Character Trait: Disorderly

To engage your reader, it's important to always show not tell the traits of your characters. The character trait Disorderly refers to someone who lacks order, organization, or neatness in their actions or surroundings. This trait may manifest as a disregard for rules or routines, a tendency to procrastinate or forget tasks, or an inability to maintain a tidy living or working environment. People with this trait may also struggle to prioritize or focus on important goals, leading to a sense of chaos or disarray in their lives.

Possible causes of being disorderly

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

• Environmental factors, such as poverty, social isolation, or chaotic living conditions
• Difficulty regulating emotions or impulses
• Substance abuse or addiction
• Traumatic childhood experiences, such as abuse, neglect, or abandonment
• Chronic stress or ongoing life challenges
• Poor self-esteem or a negative self-image
• Genetics or family history of mental illness or personality disorders
• Lack of positive role models or support systems

Behaviors associated with being disorderly

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

• Being easily distracted or getting sidetracked
• Having a disorganized living or working space
• Failing to follow through on tasks or commitments
• Having difficulty focusing on one task at a time
• Struggling to keep schedules or meet deadlines
• Being impulsive or indecisive
• Being frequently late or forgetful
• Being forgetful or absent-minded
• Having trouble prioritizing tasks or setting goals

Attitudes associated with being disorderly

You may be able to show disorderly through their attitudes.

• Resistance to authority or structure
• Discomfort with strict schedules or rigid expectations
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing situations
• Disregard for rules and routines
• Relaxed or carefree demeanor
• Difficulty with organization and planning
• Tendency to procrastinate or delay tasks
• Creativity and openness to new ideas
• Impulsiveness and spontaneity

Thoughts and struggles associated with being disorderly

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

• Lack of focus and organization
• Feeling overwhelmed by clutter or chaos in their environment
• Fear of being judged or criticized by others for their disorganization
• Difficulty prioritizing tasks or deciding what to do first
• Feeling frustrated or guilty about their inability to be more orderly
• Feeling shame or embarrassment about their disorderliness
• Difficulty completing tasks or following through on commitments
• Struggling to maintain relationships due to disorganization or forgetfulness
• Struggling with time management and punctuality

Emotions associated with being disorderly

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

• Frustrated
• Stressed
• Defeated
• Chaotic
• Overwhelmed
• Confused
• Embarrassed
• Anxious
• Disorganized

Facial expressions associated with being disorderly

Here are some facial expressions your disorderly character may exhibit.

• A furrowed brow and scowling expression
• A flushed face or sweaty brow, indicating stress or anxiety
• A lack of eye contact or a shifty gaze, suggesting dishonesty or deception
• Tightly pressed lips and a tense jaw, suggesting frustration or anger
• Averted eyes or a sidelong glance, indicating avoidance or discomfort
• A disheveled appearance, with messy hair or clothing that is untucked or wrinkled
• A nervous or restless manner, with fidgeting or tapping of the feet or hands
• A slack-jawed or open-mouthed look of confusion or disorientation

Body language associated with being disorderly

Here is some body language your disorderly character may exhibit.

• Disregarding personal space or boundaries
• Being easily distracted or unable to focus
• Fidgeting or constantly shifting position
• Messy or unkempt appearance
• Interrupting others while they speak or talking over them
• Lack of eye contact or avoiding direct communication
• Forgetting or misplacing items frequently
• Moving quickly or in an erratic manner

Behaviors associated with being disorderly

Here are some behaviors your disorderly character may exhibit.

• Being impulsive or indecisive
• Having difficulty focusing on one task at a time
• Struggling to keep schedules or meet deadlines
• Being frequently late or forgetful
• Failing to follow through on tasks or commitments
• Being forgetful or absent-minded
• Being easily distracted or getting sidetracked
• Having a disorganized living or working space
• Having trouble prioritizing tasks or setting goals

Growth and evolution of disorderly characters

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

• Learning to control impulsive behavior and make better decisions
• Developing coping mechanisms to manage their disorder
• Building healthy relationships with others and improving social skills
• Learning to organize and prioritize their thoughts and tasks
• Realizing the negative impact their disorder has on themselves and others
• Seeking professional help and treatment
• Accepting responsibility for their actions
• Developing a sense of self-awareness and introspection

Stereotypes of disorderly characters to avoid

Try to avoid writing stereotypical disorderly character like these examples.

