I Created an Arrogant Character
I always knew I wanted to do something in electronics. So, when I learned that electrical engineers create this technology, I decided to become one. After graduating from college, I worked with a team of engineers, programmers, testers, managers, and assemblers. They were mostly good people, and we created several great products.
I did not consider engineers to be unique in any way. For example, what is the difference between them and an auto mechanic? They both find problems and solve them.
Well, there was nothing to discuss on this topic until my editor pointed out a problem. One of my book characters is (big surprise) an electrical engineer. Yes, I now know making a character so close to the personal details of my life is a big mistake, but at the time, it seemed reasonable.
The editor pointed out that the character was an arrogant know-it-all. After strongly disagreeing (to no one) with their opinion, I took a step back to evaluate the situation. What does an engineer do? Their work involves developing documentation, meetings, reviews, testing, studying, and problem-solving. I realized that the problem-solving aspect of engineering is the issue.
Well, not the actual means of solving the problem, but what comes after. We love to boast. Want an example? I bet the creators of the latest Apple iPhone are super happy with their creation. If the electrical engineer who designed the screen were asked about their job, they would probably answer, “This is the best phone screen ever created. What to know why? I did the screen part. Do you see how clear it is?”
Engineers love telling “war stories” about how they cleverly solved a problem, and we hate it when other engineers cannot see our brilliance. I am sure every auto mechanic also has many “war stories” about fixing transmissions. And I know this is true because we took our car to the dealer who could not fix the problem. Then we took it to a local mechanic, who knew the exact issue without seeing the vehicle. He was so proud when he gave me the keys. “You are going to love how well this drives.” And it true. The car drove better than when it was new.
Offices are odd places. People have intense conversations while forcing themselves to remain pleasant. Yet, coworkers are still people, and adverse actions get scornfully remembered for years. This translates to a single disapproving conversation being remembered like a bloody fistfight.
I put my inside problem-solving mindset into my character. From my experience, his level of arrogance is below average, but I now see that my lightly arrogant creation is far worse than a typical person. The editor pointed out that not everybody will appreciate this trait. Darn!
Still, I want to yell, “Engineers are great people. They only appear arrogant.” However, I admit my character has a serious flaw that must be corrected. It is too late to change the plot, so I have begun to soften the dialog and limit the actions.
The results do not look good, but my primary goal is to make my readers happy. So, job well done. Does this mean I am un-engineering an engineer? Is un-engineering a term? I will have to engineer it in the dictionary.
You’re the best -Bill
January 08, 2020 Updated November 09, 2024
I did not consider engineers to be unique in any way. For example, what is the difference between them and an auto mechanic? They both find problems and solve them.
Well, there was nothing to discuss on this topic until my editor pointed out a problem. One of my book characters is (big surprise) an electrical engineer. Yes, I now know making a character so close to the personal details of my life is a big mistake, but at the time, it seemed reasonable.
The editor pointed out that the character was an arrogant know-it-all. After strongly disagreeing (to no one) with their opinion, I took a step back to evaluate the situation. What does an engineer do? Their work involves developing documentation, meetings, reviews, testing, studying, and problem-solving. I realized that the problem-solving aspect of engineering is the issue.
Well, not the actual means of solving the problem, but what comes after. We love to boast. Want an example? I bet the creators of the latest Apple iPhone are super happy with their creation. If the electrical engineer who designed the screen were asked about their job, they would probably answer, “This is the best phone screen ever created. What to know why? I did the screen part. Do you see how clear it is?”
Engineers love telling “war stories” about how they cleverly solved a problem, and we hate it when other engineers cannot see our brilliance. I am sure every auto mechanic also has many “war stories” about fixing transmissions. And I know this is true because we took our car to the dealer who could not fix the problem. Then we took it to a local mechanic, who knew the exact issue without seeing the vehicle. He was so proud when he gave me the keys. “You are going to love how well this drives.” And it true. The car drove better than when it was new.
Offices are odd places. People have intense conversations while forcing themselves to remain pleasant. Yet, coworkers are still people, and adverse actions get scornfully remembered for years. This translates to a single disapproving conversation being remembered like a bloody fistfight.
I put my inside problem-solving mindset into my character. From my experience, his level of arrogance is below average, but I now see that my lightly arrogant creation is far worse than a typical person. The editor pointed out that not everybody will appreciate this trait. Darn!
Still, I want to yell, “Engineers are great people. They only appear arrogant.” However, I admit my character has a serious flaw that must be corrected. It is too late to change the plot, so I have begun to soften the dialog and limit the actions.
The results do not look good, but my primary goal is to make my readers happy. So, job well done. Does this mean I am un-engineering an engineer? Is un-engineering a term? I will have to engineer it in the dictionary.
You’re the best -Bill
January 08, 2020 Updated November 09, 2024
