Character Trait: Abstracted

To engage your reader, it's important to always show not tell the traits of your characters. The character trait "abstracted" refers to a person who is lost in thought or distracted to the point of being unaware of their surroundings. They may be preoccupied with their own thoughts, ideas, or imagination, often causing them to appear absent-minded or forgetful. This trait can make a character seem introspective or contemplative, but it can also lead to difficulties in communication and social interaction.

Possible causes of being abstracted

You might want to weave these into your character's back story to build a more believable character.

• They may be highly introspective and spend a lot of time in their own thoughts.
• They may have been encouraged to think abstractly by their upbringing or education.
• They may have a strong preference for abstract concepts and ideas over concrete ones.
• They may have developed an abstracted nature as a coping mechanism for dealing with stress or anxiety.
• They may have a vivid imagination that often takes them away from reality.
• They may have a neurological condition or mental illness that causes them to experience dissociation or depersonalization.
• They may have experienced trauma or difficult life events that have caused them to dissociate from reality.

For detailed feedback on abstracted characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's writing style analysis.

Behaviors associated with being abstracted

You may be able to show your character's trait of abstracted by using these.

• Getting lost in thought and losing track of time
• Difficulty focusing on tasks that require sustained attention
• Struggling to prioritize or make decisions due to being lost in thought
• Daydreaming or fantasizing frequently
• Forgetting important details or events
• Being perceived as aloof or detached by others
• Being easily distracted by one's own thoughts or external stimuli
• Being absent-minded or forgetful
• Being unaware of one's surroundings or environment

Attitudes associated with being abstracted

You may be able to show abstracted through their attitudes.

• Difficulty staying focused on the present moment
• Being prone to flights of fancy
• Being lost in thought
• Tendency to overlook details
• Being introspective and reflective
• Daydreaming
• Absent-mindedness
• Creativity and imagination
• Lack of interest in mundane tasks

Thoughts and struggles associated with being abstracted

Here are some ideas for things your abstracted character may think or struggle with.

• Having a vivid imagination or creative mind
• Being easily distracted by external stimuli
• Frequently getting lost in thought or daydreaming
• Struggling to remember details or important information
• Struggling to communicate effectively due to scattered thoughts or tangential conversations
• Disliking mundane tasks or routines
• Feeling detached from reality or like an outsider
• Difficulty in focusing on present tasks or conversations
• Feeling overwhelmed or anxious in highly stimulating environments

Emotions associated with being abstracted

Here are some ideas for emotions your abstracted character may experience.

• Forgetful
• Preoccupied
• Inattentive
• Unaware of surroundings
• Lost in thought
• Absent-minded
• Daydreaming
• Disconnected
• Distracted

Facial expressions associated with being abstracted

Here are some facial expressions your abstracted character may exhibit.

• A furrowed brow or wrinkled forehead
• Frequently forgetting or losing track of what they were doing
• A blank or vacant expression
• A lack of eye contact with others
• Frequently blinking or squinting
• A distant or far-off gaze
• Tendency to speak softly or in a monotone voice
• Often lost in thought or daydreaming
• Slow to respond or react to external stimuli

Body language associated with being abstracted

Here is some body language your abstracted character may exhibit.

• Fidgeting or playing with objects absentmindedly
• Looking away frequently or staring off into space
• A tendency to get lost in thought and lose track of time or surroundings
• A lack of eye contact or avoiding eye contact
• Forgetting or neglecting tasks or responsibilities
• Slow or delayed responses to questions or conversations
• A lack of awareness of social cues or norms
• A distant or detached facial expression

For detailed feedback on abstracted characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's writing style analysis.

Behaviors associated with being abstracted

Here are some behaviors your abstracted character may exhibit.

• Difficulty focusing on tasks that require sustained attention
• Being absent-minded or forgetful
• Being perceived as aloof or detached by others
• Being unaware of one's surroundings or environment
• Getting lost in thought and losing track of time
• Forgetting important details or events
• Being easily distracted by one's own thoughts or external stimuli
• Struggling to prioritize or make decisions due to being lost in thought
• Daydreaming or fantasizing frequently

Growth and evolution of abstracted characters

Here are some ways that your abstracted character may grow and evolve over time.

