《How to Write Stories People Will Love》Question 98: Writing smart characters
Advertisement
asks: How do you write a character and their actions when they are much smarter than you?
You don't have to be a genius to write about one. You just have to demonstrate how smart they are in the story. There are different ways to do this.
If your character is book-smart, it will be easy to look up information regarding their areas of expertise. Then during conversation, the character can casually mention that babies have about 100 more bones than adults do, or that polar bears are nearly undetectable by infrared cameras. (Did I look smart just now? I literally went to Google and searched "little known science trivia".) The context of the conversation will matter, of course. The character can't be walking around spouting facts like some kind of Rain Man (unless that's your character). Be thoughtful where these facts will make sense in a conversation. They could be used as a metaphor for something else.
Characters with superior intellects are more challenging to write because their brains just work differently from the average person's. Sherlock Holmes is a great example. He's able to notice things most people don't and then connect that information with other facts. The good news is you don't need to have a Sherlock intellect to write such a character. As the author, you have all the facts already, so all you need to do is divulge some of the more obvious details.
For example, they could be trying to find a missing person, and they're in the house examining photos. One investigator will note that the missing person likes the beach, then the smart one can look more closely and notice a rare plant in the photo, then reveal that the plant could only be found in a certain part of the city. Boom, smart person!
Advertisement
Some people are very smart and they know it. They also let everyone around them know it. Arrogance from feeling superior is a very real thing. Sometimes they project this arrogance as a defense mechanism to hide the fact that they don't actually know much. Or they may project this arrogance because they think that's all their good for. Room for character development!
Still stuck? Think about movie characters that seem very smart to you. Watch how they are portrayed in the movie. Think about some smart friends or coworkers you might have. How do they behave? How do you know they're smart? Think about applying some of those things into your story, and you'll be well on your way.
Advertisement
- In Serial90 Chapters
Singularity [Fantasy-LitRPG | Hard SF]
After an accident that nearly claimed his life, Arnel has become Humanity's first Mind-Machine Interface, the fusion of Artificial Intelligence and human consciousness. In the competitive, virtual fantasy world of Singularity, this gives him tremendous and unfair advantages. However, there is a small problem; The AI he shares his mind with is not a harmless helper program, but a vast, sentient intelligence created for war, and capable of not only predicting the future, but influencing it to a degree of certainty. Coincidentally, possession of such an intelligence is equivalent to possessing nuclear armaments for which the punishment is death.
8 228 - In Serial15 Chapters
The Cheater
Have you ever thought about why life is unfair? Have you ever wanted to just do what you want but can't because of your position in life as the lowest and the ones at top mistreat those at the bottom. Follow the story of Edward a so called "cheater" and how he defies the unfair life given to him and takes his new life being given to him as he is taken to another world at his death and now is instructed to do what he wants in this new world witha little bit of deanger and death at every corner. What awaits him? either death or splendor will he live honestly or cheat his way to the top yet again? Cover art made by : Yang_God_of_Games_And_Power ps: if anyone is wondering~ I started to write this on other sites with a hut of editing and cutting some parts! So dun worry about it appearing somewhere~
8 167 - In Serial40 Chapters
Apocalypse
It is the BEGINNING OF THE END. A ZOMBIE OUTBREAK has been spread via planes leaving JFK airport, New York and now humanity has a FIGHT TO SAVE ITSELF. Read an account of the END OF TIMES, live the END OF DAYS, and the END OF MAN. Join the ride and watch civilisation CRASH AND BURN. Read the story here, or listen to it on your preferred Podcast app.
8 451 - In Serial6 Chapters
Sorority Cultivation: Zeta Tau Alph, In The Hous....Sect???
Ash has spent his adult life looking for a portal off from Earth. History and mythology are filled with stories of the disappeared. Prepared as he possible can be, he finds one such portal; unfortunately, or fortunately, so does a group of collage sorority sisters. This story contains sexual situations. Trying to avoid the whole harem with this, and make it more a, sex happens thing. Any comments, reviews and ratings are welcome. They motivate me greatly to write better and figure out more well-rounded characters.
8 139 - In Serial8 Chapters
Freddie Weasley
This story follows, Freddie Weasley the daughter of Charlie Weasley. Since her father cares for magical creatures she lives with her cousins. She is very adventurous and a prankster like her namesake. This is a next-generation Harry Potter fanfiction. The story is also posted on archiveofourown.org Wattpad.com webnovel.com and harrypotterfanfiction.com
8 232 - In Serial6 Chapters
Chrono Pact
follow the story of a boy who is devastated after losing his friends in a tragic accident, he was transported to an abstract dimension where he meets Chrona a rogue time skipper. she asked for help. the reason why she chose him was that he has a rare trait called chronic core and the person with this trait can time skips. losing his friends made him feel uneasy so he unreluctantly agrees to help the girl. what does Chrona need help with? what will they learn from the adventures they went on? read this novel to find out chapters may release every monday/wednesday/sunday
8 132

