tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post4967359553113510866..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: How to Spot Mary Sue in Your WritingGabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-79440027770274596052012-12-02T13:02:27.547-08:002012-12-02T13:02:27.547-08:00I have done this before. Cameos are a secret passi...I have done this before. Cameos are a secret passion ^_^Robin Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-55551266510671365922012-12-02T12:59:23.660-08:002012-12-02T12:59:23.660-08:00Double-posting! When I rarely create a male protag...Double-posting! When I rarely create a male protagonist, he is never brutishly strong and buff and terribly handsome nor is he the "life of the party", because I'm not buff and terribly handsome-- but I am the life of the party ;) Oddly enough, I might try that archetype. Making all of my male protagonists so emotional or angsty, it's a bad pattern. Maybe I need to try the stereotypical manly-man hero, knowing I'll end up subconsciously giving him the flaws I gave to my noodle-heroes (that's what I'm calling them now) and creating a great, three-dimensional character.Robin Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-7402458397721932162012-12-02T12:44:31.532-08:002012-12-02T12:44:31.532-08:00I created a world where most civilized people are ...I created a world where most civilized people are honest with each other, and it's like I imprinted my philosophies on them. After some revisions, the protagonist of my WIP is no longer a Mary-Sue. Giving her a power-hungry trait that puts her in danger definitely added a darker dimension to her character.Robin Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-39675294864007867522012-07-04T07:33:15.456-07:002012-07-04T07:33:15.456-07:00Can I ask a question? What if the unusual eye colo...Can I ask a question? What if the unusual eye colour is directly related to the plot, not just because they are fascinating. Do you still think that's too Mary-sue like?Karanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-67283801248939295422012-06-28T08:37:05.931-07:002012-06-28T08:37:05.931-07:00I agree that wish-fulfillment is the main issue wh...I agree that wish-fulfillment is the main issue when it comes to writing characters that are too similar to us. The other problem, similar to the one you mentioned, is when you include your negative traits, but soften them so they're not really a problem (similar to what Hildred mentioned below with the clumsiness "flaw").Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-16122291656287047652012-06-28T06:14:37.052-07:002012-06-28T06:14:37.052-07:00It's ridiculously easy to write a Mary Sue. Bu...It's <i>ridiculously</i> easy to write a Mary Sue. But in my experience, anyway, I've found that it's infinitely more interesting to write characters who are entirely different from you--so it's a win-win if you do.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-21728429256937052432012-06-28T06:10:16.273-07:002012-06-28T06:10:16.273-07:00To be honest, I wasn't thinking of any specifi...To be honest, I wasn't thinking of any specific characters when I wrote this post, but I think it's funny that you're the second person to mention a <i>Twilight</i> character. As for whether or not your character passes, only you really know just how similar you are to your MC. :)<br /><br /><br />I think you hit the nail on the head with your last sentence--not <i>every</i> character necessarily has to change over the course of a story, but the ones who do truly become much more dynamic, realistic and (IMO) interesting.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-32745637138566305252012-06-28T06:04:02.362-07:002012-06-28T06:04:02.362-07:00That's a good expansion of the points--flaws a...That's a good expansion of the points--flaws are useless if they aren't at least somewhat of a problem. The clumsiness one is a "flaw" I've seen a couple times, and while it's not necessarily an issue if it's paired with other real flaws, if that's the <i>only</i> flaw...more times than not, it barely counts. <br /><br /><br />Also, I've never written myself in as a cameo, but I have to admit it sounds kind of fun.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-65595419425899970362012-06-27T20:21:53.696-07:002012-06-27T20:21:53.696-07:00I think all writers fall prey every now and again ...I think all writers fall prey every now and again to writing themselves into their manuscripts. All characters are derived from an author's experience. We are all flawed, and if a balance of our positive traits and flaws are struck then the character that is like us is as 3 dimensional as we are. It becomes a problem however when, as the Wikipedia definition point, our character becomes a vehicle of the authors wish fulfillment. Adding in traits that we wish we had, or adding in only our positives and none of our negatives. That is when the character becomes unrealistic and too good to be true.James Andersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-90772168565873036682012-06-27T16:33:57.980-07:002012-06-27T16:33:57.980-07:00It is really easy to write a Mary Sue. I think tha...It is really easy to write a Mary Sue. I think that's why I've heard people