Looking at the books I really liked last year, I noticed many of them had one thing in common: nerds. Always a white male, always redheaded, freckled and glasses-wearing. Always very smart and interested on the usual nerdy stuff.
But each of the books twisted the stereotype in a different way. One was a prankster, another caused his own unpopularity, one expected to get beat up by a bully but ended up helping him instead...
So I was wondering if there are other descriptions that act as shorthand for a specific kind of character? The nerdy appearance is the most obvious one to me, but there are probably others. Also, when you're describing a character, do you emphasize stereotypical traits if you're going to subvert them?
(I want to make it clear that I love the nerd-twist books, so please don't think I'm bashing them by calling them stereotypical.)
But each of the books twisted the stereotype in a different way. One was a prankster, another caused his own unpopularity, one expected to get beat up by a bully but ended up helping him instead...
So I was wondering if there are other descriptions that act as shorthand for a specific kind of character? The nerdy appearance is the most obvious one to me, but there are probably others. Also, when you're describing a character, do you emphasize stereotypical traits if you're going to subvert them?
(I want to make it clear that I love the nerd-twist books, so please don't think I'm bashing them by calling them stereotypical.)