History SoYouWantTo / WriteACloudCuckooLander

The comedic {{Cloudcuckoolander}} does not often crack jokes. They are not deliberately trying to be funny. Instead of cracking jokes, they ARE the joke. They are often a ButtMonkey for the show, and yet it is their reaction even to recieving the abuse of the entire universe that makes them so funny, not what happens to them.

In a situation where we would have no choice but to wait helplessly or throw a rage fit, the {{Cloudcuckoolander}} will choose option three - taking action. Chaos is not merely something that they enjoy, but they are in fact a magnet for it. They crank everything UpToEleven.

The CCL is chaotic in every situation, but that doesn't mean they drop their pants for no reason. Sure, they may drop their pants, but there must be a reason that the reader is aware of, even if the other characters never work it out.

So you want to write a {{Cloudcuckoolander}}. The crazy guy (or girl) who lives with their head in the clouds, or never seems to get the point, or just seems somewhat odd. You know them when you see them and for the most part other people do too. But they're awfully hard to write without going overboard on the crazy and making them look insane, or just stupid, and you're here asking how to write them.

A dramatic CCL can really plan, and they'll think up the wildest XanatosRoulette ever. And then they'll be surprised when it doesn't work, or if everybody else tells them where to shove it. Or if it's a plan that's reluctantly used, they won't think it odd that it's being used. Or if it does work out, everybody else will be amazed it worked, but they'll usually not be surprised at all.

So you want to write a {{Cloudckoolander}}. The crazy guy (or girl) who lives with their head in the clouds, or never seems to get the point, or just seems somewhat odd. You know them when you see them and for the most part other people do too. But they're awfully hard to write without going overboard on the crazy and making them look insane, or just stupid, and you're here asking how to write them.

So you want to write a CloudCuckooLander. The crazy guy (or girl) who lives with their head in the clouds, or never seems to get the point, or just seems somewhat odd. You know them when you see them and for the most part other people do too. But they're awfully hard to write without going overboard on the crazy and making them look insane, or just stupid, and you're here asking how to write them.

But first of all, why do you feel your story warrants such a character? Most likely you want a form of PluckyComicRelief in your story. First of all that requires YOU to have a sense of humour. But not all genres need a CloudCuckooLander. They don't work with all genres, and if pigeon-holed into the wrong kind of story, you might end up spoiling your entire story.

First of all, don't forget that all the things that make an OriginalCharacter good, also apply to the CloudCuckooLander. You can't skip basic character creation classes just because you're creating a character who's not like all the others. So go and learn how to make an OriginalCharacter first, and then come back here for the fine tuning.

Your main issue is with making the character weird, but not insane. The CloudCuckooLander isn't crazy; they just operate on a different wavelength. They see the world differently. It's the old stereotype that while we're working on Windows, they're using Linux. To write them successfully, you need to be absolutely sure, firstly of what the conventional world view is, and secondly of what your ensemble's attitude is. After all, if the whole group is 'crazy', a CloudCuckooLander has to stand out in a different way.

It cannot be repeated enough times: Everything a CloudCuckooLander does makes sense TO THEM. Their crazy ideas or actions are not just offhand attempts [[AttentionWhore to get attention]]. Some Cloud Cuckoo Landers don't even ''like'' attention. But they get it anyway. They don't go jumping off bridges for the sake of it.

Your CloudCuckooLander is not totally, off-the-wall, insane. Their ears hear the conversation. And somebody - sometimes somebody quite bright - is home and taking it all in. A true CloudCuckooLander is not the result of missing part of a situation. And if everybody is crazy, that's another place altogether, and is more likely to be CloudCuckooLand.

In a situation where we would have no choice but to wait helplessly or throw a rage fit, the CloudCuckooLander will choose option three - taking action. Chaos is not merely something that they enjoy, but they are in fact a magnet for it. They crank everything UpToEleven.

!!The Comedic CloudCuckooLander

The comedic CloudCuckooLander does not often crack jokes. They are not deliberately trying to be funny. Instead of cracking jokes, they ARE the joke. They are often a ButtMonkey for the show, and yet it is their reaction even to recieving the abuse of the entire universe that makes them so funny, not what happens to them.

One excellent example of a Comedic CloudCuckooLander is Phillip J. Fry from {{Futurama}}. Almost everything he does is supposed to make you laugh, but the characters surrounding him are frustrated by the way he always seems to miss the point. He certainly doesn't intend for people to laugh at him, and he doesn't really make any more jokes than any other member of the cast. It's the crazy things that happen to him, and the ways he responds, that make him so funny.

!!The Dramatic CloudCuckooLander

The Dramatic CloudCuckooLander is more likely to be a DeadpanSnarker, or to think of himself as the OnlySaneMan. But once again, it's not the jokes they make, but their reactions to the world around them. They have more backstory than the comedic CCL; there's usually a reason they are so weird.

In a situation where others feel helpless, the dramatic CloudCuckooLander as usual takes action. Messy, violent, and irrational, but it is action regardless, and because there's no other choice, other people go along with it when they would normally have done nothing but sit and wait.

It is the why, not the what, that truly defines the CloudCuckooLander. They're not doing it for attention. They're doing it because it's what they want to do. There can be a CCL on either side; whether good or bad, they just don't see the world in the same way as their co-workers.

The CCL is chaotic in every situation, but that doesn't mean they drop their pants for no reason. Sure, they may drop their pants, but there must be a reason that the reader is aware of, even if the other characters never work it out.

