ...it depends on how you write it.

 

Very nice BV. Grace through self acceptance is the foundation. I do not wish to make it apparent in the beginning, I want to parse out my one character who is awkward because she is extremely old, but self assured. Simply because she is like a time traveler, out of place and out of time. The further back in time you go with her, the less awkward she becomes, I hope that idea will come across well. She does not feel awkward as such, that is not her way.

There are many different types of awkward I think I'll only use two maybe three. The second is madness. My other MC sees things that no one else sees. When others see her, they might see her talking to one or more characters that aren't there, are they real or are they a figment. She may hold out her hand offering you midnight. She sees the darkness filled with twinkling stars clearly, why can't you?

A third character may be awkward in another way but hasn't learned to accept there self for who and what they are, they may find the answers they seek in my two MC.

For myself I don't need the world to understand me I just need one, luckily I've found that one. For my book, I understand I may have to alter much of its tapestry in order to pull the reader in. The world is my investor, and they need to feel connected to my characters and story in order to want to read it. I don't wish to hit anyone over the head with these things awkwardness, madness, I have a rhyme and a reason. I hope the reader will not be annoyed with my style and find they like where I'm going, and feel the need to stick along because they are on the edge of there seat. Perhaps that is a dream but it is also my hope that my madness will not infect through my writing but bring inspiration and other emotions we all hold dear.

 

Yeah, as you describe those characters, I begin to see what you mean by 'awkwardness.' These are folks who are clearly 'other,' not just ordinary folks who are socially inept. I don't know if your characters will acquire grace as a result, but I'd be intrigued by the idea.

 

Thank you jannert personification of wisdom made flesh!

I don't enjoy self absorbed self defeating characters, I used to be one in my own story called life. I feel like I myself am quite mad at times and maybe my characters are just an extension of me. If I do ever seem self absorbed/defeating I hope you'll let me know that I have a bugger on my nose and that I should use a Kleenex to wipe it off.

I have at least 3 vampires running around in my head at all times. It can make going out into the real world very interesting. My characters are just an extension of the wisdom I have gained for myself, that I hope I shine on others in only the best way possible.

Grace, for myself it was given that's all I'll say.

If I have one hope it would be that the reader sees the "awkwardness" in my characters and relates with them. Perhaps realizing that they themselves could become less awkward when they love themself. My book is not a self help book. If it were it would be a bloody sexy self help book with lots of humor and twists and turns, with MC's who have more in common with serial killers than they do with humans.

 

I think we were working with differing ideas of what 'awkward' means. I was thinking somebody who doesn't fit in because they are inept and borderline pathetic. You were thinking someone who doesn't fit in because they are truly 'other.'

Maybe it has to do with who feels awkward.

The pathetic folks feel awkward and inept while everybody else just gets on with it. But the 'others' who are happy in their own skins may exude persona that can make others feel awkward ...maybe?

 

*GRINS*

 

Your grin is ...erm ...a tad scary....scampers away in the nick of time...