Now, I have to tell you all...I have always had a real soft spot in my heart for a boy who is a little bit of a geek. Hehehe, always have, always will. I mean, I love intelligence, I love a shy guy, and I love to laugh...so that’s like hitting the jackpot to me. They can just be soooo sweet sometimes, and I think they can be extremely fun to write as well. So have some mercy on me.

I think that one of the elements of ‘geek chic’ that has always stood out to me is the fact that it can really be relatable to an audience, no matter what it is that you’re writing. Mostly because, whether people find they’re particular stride at a really young age, or don’t get through it until they’re older (if ever)...we all had to start out as a geek at one time or another in our lifetimes. Hhehe, and don’t you dare pretend that you didn’t! We all had to ask someone to dance for the first time in our lives, or ask someone out on a date, or lean in for that very first kiss...and it makes for the kind of moments that I really love to bring to life in my stories and for everybody reading. How can a story that cause memories like that to resurface again and not captivate you now like it did back then? These are memories that we’ve all come to cherish to the best of our ability and when we can read from any author who capture that feeling just right...then we’re almost immediately invested. No matter how it is used as a part of the story. Whether it’s the protagonist, the love interest, or a side character...it’s been my experience that they always end up standing out in the end. Sometimes more than anybody else that I’m writing about.

I think there’s something very personable about characters that might come off as being a bit nervous in a story. A little awkward, a little clumsy. Finding that appeal in one of your main focuses seems to add an adorable feel to your cast. It takes your readers’ invested emotions and it taps into their most nurturing instincts, creating a bond and an engage that needs protecting at all costs. Basically, it triggers the ‘underdog’ appeal, and they become someone that people want to root for...whether it’s for good reasons or for bad ones.

So, whenever I add an Ariel to “New Kid In School”, or a Preston to “Shelter”, or a Dylan to “Gone From Daylight”...they almost always steal the spotlight. Almost to the point where I have to find plausible reasons to send them somewhere out of the spotlight so some of the other can characters can get noticed too. It’s TRUE! And if you read any one of those stories where one of the side characters come sliding in with that lovable ‘geek chic’ appeal, I usually have to make sure that they’re out doing something else entirely if I have other important stuff to do with the main focus of the story. Otherwise, it all falls into the background. Hehehe, Ariel needed his own STORY to keep him busy!

Now, things are obviously much different when the so-called ‘geek’ happens to be the main love interest of my story. Then I can keep his adorable presence around as often as possible, and it becomes a truly enjoyable part of the project as a whole. This is where I don’t mind having him take a lion’s share of the attention away from anything and everything that’s going on, and that adorable vibe can be used more to my advantage than as a distraction. Now I can really have fun playing around with all of those cut puppy dog antics and use them to create a more engaging character that was actually built to be the main focus of my story, and if readers fall in love with him...then great! Mission accomplished!

And of course, for a more personal view of the geek chic narrative (Mostly because I almost always write in the first person)...I can adopt as a major part of the protagonist’s point of view instead. This has a much a different feel to it, because the focus on his constant thoughts and awkwardness is practically the entire idea of the story itself. It becomes the lens that all other characters, events, and one on one dialogue, is seen through. Something that I also have a lot of fun writing, but if you’re going to do that yourself...you have to understand that this is going to set the tone of the story, and the story arc, and it’s something that needs to remain consistent all the way through until something changes or their character arc helps them to grow out of it. So you have to make sure that that’s the story that you want to tell before getting started. Because flipping back and forth...will make for a sloppy and unfocused story.

That being said...it can be great to have your protagonists play this role, and really enhance the feelings that go along with it with your readers. Those nervous jitters, those embarrassing accidents, those uncomfortable silences...you remember the excitement and the terror that came along with them, don’t ya? Hehehe, give them some thought. Think back to when it was you. It’s not really difficult to recreate if you can personify the feelings behind it, and try seeing life through that lens all over again. Sometimes high school, or getting a new job, or moving in together to start a new relationship, or going through your first big break up...it can be a really nerve-wracking experience for most people. Coming out of the closet, your first gay bar, bringing your partner home to meet your family...think about all of the things that could go wrong, and all the hard work you went through trying to avoid those things. Hehehe, congrats! You’ve had your geek experience! Now put it into words and translate those feelings for your audience to relate to and enjoy. That’s all this is. Not much more.

Geek chic can be used for lighthearted comical moments, or it can be used for periods of tension and angst...some use it for drama, some for sad moments of self reflection, and some as a lone obstacle that has to b conquered so your characters can win the day. Whatever you decide to use it for, or what kind of character you give it to, I think it’s important for it to have some sort of a subtle purpose in your writing. Like...it’s great to have lovable characters, but you might want to have them actually do something in your story to earn their spot in it. All of your cast members should have a reason for being there, right? So always keep that in mind.

What you want to decide is whether you want that purpose to be on the bright side...or on the dark side. Because there is definitely a dark side involved (unfortunately), and as sweet and cute as they may be...not everybody has the same experience with their position just outside of the circle of the ‘popular’ people.

I want you to watch the clip down below, which I think displays both sides rather well. And it accomplishes its display of both sides in the same scene, which is kind of brilliant. It goes from “Awww!” to “Oh no!” to “Awww!” again to “Oh no!” again! This is the very beginning of a slasher horror movie called “Valentine”. Check it out...and see if you can see both sides!

While I’ve spent almost all of this article talking about the lovable side of adding a somewhat charming and interesting klutz into your story to bring about a bright and fun appeal to whatever you’re writing...geek chic can also be weaponized into something much more depressing or even sinister as well if you really want it to. That sort of interaction with other people can also lead to mistreatment, bullying, being stolen from, rejected, taken advantage of...and if that is the story that you want to put out there, these become emotional torture methods that you can still use to your advantage. Because….watching the clip above...isn’t there still a part of you who’s rooting for him? Even if it means a horror movie about vengeance and death? That’s the power of geek chic’s darker side. Even when they’re bad...there are a lot of people who love these characters anyway. Whether it’s Syndrome from “The Incredibles” or Steven King’s “Carrie”….there’s still a yearning to see the underdog win the day, or at least geet some payback. So if you ever want to use that particular personality trait to heighten the intensity and increase the impact of these scenes or stories...this is a method that you can use for that distinct purpose.

I’ve seriously seen some really dark movies pull this off in amazing ways, and they’ve got me, hook, line, and sinker, every single time. Of course, for the stuff that I write for the site, I usually hover around the brighter side of the equation and I’m looking cute moments and giggles...but...if you wanted to go dark with the whole idea? It makes for one hell of an origin story. And sympathetic villains kick ass. So try it out. You might like it!

Alright folks, that’s it for this geeky little group hug of ours this time around. A few nervous giggles, some humiliating mistakes, a touch of truly awkward dialogue, and some seemingly forced isolation, can go a long when it comes to building a geek chic character. If you’re writing a darker story, the same method can be just as effective...depending on the surrounding circumstances and the way other minor character might treat them. And if you don’t want to cast a shadow on the more potent parts of your plot, make sure you give those characters something to do so as not to distract readers from everything else you’re doing. K?

That’s it for now! I hope this helps you guys out with your writing, and maybe inspires a few new ideas for you at a later date. Enjoy yourselves! And best of luck!