• Being lazy or unmotivated
• Being rude or disrespectful to others
• Being disorganized or chaotic in all areas of life
• Being irresponsible or unreliable
• Being impulsive or reckless without regard for consequences
• Being unable to hold down a job or maintain stable relationships
• Being a danger to oneself or others due to lack of impulse control or poor decision-making skills.
• Being prone to addiction or substance abuse
• Being unable to commit or follow through on plans

Remember, these are just stereotypes and not representative of all people with a Disorderly character trait. It's important to write nuanced and complex characters that avoid these harmful stereotypes.

Negatives of being disorderly

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

• Difficulty in following through on commitments
• Disorganization leading to stress and anxiety
• Difficulty in finding things when needed
• Missed deadlines and forgetfulness
• Poor time management and tardiness
• Lack of structure and routine in daily life
• Tendency to procrastinate and put off tasks
• Inability to prioritize tasks effectively
• Cluttered living spaces and work environments

Positives of being disorderly

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

• Creativity: A disorderly person is often very creative and can come up with unique and unconventional ideas.
• Resourcefulness: A disorderly person can often find creative solutions to problems due to their ability to think outside the box.
• Flexibility: Disorderly people are often very adaptable and can easily change plans or strategies.
• Open-mindedness: Disorderly people often have an open mind and are not afraid to try new things or explore different perspectives.
• Spontaneity: A disorderly person is often very spontaneous and can come up with exciting ideas on the spot.
• Energy: Disorderly people are often full of energy and can bring a lot of enthusiasm to a project or task.

Verbal expressions of disorderly characters

Here are some potential expressions used by disorderly characters.

• Using sarcasm or insults
• Disregarding others' feelings or opinions
• Using vulgar language or profanity
• Interrupting others frequently
• Being argumentative or confrontational
• Being unpredictable or erratic in behavior
• Being disorganized or scatterbrained
• Talking loudly or excessively
• Not following rules or guidelines

Relationships of disorderly characters

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

• Difficulty with empathy or understanding others' perspectives, causing communication breakdowns and misunderstandings
• Difficulty with following through on commitments or responsibilities, leading to frustration from others
• Tendency to engage in risky or dangerous behaviors, causing concern or fear from those around them
• Inability to control emotions, leading to explosive outbursts or emotional distance from others
• Impulsive actions that can be unpredictable and potentially harmful to themselves or others
• Lack of organization and planning, potentially causing stress or inconvenience for those around them
• Disruptive behavior that can cause conflict and tension in relationships

Examples from books of characters who are disorderly

• John Yossarian from "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
• Meursault from "The Stranger" by Albert Camus
• Humbert Humbert from "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov
• Tyler Durden from "Fight Club" by Chuck Palahniuk
• Holden Caulfield from "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger
• Patrick Bateman from "American Psycho" by Bret Easton Ellis
• Ignatius J. Reilly from "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
• Randle McMurphy from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" by Ken Kesey
• Alex from "A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess

Writing exercises for writing disorderly characters

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

• Develop a character who is disorganized in their emotions, such as struggling to regulate their feelings or communicate them effectively. Write a scene where this character's emotional disorganization causes conflict with someone they care about.
• Create a character who is disorganized in their thoughts and speech. Write a scene where this character struggles to communicate effectively with someone due to their scattered thoughts.
• Develop a character who has trouble keeping their living space clean and organized. Write a scene where this character's messiness causes tension with a roommate or family member.
• Write a scene where the character's disorganization causes them to forget something important, such as a loved one's birthday or a deadline for a project.
• Write a scene where the character's disorganization causes chaos in their daily life. For example, they miss an important appointment or lose an important document.
• Create a character who is always late to everything due to their disorganization. Write a scene where they are late to an important event and the consequences of this tardiness.
• Write a scene where the character's disorganization causes them to overlook an important detail or clue in a mystery or crime story.