Sophinisba Solis (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sophinisba) wrote2005-10-16 02:14 pm
sophinisba) wrote2005-10-16 02:14 pm
question about Mary Sues
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.
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.
no subject
No!!!! *clutches notebooks and notebook computer tightly* You mustn't take it away! It's 30,000 words and it's *done* and it's precious to me!!!
*calms down somewhat* Actually, I have done some fairly brutal cuts and revisions already, and I did try rewriting it without her in it, and liked it less. So I don't think starting over is the answer, at least not for this particular situation. But I like your advice about listening to what the characters want to say, and also Lily's about using OCs to tell us something about
the canon charactersFrodo. I'll keep all that in mind when I'm revising this and also when working on another fic I have bits and pieces of (which features some Marigold and rather a lot of Rosie).But it all is mysterious, and for me it's especially mysterious when I'm looking at my own writing, like I lose all capacity to judge whether it's working or not. I do know that I enjoyed writing this one a lot, so that's something to hold on to anyway. :-)
no subject
I wasn't trying to suggest you scrap the whole fic-- although that's what Tolkien always did with LOTR. CS Lewis said he had two responses to criticism: he either ignored it, or started over from the beginning. In your case, I was thinking of just starting the troubling chapters over again. But it sounds like you're already doing that. I hope other people have had more useful suggestions. Good luck! I really like this fic!
no subject
"A Brief Adventure" is not done yet and has been stalled for a while, which is a little troubling in itself. On the bright side, it has no looming potential Mary Sues. Kind of a lot of OCs maybe, but none of them threatening to hijack the story. It's so nice to know you're enjoying it so far!