[ SECRET POST #3578 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #3578 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 10 secrets from Secret Submission Post #511.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

04. https://67.media.tumblr.com/7236c7af7f389e6b395a701b6bef461a/tumblr_oexzb3MRNp1sivacmo1_540.png

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah they're pretty meaningless. Hard and fast tests for things like generally are, and Mary Sue-ness in particular is a pretty iffy category to start with.

[(Anonymous)]

I think the questions are fine to keep in mind while writing to avoid veering too far into cheesezone.

[dani_phantasma]

They can be good for beginner writers (I like the 'Writer's test at katfeete) but as you grow in your writing, you see more of the flaws in these tests.

Honestly the best test for this sort of thing is a critique by someone you can trust to be honest to you. Because tests like this tend to be hard and fast about a lot of things that require more context to figure out are doing it right nor not.

For example you can't really say that an OC being related to canon characters can't be good writing in any way. You have to look at how the author does it, and how they use or abuse it.

[(Anonymous)]

plenty of canon characters would not pass this test.

[nightscale]

I think they're fun to play with and maybe use to spot any overdone tropes or cliches, but I don't consider them to be much more than a guideline.

Plus I like to put canon characters in them to see how Sue-ish they are because that's always good for a laugh.

[dani_phantasma]

The funnest thing is to put fandom favorites through it and just laugh at the irony when you get the results.

[nightscale]

Batman in particular scores hilariously high on these tests and most of my favourite characters do as well. It's just the nature of canon characters to be special or unique in some way, especially if they're in some kind of fantastical setting, people just like to read about extraordinary individuals doing shit you can only dream about.

Not that you can't make a character that's obnoxiously perfect but it's all dependant on the context of the canon imo, balance it well and you can get away with someone that's a bit OP.

[(Anonymous)]

"Not that you can't make a character that's obnoxiously perfect"

...you mean Superman?

[(Anonymous)]

But were they ever truly meant as a serious writing tool as opposed to... well, just for teh lulz?

[(Anonymous)]

I'm with you, OP.
A lot of canon characters simply wouldn't pass.
Also, some of the questions I consider to be ridiculous. Things like 'the main bad guy is specifically interested in the hero'. Or 'the hero reforms the main bad guy'. OK firstly, it makes for a better story IMO if there is a connection between the baddie and the hero and a baddie being reformed is always an interesting fic if done well.
I honestly believe that if you checked off these lists to make sure the character in no way whatsoever is a Mary Sue, you'd have a very boring character.

[soldatsasha]

This is not surprising, because generally the traits that these tests would use to flag a character as "Mary Sue" are traits that many protagonists share. Most of these tests strive for some sort of balance between positive and negative traits, but unless you're writing an anti-hero it should probably be more one way or the other.

I think a better judge is "does canon warp around this character in a way that would be off-putting?" Or maybe "is the plot contrived in a way to prop up this character or make them seem more likable, or can they be interesting on their own?"

[(Anonymous)]

They can be a little bit like a placebo effect, you think you're getting better, sussing out your inner Sue. But really. THEY truly NEVER LEAVE.

Your inner Sue is sitting right beside you, whispering in you ear, forevermore.