Ever read a book where the main protagonist seems too
good to be true?
Meet Mary-Sue (or Marty-Stu if
you’re male). The perfect protagonist of the story. Often written by a beginning
author, they are always beautiful, smart, popular, have a great body,
etc. They are usually given unwarranted special treatment within the story and events and unearned
respect by other characters. Babied by the writer, they don’t have to learn any new skills or defeat any demons/dragons (the demon would probably slip on something and kill itself).
The image of
Mary-Sue is either over-exaggerated (where they have features unique to them) or has key features from the writer themselves. An example of this is Stephanie Meyer and Bella Swan from Twilight. Meyer put multiple features from her own image into the character Bella (played by an already dull Kristen Stewart).
Here are
some helpful tips to avoid writing a Mary-Sue character:
1. Know your material; Do research when needed.
2. Avoid making your character related to a canon character; Your readers will find it hard to
believe they have family they never mentioned before.
3. Let the canon characters share the spotlight; Don’t leave your canon characters in the
shadows.
4. Pick a realistic name; One that will fit your story theme.
5. Give your new character some real flaws; Are they impatient, impulsive, trouble making
friends?
6. Make things hard for your new character; Don’t make things easy, put them through hell
to help them learn and grow as characters.
7. Avoid making the character show similar traits as your own; Don’t pull a Stephanie Meyer/Bella
Swan.
8. Give different characters different reactions to your original character; We all react differently to
different things, take your characters personalities into account.
9. Avoid letting your new character be the only one to solve the problem; Give glory to other characters
too. Make it a team effort.
10. Tread carefully around romance; Romance is a rollercoaster.
11. Take your time;
Don’t let things happen to quickly. Pace yourself.
Make your characters believable and real; that way, readers will have a better time connecting with them. If your heart is set on putting yourself into the story, then just focus on a few key traits to put into your characters. Kick Mary-Sue to the curb and keep her out of literature!
