question about Mary Sues

[sophinisba]

I think I like posting questions about fic even more than posting fic. There’s all the excitement of getting comments without that icky vulnerable feeling. Here’s one I’ve been wondering about for rather longer than I’ve been on LJ:

When, in the course of writing a fanfic, it becomes necessary to introduce an original female character who is a nice person, what strategies can be used to avoid Mary Sueism?

Some answers that have occurred to me:

1. Don't let her have sex with any of our hot guys.
2. Don't let her resolve all the conflicts within the story.
3. Don't make her too much like yourself.
4. Do a good job telling her story so that she will become an engaging character in her own right.
5. Don't tell too much of her story because she'll end up taking over the fic.
6. Sophie, you're far too inexperienced a fanfic writer to be taking on an OFC. Don't you realize they're dangerous? Either find a way to make this fic work with canon characters (and work hard at keeping them close to canon) or set it aside for a time and come back when you've had a little more practice.

I mostly read based on other people's recs, so I don't know that I've ever read an actual Mary Sue fic, although I certainly composed a lot of them in my head when I was younger, and I've read a few parodies. A while back I was trying to figure out what to do with a particularly troublesome young lady and took a look at the Mary Sue Litmus Test: LOTR Adaptation, which told me I was fine. But I’m still a bit concerned.

Thoughts?

ETA: This question does not have to do with the fic I've been posting about Frodo in jail. No worries there, we will not be veering into the tragic but inspiring life story of Hank's girlfriend Daisy. Thank you.

Comments

[mariole.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, what about taking care of Frodo or Aragorn when they're sick or injured? Isn't this something many of us would like to do?

I would personally hate to do that; I would be miserable at it. Therefore, if you write this scenario, pretend you're me. The total void in your fic would have to suck in a completely made-up character!

Lily mentions one point among her excellent many: people read fanfic because they love _these particular characters_. The world might be interesting, but we get all perky when our heroes are on the scene. This doesn't mean make your OCs boring! But just realize that you have to work harder to make someone care about your OC. The character has to be real and engaging; that done, we'll like him or her (or hate, if it's a villain). But our little hearts will flutter fastest for those who've already claimed our affections; that's the way it works in fanfic land!

[sophinisba]

Hee, no, I would totally suck at taking care of them too, I'd be so awkward, no clue what to do. But some h/c fics make me want to be there anyway, maybe just to give Frodo a hug, I guess.

It is, it's very true, of course are favorite characters are the reason we're here. And as a reader I can never really handle being away from them for long. It's just funny, because before I started reading fanfic I always thought coming up with original characters was something to strive for in writing fiction, and here it's so often frowned on, or OCs aren't given a chance. It's interesting trying to work out those differences. I do love hearing from all of you talented people about this.

[mariole.livejournal.com]

I'm betaing a story right now that is almost all OCs. It's a lot of fun! It's well written and very exciting. I don't have a prejudice about OCs as many people seem to do (I don't have a OTP either). If a story is good, I'm happy to read it. But I confess, I look for Frodo first. There's many good authors I will never read because they write about some of the other characters. My loss, but one can't read everything!

BTW, I flunked the Mary Sue test. I tried it out for Too Many Tooks, and completely failed. My 3 Took daughters are all related to Frodo and Pippin, they had many lovers before they pounced on Frodo, and their physical attributes are described frequently during the many rounds of love making (well, sex. It's just sex!). What I think this test is trying to do is point out the obvious cliches and pitfalls, but it really isn't a litmus test. As you've heard from many of your commenters by now, one person's OFC is another's Mary Sue.

[sophinisba]

Hmm, yeah, I don't have an OTP anymore either, at least in Middle Earth. I used to be a Frodo/Sam girl, but now I just demand lots of Frodo, and whoever else comes along, OCs included, is welcome.

That's hilarious that you failed the Mary Sue test. The thing about the Took lasses though, I think, is they don't demand that we as readers care about them. They're just hot for Frodo, and who wouldn't be? Some of the OCs in your other fics though really have made me care for them, though. It's good to hear some of your ideas about how that can be done.