say you should never write someone who's too much like you.Vicki Oriansnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-63912704271942040452012-06-27T14:13:07.691-07:002012-06-27T14:13:07.691-07:00So much win in this post. I swear I heard "Ed...So much win in this post. I swear I heard "Edward Cullen" in the back of my head when you described a Gary Stu. Perfectionist? Why, yes, I am. My character? Erm...she's kinda too busy to worry about nit-picky details. But when she makes a mistake she just brushes it off and tries another strategy. Meanwhile, I have a panic attack. Compulsive liar? Not compulsive, but she can lie well when she has to. I can't lie for the death of me. I get all giggly and sweaty. It's gross. Quick witted? Why, yes, she is. It takes me about 30 minutes to think of a comeback. Do I pass?? <br /><br />I have to agree with EB_Black, it's sometimes more difficult not to write characters that are too flawed. But as long as they're on their way to redeeming (or destroying) themselves, I say that still makes them realistic. What's important is to give them room to develop.Margaret Alexanderhttp://twitter.com/markedforpowernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-2442660663900622282012-06-27T13:51:48.958-07:002012-06-27T13:51:48.958-07:00Related to one of your points, but a great tell is...Related to one of your points, but a great tell is when you give your characters flaws but...they're not a problem - in fact, they're meant to make the character endearing. I always think of most of the Mary-Sues I know off the top of my head (Bella from Twilight and Usagi from Sailor Moon). They're both super super clumsy but it's ~adorable~ and in no way actually detracts from their character and just gets annoying. Ugh.<br /><br />And kinda unrelated, but there is the fun of writing yourself in as a cameo. ;) (As long as it's not overdone, ofc.)Hildred Billingsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-53649572639370220842012-06-27T12:04:31.789-07:002012-06-27T12:04:31.789-07:00lol, the violet eyes?lol, the violet eyes?Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-2148720751857311432012-06-27T12:03:49.614-07:002012-06-27T12:03:49.614-07:00That's interesting. I can't say I've e...That's interesting. I can't say I've experienced that myself, but like anything else, character flaws need to be balanced with positive traits so they don't become overwhelming. On the other hand, I wouldn't worry <i>too</i> much about someone disliking your character unless you started getting consistent feedback from many beta readers who all said the same thing.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-80754212660970789712012-06-27T11:25:40.508-07:002012-06-27T11:25:40.508-07:00OMG, save me from violet eyes!OMG, save me from violet eyes!Angel Kinghttp://twitter.com/KingsElementalsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-47899870828089458032012-06-27T10:08:25.155-07:002012-06-27T10:08:25.155-07:00I haven't written a Mary Sue, but sometimes I ...I haven't written a Mary Sue, but sometimes I struggle with the opposite. Writing characters with flaws that make people hate them. Ugh, I hate when that happens. I'm trying to fix one right now. She's nothing like me, but I don't hate her, but I've already had one beta reader tell me she does hate my main character. So difficult!EB_Blacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-28066294264337440542012-06-27T08:40:27.786-07:002012-06-27T08:40:27.786-07:00There are definitely a lot of definitions for Mary...There are definitely a <i>lot</i> of definitions for Mary Sue as it tends to cover a wide variety of character issues. I haven't seen the TV Tropes definition, but I understand what you mean by the dominating-story type. There's a reason even Superman has kryptonite...Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-14621295663328679762012-06-27T08:38:45.312-07:002012-06-27T08:38:45.312-07:00Ah yes...I think I've talked before about the ...Ah yes...I think I've talked before about the eye-obsession issue. Many of us just love those eyes...<br /><br /><br />I also found that writing protagonists that are as unlike me as I can manage is a great way to fight off the Mary Sues. As an added bonus, they tend to be pretty interesting to write, as writing Mary Sues can get boring pretty quickly.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-86353855362939718162012-06-27T08:19:52.853-07:002012-06-27T08:19:52.853-07:00Have you seen the TV Tropes definition of Mary Sue...Have you seen the TV Tropes definition of Mary Sue?<br /><br /><br />Another definition of Mary Sue (since the term is so wide in scale) involves a character that unrealistically dominates the story. As in, there's no challenge for her.Chihuahua Zerohttp://www.youngaspiringwriter.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-21093668768405842772012-06-27T06:40:47.836-07:002012-06-27T06:40:47.836-07:00Don't forget the fascinating eyes of some unus...Don't forget the fascinating eyes of some unusual color... often a big red Mary Sue flag. <br /><br /><br />I used to have a huge problem with this, so I just started making protagonists that are as unlike me as humanly possible. :)Daniel Swensenhttp://www.surlymuse.comnoreply@blogger.com