• Increase their ability to connect with others on a deeper level
• Learn to balance creativity with practicality
• Develop a greater sense of focus and attention to detail
• Become more open-minded and willing to explore new ideas and perspectives
• Develop a stronger sense of self and confidence in their abilities
• Become more aware of their surroundings and how they impact their work
• Develop a better understanding of their emotions and how to express them
• Learn to work collaboratively with others and value their input
• Learn to ground themselves in the present moment

Stereotypes of abstracted characters to avoid

Try to avoid writing stereotypical abstracted character like these examples.

• Lack of depth or complexity
• Flat or uninteresting dialogue
• Lack of growth or development throughout the story
• One-dimensional personalities
• Unmotivated actions or decisions
• Inconsistent or contradictory behavior
• Overly simplistic or predictable behavior
• Stereotypical or cliché characteristics
• Unrealistic or exaggerated traits

Negatives of being abstracted

Here are some potential negatives of being abstracted. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as positives depending on the context.

• Difficulty with short-term memory or recalling details
• Struggling to prioritize tasks or make decisions
• Struggling to follow directions or instructions
• Being perceived as unreliable or unprofessional
• Being absent-minded and forgetful
• Missing important details or making careless mistakes
• Difficulty focusing or staying on task
• Being disorganized or messy
• Losing track of time and forgetting appointments or deadlines

Positives of being abstracted

Here are some potential positives of being abstracted. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as negatives depending on the context.

• Abstracted people are often excellent problem solvers, able to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions.
• Abstracted individuals are often highly intuitive and able to pick up on subtle cues and patterns that others may miss.
• Abstracted individuals are often highly creative and imaginative.
• They are often able to make connections between seemingly disparate ideas or concepts, leading to new and innovative ideas.
• They tend to be open-minded and curious, always seeking out new experiences and ideas.
• They have a unique perspective on the world and can see things in a different way than others.
• Abstracted individuals are often able to focus intensely on a particular task or project, becoming fully absorbed in the process.
• They tend to be introspective and reflective, which can lead to deep insights and understanding.

Verbal expressions of abstracted characters

Here are some potential expressions used by abstracted characters.

• Being lost in thought
• Being absent-minded
• Zoning out
• Being preoccupied
• Forgetting details
• Daydreaming
• Distracted
• Not paying attention
• Ignoring surroundings

Relationships of abstracted characters

Here are some ways that being abstracted could affect your character's relationships.

• May come across as aloof or detached
• Can be perceived as uncaring or uninterested in others
• May struggle with social skills and small talk
• May excel at problem-solving and logical thinking
• May struggle with empathy and understanding others' perspectives
• Tendency to keep others at a distance
• May prefer solitude and alone time over socializing
• Struggle to understand and express emotions
• Difficulty in forming emotional connections with others

Examples from books of characters who are abstracted

• Jay Gatsby from "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald: He symbolizes the American Dream, with his pursuit of wealth, status, and love, and his tragic downfall due to his illusions and delusions.
• Holden Caulfield from "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger: He represents the disillusioned and disaffected youth of his time, with his cynicism and disdain for societal norms.
• Bilbo Baggins from "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien: He personifies the reluctant hero, with his humility, resourcefulness, and growth, as he embarks on a perilous quest and discovers his inner strength and bravery.
• Elizabeth Bennet from "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen: She embodies wit, independence, and self-awareness, as she navigates the social conventions and romantic entanglements of Regency England.
• Atticus Finch from "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee: He embodies integrity, compassion, and moral courage, as he defends a black man against false accusations in a deeply segregated society.
• Sherlock Holmes from "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Arthur Conan Doyle: He epitomizes deductive reasoning, astute observation, and analytical thinking, as he solves intricate mysteries and outwits criminals.
• Winston Smith from "1984" by George Orwell: He represents the rebellion against totalitarianism, with his inner dissent, secret thoughts, and futile resistance against the oppressive regime.

Writing exercises for writing abstracted characters

Here are some writing exercises you might try for learning to write abstracted characters.

• Describe a setting through the character's abstracted perception of it, focusing on their thoughts and emotions rather than physical details.
• Create a dialogue where the character speaks in abstract terms and concepts, rather than concrete details.
• Write a scene where the character is confronted with a difficult decision, but is unable to make a concrete choice due to their abstracted nature.
• Create a monologue where the character muses on the nature of reality or the meaning of life, using abstract language and metaphors.
• Write a scene where the character is lost in thought, disconnected from their surroundings.
• Describe the character's inner world, including their dreams, fantasies, and philosophical beliefs.
• Write a scene where the character struggles to focus on a task, constantly getting distracted by their own thoughts.