Uh oh. Is your character a Mary Sue?

Share your fembot fiction and fantasies here or discuss the craft of writing by asking for or giving suggestions.
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Gorgo
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Ver, Very Interesting . . .

Post by Gorgo » Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:23 pm

I got a 40 score with a character I'm tempted to use in a re-write of a fanfic series I created with my friend Mike Smith, Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year. What's the danger point in this test?
Canadian lighthouse to U.S. warship approaching it: This is a lighthouse; your call.

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Post by Gorgo » Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:25 pm

BTW, Kishin, we all go through writer's slumps. Don't kick yourself over it.
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Post by WilloWisp » Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:26 pm

I'd like to see JK Rowling's results for Hermione Grainger on this test. Or George Lucas' for Luke Skywalker.

In fact, I just tried filling out the George Lucas/Luke Skywalker answers based on what I know about both. I may have missed some checkmarks, but:

"Luke Skywalker isn't a character: he's you, or you as you'd like to be. He isn't really very cool: he blends into crowds, he hangs out on the fringes at parties, and wearing shades after dark makes him run into things. He always knew he was special, destined for great things - and probablyf made sure everyone else knew it too. He's had a rough life - to say the least! Angst? Histronics? His speciality. And you've been sparing with the free handouts: whatever he gains, he's worked for.

You may have let yourself get a little too close to Luke Skywalker. Maybe he's you as you wish you were, or maybe you're just afraid no one will like him and are trying to give him a free ride. Have some confidence in your writing! Luke Skywalker is a good character. Give him room to be himself before you stifle him.

Score Breakdown
Mirror, Mirror 31
You Mean Plaid Is Out? 5
Hey, Wanna See My Crown-Shaped Birthmark? 15
Valium Poster Child 21
Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child 10
Total: 82 "

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Post by MalcfunctionCrazyfor » Tue Jan 08, 2008 12:30 am

Whee for second post! (Sorry, I'm really, really too shy ._.)
But this post got me thinking as a writer, I really didn't know about the Mary Sue issue. (I actually had never even heard of it), but I got instantly worried about my writings and characters as I read this and decided to give it a shot with my favourite: Lizzan.

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Lizzan is only a little like you. She isn't really very cool: she blends into crowds, she hangs out on the fringes at parties, and wearing shades after dark makes her run into things. She always knew she was special, destined for great things - and probablyf made sure everyone else knew it too. She's got no emotional scars to speak of. And you've been sparing with the free handouts: whatever she gains, she's worked for.

In general, you care deeply about Lizzan, but you're smart enough to let her stand on her own, without burdening her with your personal fantasies or propping her up with idealization and over-dramatization. Lizzan is a healthy character with a promising career ahead of her.



Score Breakdown
I Love Her, I Let Her Go 8
You Mean Plaid Is Out? 6
Hey, Wanna See My Crown-Shaped Birthmark? 12
Healthy as a Horse 0
Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child 6
Total: 32

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I actually let out a big sigh of relief when I saw that ^^;

Just wanted to comment ._.

PS: Thanks for the link-topic Kishin, big help!

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