Fanfiction: the definition of Mary-Sue - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

symestreem · 02-21-2004, 11:32 AM

Tortured pasts are the easiest way to give a Sue emotional complexity. Also an excuse for her to break down crying in a handsome elf/man/tomato's arms. Also, killing off all family members can be an easy way to get them out of the story. Plus, instant sympathy for the Sue, and a reason for her to be "tough girl".

StarJewel · 07-18-2004, 12:53 AM

Sues...every time I see one, I want to just bay at the moon. It's really a shame how much is out there, because it tends to distract people from finding the really good stories. I write fanfiction, (mainly Silmarillion based) and know firsthand what writing a Sue is like. The thing is, I don't think people who write Sues realize that they are writing them. I very nearly ended up with a Sue-like character, but, thank heaven, someone called me on it. It is very easy to lapse into something like that.

Morgul Queen · 07-21-2004, 11:34 PM

Silm!Fic? *bows to ye* Is it good? Does it stick to canon? Do I need to kill any of your characters?

Sapphire_Flame · 07-26-2004, 06:13 PM

Yeah, go get 'em, Morgy! ^ ^

That's a good checklist you put together, Elennar. I may have to apply it to my almost-Sue to try to fix her.

BTW, I have found an interesting article concerning 'Sues. It can be found HERE, along with many other good articles on writing. The fandom she uses for reference is Star Trek, but the ideas are applicable no matter what fandom you're writing in.

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

Encaitare · 07-27-2004, 08:33 PM

I once began writing a Mary-Sue *twitch* it was a *twitch* Legolas/MS fic *grimace* but now I think he's a pansy and realized what I wrote was absolute crap, so I don't have to worry about it anymore! I sent the first part to my friend to read, and she liked it, but I found it horrific and deleted it.

My heroine wasn't *that* perfect, though. She wasn't exceptional in appearance (she was pretty, yes, but not violet-eyed and silver-haired) or the singing type (thank Elbereth!) or magical in any way. She was handy with a sword though. But again, it was crap.

I now try to avoid Mary-Sues at all costs, in reading and in writing. Although, a well-written Sue can actually make a decent fic. But those are incredibly rare! And now, in a show of shameless self-promotion, anyone who wants to read angsty but blissfully Sue-free fiction can find the link to my ff.net account on my BD profile.

StarJewel · 07-28-2004, 10:35 PM

Morgul Queen:
I'm not sure if I consider my own stuff "good". I try to stick to canon as much as possible, especially with how certian characters would act. As for the OC's, well, I try to make them normal as possible. And by normal I mean not like me (hair trigger temper, major quirks).

On another note...I was thinking of devising a Silmarillion Mary-Sue litmus test. I know there are several for Lord of the Rings, and its true that most of the stuff applies to both books, but I think there should be one just for Silmarillion based stories.

Encaitare · 07-29-2004, 02:34 PM

That sounds cool; I don't know how many Silmarillion MS's there are, but it would be interesting to see. I'm pondering writing a Mary-Sue for an unlikely character, ie: Gimli, just in mockery of all the pretty-boy romances. It could be interesting.

07-18-2004, 12:53 AM	#2
StarJewel Wight Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: I'm in my dear Maedhros' arms, dreaming the day away. Oh, who am I kidding, Chicago is nothing like that! Posts: 116	Sues...every time I see one, I want to just bay at the moon. It's really a shame how much is out there, because it tends to distract people from finding the really good stories. I write fanfiction, (mainly Silmarillion based) and know firsthand what writing a Sue is like. The thing is, I don't think people who write Sues realize that they are writing them. I very nearly ended up with a Sue-like character, but, thank heaven, someone called me on it. It is very easy to lapse into something like that. __________________ Visit my writing site...if you dare http://www.fanfiction.net/~mirielamarian

07-21-2004, 11:34 PM	#3
Morgul Queen Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dontgonearthe Castle Posts: 414	Silm!Fic? bows to ye Is it good? Does it stick to canon? Do I need to kill any of your characters? __________________ Athrabeth is still doing the wave for Boromir the Disco-King Oh...and call me Morgy!

07-26-2004, 06:13 PM	#4
Sapphire_Flame Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The World That Never Was Posts: 1,232	<==The Lofty Tree of Gondor Yeah, go get 'em, Morgy! ^ ^ That's a good checklist you put together, Elennar. I may have to apply it to my almost-Sue to try to fix her. BTW, I have found an interesting article concerning 'Sues. It can be found HERE, along with many other good articles on writing. The fandom she uses for reference is Star Trek, but the ideas are applicable no matter what fandom you're writing in. Abedithon le, ~~Aranel~~ __________________ The Hitchhiking Ghost

07-28-2004, 10:35 PM	#6
StarJewel Wight Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: I'm in my dear Maedhros' arms, dreaming the day away. Oh, who am I kidding, Chicago is nothing like that! Posts: 116	Morgul Queen: I'm not sure if I consider my own stuff "good". I try to stick to canon as much as possible, especially with how certian characters would act. As for the OC's, well, I try to make them normal as possible. And by normal I mean not like me (hair trigger temper, major quirks). On another note...I was thinking of devising a Silmarillion Mary-Sue litmus test. I know there are several for Lord of the Rings, and its true that most of the stuff applies to both books, but I think there should be one just for Silmarillion based stories. __________________ Visit my writing site...if you dare http://www.fanfiction.net/~mirielamarian

02-21-2004, 11:32 AM	#1
symestreem Face in the Water Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 728	Tortured pasts are the easiest way to give a Sue emotional complexity. Also an excuse for her to break down crying in a handsome elf/man/tomato's arms. Also, killing off all family members can be an easy way to get them out of the story. Plus, instant sympathy for the Sue, and a reason for her to be "tough girl".

07-27-2004, 08:33 PM	#5
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	I once began writing a Mary-Sue twitch it was a twitch Legolas/MS fic grimace but now I think he's a pansy and realized what I wrote was absolute crap, so I don't have to worry about it anymore! I sent the first part to my friend to read, and she liked it, but I found it horrific and deleted it. My heroine wasn't that perfect, though. She wasn't exceptional in appearance (she was pretty, yes, but not violet-eyed and silver-haired) or the singing type (thank Elbereth!) or magical in any way. She was handy with a sword though. But again, it was crap. I now try to avoid Mary-Sues at all costs, in reading and in writing. Although, a well-written Sue can actually make a decent fic. But those are incredibly rare! And now, in a show of shameless self-promotion, anyone who wants to read angsty but blissfully Sue-free fiction can find the link to my ff.net account on my BD profile.

07-29-2004, 02:34 PM	#7
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	That sounds cool; I don't know how many Silmarillion MS's there are, but it would be interesting to see. I'm pondering writing a Mary-Sue for an unlikely character, ie: Gimli, just in mockery of all the pretty-boy romances. It could be interesting.