But first of all, why do you feel your story warrants such a character? Most likely you want a form of ComicRelief in your story. First of all that requires YOU to have a sense of humour. But not all genres need a CloudCuckooLander. They don't work with all genres, and if pigeon-holed into the wrong kind of story, you might end up spoiling your entire story.

But first of all, why do you feel your story warrants such a character? Most likely you want a form of ComicRelief in your story. That of course requires that YOU have a sense of humour. But not all genres need a CloudCuckooLander. They don't work with all genres, and if pigeon-holed into the wrong kind of story, you might end up spoiling your entire story.

First of all, don't forget that all the things that make an OriginalCharacter good, also apply to the CloudCuckooLander. You can't skip regular character creation classes just because you're creating character who's not regular. So go and learn how to make an OriginalCharacter first, and then come back here for the fine tuning...

It is important to remember that a CCL doesn't know what they've done wrong. They cannot quite fathom that they have done something against the norm. They can see everybody else as being sane and sensible, but then again, so are they. What's wrong with turning your messy flatmate's room into a landfill anyway? Sometimes of course, they think they're the OnlySaneMan, but this happens rarely and when they do, it is markedly a point to emphasise how chaotic they are.

First of all, don't forget that all the things that make an OriginalCharacter good, also apply to the CloudCuckooLander. You can't skip regular character creation classes just because you're writing a character who's not regular. So know how to make an OriginalCharacter first, and then expand.

One excellent example of a Comedic CloudCuckooLander is Phillip J. Fry from {{Futurama}}. Almost everything he does is supposed to make you laugh, but the characters surrounding him are frustrated by the way he always seems to miss the point.

Not enough, and your character is just another Regular Schmoe, but you're drawing attention to them for some reason your readers can't fathom.

So you want to write a CloudCuckooLander. The crazy guy (or girl) who lives with their head in the clouds, or never seems to get the point, or just seems somewhat odd. But they're awfully hard to write without going overboard on the crazy and making them look insane, or just stupid.

A CloudCuckooLander is usually (but now not always) played for some form of ComicRelief. And they are, frankly, weird. But you know them when you see them; your question is how to make one of your own.

First of all, don't forget that all the things that make an OriginalCharacter good, also apply to the CloudCuckooLander. So know how to make an OriginalCharacter first, and then expand.

Too many ways to be weird risk making them just look stupid and pointless.

Your main issue is with making the character weird, but not insane. The CloudCuckooLander isn't crazy; they just operate on a different wavelength. They see the world differently. To write them successfully, you need to absolutely define first of all what everybody else's world view is, and what your story considers to be the norm, and then decide how exactly the CloudCuckooLander redefines that.

It cannot be repeated enough times: Everything a CloudCuckooLander does makes sense TO THEM. Their crazy ideas or actions are not just offhand attempts [[AttentionWhore to get attention]]. Some Cloud Cuckoo Landers don't even ''like'' attention. But they get it anyway.

How exactly IS your character weird? Because there are so many ways for it to happen. They can be prone to CompletelyMissingThePoint, or coming up with insane plans. It may be accompanied by something as simple as a NervousTic they are totally unaware of but other people do notice. Heck, they may be the OnlySaneMan in a cast of idiots, and mocked for it.

A CloudCuckooLander is usually (but now always) played for some form of ComicRelief. And they are, frankly, weird. But you know them when you see them; your question is how to make one of your own.

A CloudCuckooLander does not usually crack jokes - they ARE the joke. In a situation where we would have no choice but to wait helplessly or throw a rage fit, the CloudCuckooLander will choose option three - taking action. Chaos is not merely something that they enjoy, but they are in fact a magnet for it. They crank everything UpToEleven.

The ratio in fiction is about equal, but your readers will expect different things from different genders. As well as all the other crazy things, a CCL will often wildly deviate from the norm of their gender, whether with dress code, hobbies, or general decisions. They're the first to admit that the female clothing they have to wear actually feels kind of comfortable.

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It is important to remember that a CCL doesn't know what they've done wrong. They cannot quite fathom that they have done something against the norm. They can see everybody else as being sane and sensible, but then again, so are they. What's wrong with turning your messy flatmate's room into a landfill anyway? Alternatively they think they're the OnlySaneMan.

The Dramatic CloudCuckooLander is more likely to be a DeadpanSnarker, or the OnlySaneMan. But again, it's not the jokes they make, but their reactions to the world around them. They have more backstory than the comedic CCL; there's a reason they are so weird.

In a situation where others feel helpless, the dramatic CloudCuckooLander takes action. Messy, violent, and irrational, but it is action regardless, and because there's no other choice, other people go along with it when they would normally have done nothing but sit and wait.

A dramatic CCL can really plan, and they'll think up the wildest XanatosRoulette ever. And then they'll be surprised when it doesn't work, or if everybody else tells them where to shove it. Or if it's a plan that's reluctantly used, they won't think it odd that it's being used.

The comedic CCL is played in a lighthearted manner. Their most likely reaction to doing or saying something odd is not, "Whoops, my bad" but "What did I do wrong?"

It cannot be repeated enough times: Everything a CloudCuckooLander does makes sense TO THEM. Their crazy ideas or actions are not just offhand attempts [[AttentionWhore to get attention]].

Some CCLs just plain speak their mind all the time, perhaps wondering what's for breakfast in the middle of a ZombieApocalypse, and then confused as to why everybody's looking at them funny.

Not enough, and your character is just another RegularSchmoe, but you're drawing attention to them for some reason your readers can't fathom.

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It is the why, not the what, that truly defines the CloudCuckooLander. They're not doing it for attention. They're doing it because it's what they want to do. There can be a CCL on either side; whether good or bad, they just don't see the world in the same way as their co-workers.