Book Characters for a New Era

So, I have been toying with writing a book.

In the last four months, I have been given several free books to review about writing and marketing an ebook , so I feel as though I have no excuses left. I am dragging my feet.

Whilst I am dragging my feet, I have been busy with real life–children, food prep, laundry from vacation, practicing piano and painting a watercolor for a friends Avon Breast Cancer benefit auction. So, I haven’t been exactly doing nothing.

AND, as I mull over a book…I get totally distracted.(seems to be a tendency of mine!)

What I will probably write will be a non-fiction, how-to book for moms.

BUT—What I have been thinking about are humorous possibilities for fresh modern day characters. (for those of you NOT from New England, “fresh” means naughty/unacceptable. {usage: My kids were all so fresh today.}

Charles Dickens was the MASTER of explaining a persons idiosyncrasies in a humorous way. Ditto for Mark Twain and Jane Austen.

How can you not chuckle at:

Mr. Gradgrind (Dicken’s Hard Times) and his facts, facts, facts. He had no business dealing with children in ANY capacity.

Twain’s description of teenage boys who goes away for just a few months on a steamboat and returns to the little hamlet that he grew up on all his life, spewing “big words” and technical steamboat phrases to impress his lifelong peers. (Life on the Mississippi)

And then their is Mr. Collins. Poor, pathetic, Mr. Collins with his name dropping and people pleasing.

Mrs. Joe (Great Expectations) and her “tickler”  (the rod that she beat the daylight out of Pip with) and constant muttering about just how much she does for Pip and Mr. Joe and how thankful they should be for her!

The outspoken Aunt Jennings (Sense and Sensibility) who seems to blurt out whatever foolish thought comes into her simple mind. Her presence brings uneasiness and the “what will she say next” fear to everyone in the room.

I have always loved character studies. So, if I were to write a book, I am sure I could find humorous material in our day and age.

How about the parent who claims to have devoted their life to their children but are raising an absolute spoiled brat?

Or someone who claims that they hate Facebook, but then seems to have strong opinions about everyone/thing going on ON Facebook.

Or perhaps the constant eater/grazer…especially with our modern obesity problem. That would be an interesting character.

Or perhaps just the plain old know it all. You know. The one who answers questions that were directed to other people as though their knowledge is so superior that they MUST interject. ha,ha

Or the name dropper. One of my pet peeves. The person who make sure that they use every name they ever knew and all the details of their lives. Can you say “busy body?” Yes, that would make an extremely fun character.

Or perhaps the person who is constantly giving unwarranted advice to others…when their own faults are so glaring. Do you really think we want to be like you?? Guess what, if we want to know your opinion, we’ll be sure to ask! ha,ha

What are your favorite book characters? What kind of modern day idiosyncrasies would make a great character?