The story usually centers around her, often warping established characterization in the process. From Mary Sue: From self-inserts to imagines, how young women write themselves into the narrative , Elizabeth Minkel.
Mary Sue characters can appear in almost any type of writing, including published novels and popular TV shows. The character is a powerful female. You can and should! The character has wacky coloured hair or eyes. The character has multiple love interests. Think of all the mainstream romance novels and films that involve — usually — a woman choosing between two men. In some sub-genres, like reverse harem romances , the whole point of a story is about a character having several love interests at once.
Admittedly, this type of character has a fairly high chance of being a Mary Sue compared with, say, original characters in original works. One of the main issues with this type of character is that they tend to steal the spotlight from the real main characters — the established ones who fans want to read about. But original female characters are not invariably Mary Sues. The problem comes when you want other people to read — and enjoy — your work.
They have their fears, but they would be willing to face them in a life or death situation. However, they can crack under pressure and succumb to their fears. They rarely let their fears limit them. Yes, admirably so. They would be willing to face any of their fears at any given time; especially for someone they love. No, they are completely dumb. They have average intelligence.
They are well educated on some subjects, while they aren't on others. They are well educated on more topics than they aren't. Yes, they are very smart. My character is an absolute genius. They are very strict and watch over your character very carefully.
They care about the wellbeing of your character, but they will let your character do what they want within reason. They abuse your character. They almost always let your character do whatever they want. A few bland colors. Mostly average colors that appeal to me personally, and I find that it works well with the character's personality. Mostly bold colors, but I think they go together well. Almost all bold colors, but it's because it suits the character's personality. All bright and cute colors, but they don't go well together.
No, nor could they be with another OC. If you're unsure, ask people for opinions and if they think your character is overpowered, implausible, or author-spoiled. If your character has a high score, or if people keep calling your character a Sue despite your character not having a high score, you can check out these pages for further tips and help:. Disclaimer: Part 1: Any resemblance to other characters in the "samples" is strictly coincidental, unless a well-known published character is being deliberately cited by name.
Part 2: If your character receives a high score, this is not an attack against you or your character, nor is in any way "bashing" your character.
Special Thanks To: Dr. Are you a roleplayer? You can find all kinds of roleplaying tips and advice - including tips to make better and more balanced roleplaying characters - here! Spelling it differently or changing it a little counts. Fic: RPG: A name you planned on giving one of your children, or the name of one of your actual children? Is your character's name taken deliberately from a character from another fandom that you like? Does your character have an unusual or exotic name EG, a name related to nature or something mystical, a strangely-spelled name, or a name from a culture your character doesn't belong to chosen primarily because it sounded exotic, extra-pretty, or to make your character "stand out" more?
Is your character's name not merely mildly unusual EG, a child of hippie parents being named Skye or River , but very unusual for your character's place and situation?
Having trouble finding names for your characters? Try the random name generators - link opens in a new window. Did you deliberately base your character's looks on your own? Does your character look how you wish you looked? Did you deliberately base your character's appearance on your own child, or someone you wish was your own child?
Does anyone become distracted or enraptured by your character's looks? Does anyone fight or squabble over your character because of xir looks? Is anyone including you jealous of your character's good looks?
Do any characters see xir attractiveness as a threat? Does this include anyone who doesn't especially like your character, or considers your character a rival or enemy? Does your character modestly deny it every time or refuses to believe that xe is attractive? Is your character strong enough to wield a huge weapon like a warhammer, giant gun, or huge sword, yet has a waifish figure instead of 'unattractive' bulging muscles?
Conversely, do you go to great lengths describing how your character is not gorgeous? Does your character explicitly look like or strongly resemble an attractive real-life celebrity in-story?
Faceclaims don't count unless it's highlighted how your character looks like that celebrity in-story. Do other characters find your character extremely attractive and desirable, even when xe should be completely gross and icky EG, after battling, getting tortured, going for days without bathing or washing , and they don't have a kink for that kind of thing? Does your character have any of the following? Note: Alexandria's Genesis is not real. Eyes with any other unusual qualities? Unusual feature of any other kind?
