The Official Guide to Writing a Left-Handed Character

Today I welcome my wonderful friend, Abigayle Claire! As most of you already know, she’s an awesome person, an incredible writer, and one of the most amazing friends ever! Writing unique characters is a challenge for anyone, so today, Abi is going to give us some insight on writing left handed characters.

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If you know that I blog at The Left-Handed Typist, then you can probably guess: I’m left-handed (and proud of it).

 

Anytime I’m writing a new book, I create characters who go through something or have some attribute that I know nothing about! And that leads me to think of people I know who could provide some inside information.

 

Well, today’s your lucky day, because I’m here to provide you with a firsthand account of being left-handed. (See what I did there?) Consider this the official guide.

 

First, the insight:

it makes eating more difficult (leftie + rightie = elbow wars)
“watch me” doesn’t work; they have to reverse any directional demonstration
lefties have to pay more for sports equipment, or just make do (I have a left-handed gun)
they will always be the odd one out as left is their directional preference for everything
scissors actually don’t work with a left hand no matter what
old-fashioned school desks don’t work (trust me, I had one)
lefties crochet in the opposite direction to form their rows
they have to wear watches and bracelets on their right hand
mouses and numerical keypads are on the wrong side of the computer

I also have a few “facts” that even right-handed people can research, but I’ll save you the trouble. :)

teachers may force you to use your right hand because it’s “normal”
“your way” of doing anything will be considered backward
in certain foreign countries, using your left hand (handshake, waving) is offensive
lefties only make up about 10% of the population
but up to 40% of the mentally ill (uh-oh … left-handed villain perhaps?)
International Left-Handers’ Day is August 13
sometimes the odds aren’t even (2-3/7 kids in my family)
right-handed parents can have left-handed children (lots of them, apparently)
lefties are that much more unique!

Now I’m curious! With all the demands for diversity today, I bet it’s never even crossed your mind to create a left-handed character. ;) How many of these facts were new to you? If you have any questions, I’ll be happy to dispel some myths for you.

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