Hi, How do i write a character who is disoriented hazy and confused when it comes to past memories and childhood but is otherwise a capable adult without her coming off as generally out of it and incapable?
Hi, thanks for asking! It's important localise the disorientation in a way that it colours her past but doesn't bleed everywhere in the present. Here are some tips:
1. Differentiate past vs. present
In the present day, let her be sharp, functional, even impressive in her field or daily life. Past memories being hazy doesn't have to affect the way she acts, behaves or interact.
You can have the haziness come in only when something triggers old memory pathways or things from her childhood, like questions about when she was little, old photos, places she had a connection with when she was younger, or family members. For example, if someone asks her about something she doesn't have a memory of, she might falter, like hitting a wall ("I should know that, shouldn't I?").
Don't be afraid to show her frustration at the gap she's experiencing in her life—this won't take away from her capability now but still tell the readers that her past is foggy to her.
2. Memory as static, not full absence
Instead of having her not remember anything at all, think of it more like static interference, where all she does remember are fragments, distorted impressions, and wrong details she later realises don't fully add up, adding to her confusion. This way, rather than feeling blank, she's more haunted by the unreliable scraps that are all she's left with.
Depicting her as competent in daily adult spheres (like studying, work, friendships, decision-making, etc.) doesn't have to always and absolutely interfere with the haziness of her childhood—in fact, it realistically won't. It might come up every now and then, but she can live her life normally at other times without it having to hinder her wherever she turns.
4. Agency, tone, and reaction
This disorientation is a great way to give her character development and growth, and her reaction to it can help shape how the readers see her (like whether she spirals, is irritated, brushes it off, tries to address it, gets defensive, jokes about it, etc.).
This will also help give her agency around it rather than just having her be passively confused, making her feel like a person managing something, not consumed by it.
The bottom line is to keep in mind that her confusion isn't defining her entire personality, but situational and one facet of her experience. Hope this helped! ❤❤❤
