You know who I love? I love Marigold Gamgee as written in Devoted. You do original characters wonderfully, Mariole, I'm so glad to have your advice on this. I really should have put this question up before I wrote the fic (dammit), but anyway the discussion will give me a lot to think about while revising.

It's not so much the projection thing that I'm having trouble with. I think it's perfectly valid to put aspects of yourself in your characters, but this woman is really barely similar to me at all. It's more the tragic past/taking over the story thing. I felt the plot demanded bringing her in, but right away she wanted to be important, to tell her own story and have everybody care! It's maddening! I've had to keep hacking her part down but I just can't stand to get rid of her. It's very strange. Probably not that big a deal, but I don't seem to be able to stop looking over my shoulder.