One box for each: Does your character have a particularly attractive or pleasant scent that doesn't come from xir perfume, cologne, or shampoo?
Does your character have a scar or other small "flaw" that is noticed by someone, but does not actually detract from your character's appearance from your point of view? Do not click if healing technology or magic is readily available that allows for healing without scars. Does your character have a particularly piercing EG, "can stare straight into your soul" , haunting, captivating, or dazzling gaze? Does your character's personal choice of clothing frequently include: Clothing that you deliberately picked from your own wardrobe?
Clothing you chose because you really wished you owned it or could get away with wearing it in public? Clothing that is realistically impractical, improper , or inappropriate for the character's situation, but looks cool?
Ignore if your character's choice in clothing ends up backfiring - eg, midriff-revealing armor results in a serious injury, or a high heeled shoe breaks and results in a sprained ankle. If your character belongs to a race you made up, consider taking the Mary Sue Race Test. In a universe where hybrids of this type are virtually unheard of or are completely unprecedented?
A hybrid of more than two species? Does xe possess the strengths of both or all species, but none of the weaknesses? Or does your character have all of the weaknesses, but none of the strengths? Is your character part something that has features that might be considered unattractive or unappealing by human standards, but the only features your character inherited do nothing to detract from xir appearance , or even enhance it? If not a cross-breed, then is your character cross-cultural because you believe it makes your character more "interesting" or "exotic?
Link opens in new window. Is xe happier this way? Do people like xir better this way? Do you wish it would happen to you? Do you think of your character as a role model? Does xe convince others that xir way of thinking is right? Is spreading these views one of your character's biggest motivations, or even xir sole motivation?
And does no one frown upon your character's behaviors or views? Or do only characters who don't matter disapprove, EG, the villain, the "village idiot," fusty old grandpa, etc? Does your character openly call anyone else incapable, incompetent, foolish, etc. Is the insulted person the type of person who'd never let that kind of behavior slide with anyone else?
Does your character ever strike or attack any other character, or steal or destroy any other character's possessions, yet the character or characters affected don't get angry or upset over it? Is the victim the type of person who'd never let that kind of behavior slide with anyone else?
Did a serious injury result, or was the item something very important to the character? Is your character easily provoked to violence - but only gets into fights with characters who truly deserve the beating they get? If your character is openly defiant or disrespectful toward authority figures , is your character always justified and in the right?
Are any other actions that get your character into trouble with authority always justified from your point of view? Do authority figures punish your character more harshly than they would have punished xir peers under the same circumstances? Do authority figures not punish your character when they probably would have punished xir peers under the same circumstances?
Are The Rules of the universe bent or broken for your character? Like joining a group despite being too old or too young. Do not click if the rules catch up to your character and xe does not find a way to permanently cheat or circumvent them. Does your character have any psychological disorders or conditions for the following reasons? Any mental condition or psychological disorder that is used in such a way to completely absolve or excuse your character acting in cruel, inconsiderate, injurious, or hurtful ways so nobody including the audience supposedly has any legitimate right to feel angry or hurt over what happened, and no real effort is ever made to prevent the character from doing the same thing again?
Planning to write a character with a mental illness? Is your character mainly driven by completely-justified revenge? Are animals instinctively attracted to your character? How many animal companions does your character keep? Ordinary, non-magical pets like cats and dogs - or any pet considered ordinary within the canon, such as non-legendary Pokemon in a Pokemon story or an owl in Harry Potter do not count.
Is said animal a wolf, bird of prey, big cat, or mythical creature? Does your character habitually share profound wisdom and knowledge? Does your character always have money to spend on extravagant frivolities or whatever xe really wants or needs at the time?
For no apparent reason? EG, your character never works or gives any clue to any source of income. Does anyone quickly and readily bestow gifts, goodies, and luxuries upon your character that aren't mandated by local norms of etiquette, or if they are mandated by norms of etiquette, are much nicer or more extravagant than considered necessary?
Are the gifts things that it would not be in the best interest of the gifter to give away? Do any of the characters doing the giving rarely, if ever just give nice or fancy things to other people?
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