12.30.05
Ophie Out of Oz: Third Post (Stock Characters)
Why do books like this always have a girl who is super-popular and perfect? Everyone always does everything for her, despite the fact that she is clearly a spoiled brat. Teachers give her preference, kids turn against each other for her and her parents seem to honestly believe that she is God’s gift to the world. She always has money, curls and a light-up-a-room smile that can be turned on and off at will.
Along the same lines, why is the unpopular, outcast girl always oddly sized (too small or too big)? She is always described as not pretty and kind of a loner. She always clings unnaturally to our hero and stares with mournful eyes when her friend leaves her. She either has no real interests of her own or one very odd interest about which she is nearly obsessive (and which is never a typical “geek” interest or a typical “girl” interest). Above all, she always has a loyal, Lassie-like heart of gold.
Why are these two characters (and usually also the Popular-Pretty Girl’s best friend/dedicated adoring minion) always there in girl school stories? It’s very frustrating! There *must* be other characters that could be used! So why do we *always* focus on these two?
This is why I would suck at writing this type of book.