A single-question Mary Sue litmus test

I didn't think this is enough for a deviation, so I put this into a journal entry.

So, having been in the midst of Mary Sue conversations every now and then, I came up with a pretty simple Mary Sue litmus test. Or rather, "how much you need to pay attention to avoid making your character a Sue" litmus test.

So I wanna give this a shot. Feel free to try this with your characters! And feel also free to give feedback if you want. I'll probably edit more options later!

Here is the test:

From the list below, which descriptor portrays best how you think about your character?
Be honest with your answer.
Read then the result below.

"He/She is..."

1. "...me, just in a different setting."
2. "...a piece in a larger puzzle that ultimately forms my story."
3. "...my attempt to create as cool/cute/awesome character as possible."
4. "...my dear friend."
5. "...my baby/child."
6. "...my tool to smack a character (canon or original) that I don't like."
7. "...an ideal lover/friend to another character (canon or original)."
8. "...my way to study a larger worldly theme, such as cynicism, forgiveness, self-doubt etc."
9. "...my ideal about a boyfriend/girlfriend."
10. "...a character that stirs juicy controversy in my cast with his/her negative traits."
11. "...an escapist fantasy of mine."
12. "...a little unfortunate creature I like to hurl into different situations to see his/her reactions."

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Results:


If you chose: 1, 4, 5, 9, 11

Ouch ouch ouch. Chances are that you are very, very attached to your character. You may think the character as a close friend of yours or something similar or even as yourself. While this kind of attachment does not automatically make your character a Mary Sue, it WILL make it harder to write about your character objectively. You may have a subconscious instinct to protect your character, even if you don't realize it by yourself.

Make first your character a character, and unless you're writing a honest autobiography, make your character a different entity from you. While that character can have traits that you value, making the character a perfect ideal of yourself / you (girl/boy)friend easily makes a character flat. If you want make this kind of character to work, you need to pay effort. Don't hesitate to ask people (especially more experienced writers) feedback so you can pinpoint any weaker spots of the character concept!


If you chose: 6, 7

If this is your genuine answer, it is rather obvious that you channel your emotions through your character, and you pour your ideals into him/her. This is a dangerous route to take, as if this descriptor is the main motivation of yours to create a character, the related feelings are likely to blind you. Careful. CAREFUL. Pay attention in creating his/her personality. Make him/her a character, first, not your vessel of affection or hate. Again, remember to ask feedback.


If you chose: 3

It's hard to say from this answer. It may work either way; an ambition to create something mind-shaking can lead to any kind of characters, depending on the execution. If you only stuff cool/cute/amazing/etc. traits into a character, you creep towards the Sue territory. But if you aim creating a well-rounded character and you don't shy to do your research and ask constructive feedback for him/her, then just go go go!

However, this answer doesn't express anything definite about your relationship to the character. If you want to see it, return back to the list and pick up a descriptor that portrays your character second-best!


If you chose: 2, 8, 10, 12

Is this your genuine reply? No cheating? Not even a little? Remember that Christmas is close! 

However, if you were honest with your answer, congratulations! It is probable that you have an objective view on your character; he/she is your tool of expression, and you treat him/her as so. He/She may be your way to convey your story, or a character you love to poke around to see his/her reactions. This is a good distance between you and your character! As long as you keep your common sense, I don't find it likely this kind of character is prone to slide into Sueness. To keep him/her on the right road, don't hesitate to ask feedback about your concept!