A Mary Sue is a fictional character who is unrealistically perfect and lacks flaws. They are often seen as a wish-fulfillment fantasy for the author, and can be very difficult for readers to relate to. As such, it is important to avoid writing Mary Sues if you want to create believable and engaging characters.
There are a number of things you can do to avoid writing a Mary Sue. First, make sure that your character has flaws. Everyone has flaws, and your character should be no exception. These flaws can be physical, emotional, or mental. They can also be related to your character’s backstory or personality.
Second, make sure that your character has a realistic motivation. Mary Sues often have unrealistic motivations, such as wanting to save the world or become the best at everything. Your character’s motivations should be more believable and relatable.
Finally, make sure that your character has a believable backstory. Mary Sues often have unrealistic backstories, such as being born into royalty or having superpowers. Your character’s backstory should be more believable and relatable.
By following these tips, you can avoid writing a Mary Sue and create a more believable and engaging character.
1. Avoid Flawlessness
One of the most important things to avoid when writing a Mary Sue is to avoid creating a character who is flawless. Mary Sues are often unrealistically perfect, with no flaws or weaknesses. This can make them difficult for readers to relate to, and can also make them seem boring or one-dimensional.
In order to create a more believable and engaging character, it is important to give them flaws and weaknesses. These flaws can be physical, emotional, or mental. They can also be related to your character’s backstory or personality. For example, your character might be physically weak, but have a strong personality. Or, they might be emotionally vulnerable, but have a lot of courage.
By giving your character flaws and weaknesses, you will make them more relatable and interesting to readers. Readers will be able to see themselves in your character, and they will be more invested in their journey.
Here are some examples of how you can avoid creating a flawless character:
- Give your character a physical flaw, such as a scar, a limp, or a birthmark.
- Give your character an emotional flaw, such as a fear of heights, a phobia of spiders, or a temper.
- Give your character a mental flaw, such as dyslexia, ADHD, or OCD.
- Give your character a flaw related to their backstory, such as a traumatic experience or a difficult childhood.
- Give your character a flaw related to their personality, such as being too trusting, too impulsive, or too shy.
By following these tips, you can avoid creating a Mary Sue and create a more believable and engaging character.
2. Realistic Motivations
One of the most important aspects of avoiding Mary Sues is to give your characters realistic motivations. Mary Sues often have unrealistic motivations, such as wanting to save the world or become the best at everything. These motivations are not believable or relatable, and they can make it difficult for readers to connect with the character.
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Intrinsic motivations
Intrinsic motivations are those that come from within the character. They are driven by the character’s own desires, needs, and values. For example, a character might be motivated to become a doctor because they want to help people. Or, a character might be motivated to write a book because they have a story to tell.
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Extrinsic motivations
Extrinsic motivations are those that come from outside the character. They are driven by rewards or punishments. For example, a character might be motivated to study for a test because they want to get a good grade. Or, a character might be motivated to avoid getting into trouble because they don’t want to be punished.
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Mixed motivations
Most characters have a mix of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. For example, a character might be motivated to become a doctor because they want to help people (intrinsic motivation) and because they want to make a good salary (extrinsic motivation).
When creating your characters, it is important to give them realistic motivations. These motivations should be believable and relatable. They should also be consistent with the character’s personality and backstory.
3. Believable Backstory
A believable backstory is essential for avoiding Mary Sues. Mary Sues often have unrealistic or implausible backstories, which can make them difficult for readers to relate to. In contrast, a believable backstory will help to ground your character in the world of your story and make them more relatable to readers.
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Logical Progression
The events in your character’s backstory should flow logically from one another. There should be a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the events, and the backstory should make sense in the context of your story’s world.
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Challenges and Obstacles
Your character’s backstory should not be all sunshine and rainbows. They should face challenges and obstacles along the way. These challenges will help to shape your character and make them more relatable to readers.
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Consistency with Character
Your character’s backstory should be consistent with their personality and motivations. The events in their backstory should help to explain why they are the way they are.
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Avoid Clichs
Avoid using clichd or overused elements in your character’s backstory. This will help to make your character more unique and memorable.
By following these tips, you can create a believable backstory for your character and avoid writing a Mary Sue.
FAQs on Avoiding Mary Sues
Here are some frequently asked questions about how to avoid writing Mary Sues:
Question 1: What exactly is a Mary Sue?
Answer: A Mary Sue is a fictional character who is unrealistically perfect and lacks flaws. They are often seen as a wish-fulfillment fantasy for the author, and can be very difficult for readers to relate to.
Question 2: Why should I avoid writing Mary Sues?
Answer: Mary Sues can be boring and one-dimensional characters. They can also make it difficult for readers to connect with your story.
Question 3: How can I avoid creating a Mary Sue?
Answer: There are a number of things you can do to avoid writing a Mary Sue. Some tips include giving your character flaws and weaknesses, giving them realistic motivations, and giving them a believable backstory.
Question 4: What are some common mistakes that writers make when creating Mary Sues?
Answer: Some common mistakes include making the character too perfect, giving them unrealistic motivations, and giving them a backstory that is too convenient or unrealistic.
Question 5: Can Mary Sues be redeemed?
Answer: It is possible to redeem a Mary Sue character by giving them flaws and weaknesses, and by making them more relatable to readers. However, it can be difficult to do this effectively.
Question 6: Are there any examples of Mary Sues in popular culture?
Answer: Yes, there are a number of examples of Mary Sues in popular culture. Some examples include Bella Swan from the Twilight series, and Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games series.
Summary: Avoiding Mary Sues is important for creating believable and engaging characters. By following the tips above, you can avoid creating Mary Sues and write more well-rounded and relatable characters.
Transition to the next article section: Now that you know how to avoid writing Mary Sues, you can start creating more believable and engaging characters. In the next section, we will discuss how to create complex and interesting characters.
Tips to Avoid Writing a Mary Sue
Mary Sues are unrealistic and unrelatable characters that can ruin a story. Here are some tips to avoid writing them:
Tip 1: Give your character flaws.
Mary Sues are often unrealistically perfect, with no flaws or weaknesses. This can make them difficult for readers to relate to. Instead, give your character flaws that make them more relatable and interesting.
Tip 2: Give your character realistic motivations.
Mary Sues often have unrealistic motivations, such as wanting to save the world or become the best at everything. Instead, give your character motivations that are more believable and relatable.
Tip 3: Give your character a believable backstory.
Mary Sues often have unrealistic or implausible backstories. Instead, give your character a backstory that is believable and consistent with their personality and motivations.
Tip 4: Avoid clichs.
Mary Sues often rely on clichs and stereotypes. Instead, create a character that is unique and memorable.
Tip 5: Get feedback from others.
Once you’ve written your character, get feedback from others. This can help you identify any Mary Sue tendencies that you may have missed.
Tip 6: Be willing to revise.
If you receive feedback that your character is a Mary Sue, be willing to revise. It may take some work, but it’s worth it to create a more believable and engaging character.
Summary: Avoiding Mary Sues is important for creating believable and engaging characters. By following these tips, you can avoid creating Mary Sues and write more well-rounded and relatable characters.
Transition to the conclusion: Now that you know how to avoid writing Mary Sues, you can start creating more believable and engaging characters. In the conclusion, we will discuss the importance of creating well-rounded characters.
Closing Remarks
Creating believable and relatable characters is essential for any story. By avoiding Mary Sues and following the tips outlined in this article, you can create characters that readers will love and connect with.
Remember, the key to avoiding Mary Sues is to give your characters flaws, realistic motivations, and believable backstories. Be willing to revise and get feedback from others. With practice, you can create well-rounded characters that will make your stories come to life.
