Is that you, Mary Sue?

[jateshi]

I'm writing an article on Mary sues and how to avoid them. Do you think that would be a bad article to write about? Because some people take offense to this type of..subject.

[calvinseviltwin]

What's a "Mary Sue"?

[jateshi]

Quotes:

I don't know where the name came from, but a Mary Sue is a main character who is perfect, and usually a projection of what the author wishes they could be like. They are perfect, usually so much so that everyone falls instantly in love with them . Everybody adores them, thinks they are clever, smart, witty, etc.

Basically, a very one-dimensional, boring character that screams "The author wishes she was me!!!" They serve the purpose of fulfilling a writer's wishes and fantasies.

*shrugs* Some people like them, and some people can't stand them, and don't find them original. I reread a story that I had been writing and nearly fainted as I read - my character was a Mary Sue. I changed a ton of details to make her original and life-like. end-quote.

(In the article, I will be first telling what a mary sue is, so people don't get confused.)

[Tdyans]

If you relate your article enough to Neopets writing specifically, it should be fine. And as long as you don't use any specific characters as examples (or any thinly-veiled examples that are obviously pointing to specific characters), people shouldn't have anything to get too angry about.

[jateshi]

^_^ I would never point out another persons characters as an example. People write the way they like it. And that is fine by me .

[calvinseviltwin]

Sounds like a good idea to me.!

[sollunaestrella]

Ugh...Mary Sues annoy me to no end. They're just so ladeda and perfect. I like a faulty character...some one who's alive, who's convincing, who you can relate to.

Anyway, that sounds like a good idea!

[calvinseviltwin]

sol_luna_estrella said:

Ugh...Mary Sues annoy me to no end. They're just so ladeda and perfect. I like a faulty character...some one who's alive, who's convincing, who you can relate to.

Anyway, that sounds like a good idea!

Personally I think if you want to go for that "real character" effect, you need to think outside the box. Make your character like a friend that you know. Or contrast sterotypes. For example, a phillsopical punk!

[starhamster]

You forgot to mention that whole pages are usually taken up describing the Mary Sue, especially her eyes.

[Deleted]

starhamster42 said:

You forgot to mention that whole pages are usually taken up describing the Mary Sue, especially her eyes.

Oh the joy of deleting Mary Sue descriptions one by one!

[calvinseviltwin]

starhamster42 said:

You forgot to mention that whole pages are usually taken up describing the Mary Sue, especially her eyes.

Heeh. SO true.

[jateshi]

^^; here..:

Title: Is that you, Mary Sue?


“Abigail is beautiful, more stunning then Psellia could ever be. She is more influential then Fyora, kinder then the Soup Faerie, and smarter then Nereid. She is the perfect Faerie.”

So right now you’re most likely thinking ‘That is not possible!’ but, my friends, sadly this is possible in the infamous world of the Mary Sues.

[sollunaestrella]

Good beginning.

Heh...when I was in second grade, I'd always use Mary Sues. I always had my characters immensely beautiful, kind-hearted, sweet...perfect in every way. *shudders* Now, I just laugh over those.

I'm looking forward to your article, jateshi....

[jateshi]

Next Part: (thank you, also )

Who is this Mary Sue you speak of?

A Mary Sue is quite the impeccable creature. The way it lurks through your mind concealed in bundles of ideas and thoughts. It is hard to spot this nasty specimen if you don‘t know what it is, so I will tell you. Have you ever seen the definition of perfect? Well change ‘perfect’ to Mary Sue and you’ll know what it is. But to better explain what a Mary Sue is I will go into detail. A Mary Sue, as this archetype became known, has everything, she lives in her own quaint little world where she rules. A Mary Sue is better then everybody else, she is generally a brilliant, beautiful, multi-talented girl. A Mary Sue is often a figment of the authors wishes. Some people, like me loathe the Mary Sue clan, but others wish to bow down to its greatness and use that writing style until the day they can't hold a pen anymore. But- this can be avoided.

[sollunaestrella]

Still good! Here's some editing (grammar things and a couple other little suggestions ):


Who is this Mary Sue you speak of?

A Mary Sue is quite the impeccable creature, the way it lurks through your mind concealed in bundles of ideas and thoughts. It is hard to spot this nasty specimen if you don‘t know what it is, so I will tell you. Have you ever seen the definition of perfect? Well, change "perfect" to "Mary Sue," and you’ll know what it is. To better explain what a Mary Sue is, though, I will go into detail. A Mary Sue, as this archetype became known, has everything, and she lives in her own quaint little world where she rules. A Mary sue is better then everybody else; she is generally a brilliant, beautiful, multi-talented girl. A Mary sue is often a figment of the authors wishes. Some people, like me, loathe the Mary Sue clan, but others wish to bow down to their greatness and use that writing style until the day they can't hold a pen anymore. (Maybe something like "Which are you, then? If you are like me and detest these creatures, then I will show you the way out. Yes, this writing style can be avoided.)

You don't have to take my suggestions; I'm just throwing those out there so you can decide.