What is a Mary-Sue exactly? A Mary-Sue is a female character that is perfect in every single way possible. Mary-Sues are often the characters that beginning writers write. I have written a few Mary-Sues myself. Without proper knowledge of characterization, anyone can fall into the death pit of Mary-Sues unless you actually mean to write them. Although it seems like there is one type of Mary-Sue (MS), there aren't. That is the general idea of what a MS is. There are multiple types of MS' and most you have heard of. A famous Mary-Sue is Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games. The male equivalent of a Mary-Sue is a Gary-Stu (GS). This post will be broken up into three sections: Types of MS' and GS', how to perfect a MS and GS, and how to avoid and spot a MS and GS. This post will also be posted within the next few months. It will not all be in one post, but it will all be categorized under character.
Types of MS' and GS'
The Pity-Beggar Mary-Sue
This Sue is one of the worst, in my opinion. This Sue is quite common and the most pitiful. These Mary-Sues are the ones who have a horrible, abusive home life, perfect siblings who look down on her, no boyfriend, no guys hitting on her or having a crush on her, no friends at all, and usually are a victim of the worst crime that could be written about: rape. Usually when people involve rape into their stories, the Sue doesn't take in the injustice or she has no reaction or little reaction to it. This isn't fair or justifiable to everyone who has actually been a victim to rape. Usually this Sue has an unrealistic view of the world and unrealistic depression. (Often times used in roleplaying or Fan Fiction). These Sues are also attention seeking often times, and also try to make it all about themselves and make the other characters have pity for them.
Einstein Sue
This Sue is perfect at her job. She is also the smartest out of EVERYBODY. She will always be the one that comes up with an answer to a problem that everyone agrees on and this answer will always get you out of the situation or problem. This is usually not noticed by authors but is noticed by readers. AUTHORS: ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE ELSE CHECK FOR MARY-SUES.
The Jerk Sue
This Sue is very short tempered and will always treat everyone too harshly. Although they are treated like garbage, Sue is always liked by every other character. She is often times, supposed to come off as a strong woman who can fight her own battles but comes off as a basket case to readers because all she does is bully others. This Sue also never faces consequences for any of their actions.
Copycat Sue
This usually happens in Fan Fictions and TV show/movie roleplaying. This is when the author is lazy and they copy a character from the roleplay or FF. This is often considered quite lazy because it is not an original character. They copy their personality, their upbringing and everything about the character in the show or movie or FF. Very little things may be different about the character. The name may be close to the original characters. Or the copy of the original character may be a long lost relative that no one knew about.
The God-Modeling Sue
These Sues usually have special powers and never know that they have them until they need them. When they find out that they have them, instead of learning their ability, they automatically know it and can use it to the full extent. The powers in themselves are generally numerous. The powers that this Sue has can take on the worst villains and defeat them.
The Plot-Thief Sue
Have you ever read a Fan Fiction where one female character, Sally, hates the most popular and perfect female character, Sam, because she is dating or really close to Sally's love interest?? You are most likely dealing with the Plot-Thief Sue. You are most definitely dealing with the PTS if Sally takes Sam's place in the story.
The Man-Hunter Sue
This Sue is one of the most used. This is where the writer makes a character of herself/himself and creates their dream date. Often times, they leave out important details such as time and place, other characters and so on. They will go to any extreme lengths into getting the object of their imagination. This is where they create the perfect girl/guy and will continue to perfect their love scenarios.
The Perfect Sue
This Sue combines every other Sue in the book. She is perfect. Absolutely perfect in every way possible. Every guy and girl will fall in love with her. Nobody can compare to her intelligence, beauty, skills, talents, gracefulness, etc. etc.. These characters are definitely characters that beginning authors with no experience create, unless they are created on purpose. This character has no depth whatsoever.
Lemon Sue
This Sue is perfect in sex. Mostly appearing in erotic fiction/FanFic/all other stories. They will last as long as they want. They're partners will perceive them to be absolutely perfect. She will not fall asleep after sex. She will immediately leave usually unless there is something to gain by staying behind. She will perform perfectly each time. There will be no awkwardness. So on and so on. (Usually written by a hormonal teenager that has no vocabulary in the subject or experience in the act.)
Relationship Sue
This is the perfect girl. She will be absolutely ideal in being a girlfriend. And the only ideal trait for her to care about in the story is being in a relationship.
Villain Sue
Most villains are hard to kill but are still beatable in some way. Imagine a villain that is impossible to defeat. This is the Villain Sue.
Parody Sue
This is the intentional creation of a Mary Sue that is used deliberately for a joking purpose. In this case, the name might even be Mary Sue. If used a lot, these Sues can be just as annoying as the real thing.
Anti-Sue
A Sue that is absolutely horrible at everything. The opposite of a Mary-Sue is the Anti-Sue (given in the name).
Conclusion: I will have more on Mary-Sues these next few months. Remember that the websites are listed under Websites tab the button below will take you there. Stay tuned for next week!
Next Time on Writers Unit 2014: How to Create an Original Character
This Sue is one of the worst, in my opinion. This Sue is quite common and the most pitiful. These Mary-Sues are the ones who have a horrible, abusive home life, perfect siblings who look down on her, no boyfriend, no guys hitting on her or having a crush on her, no friends at all, and usually are a victim of the worst crime that could be written about: rape. Usually when people involve rape into their stories, the Sue doesn't take in the injustice or she has no reaction or little reaction to it. This isn't fair or justifiable to everyone who has actually been a victim to rape. Usually this Sue has an unrealistic view of the world and unrealistic depression. (Often times used in roleplaying or Fan Fiction). These Sues are also attention seeking often times, and also try to make it all about themselves and make the other characters have pity for them.
Einstein Sue
This Sue is perfect at her job. She is also the smartest out of EVERYBODY. She will always be the one that comes up with an answer to a problem that everyone agrees on and this answer will always get you out of the situation or problem. This is usually not noticed by authors but is noticed by readers. AUTHORS: ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE ELSE CHECK FOR MARY-SUES.
The Jerk Sue
This Sue is very short tempered and will always treat everyone too harshly. Although they are treated like garbage, Sue is always liked by every other character. She is often times, supposed to come off as a strong woman who can fight her own battles but comes off as a basket case to readers because all she does is bully others. This Sue also never faces consequences for any of their actions.
Copycat Sue
This usually happens in Fan Fictions and TV show/movie roleplaying. This is when the author is lazy and they copy a character from the roleplay or FF. This is often considered quite lazy because it is not an original character. They copy their personality, their upbringing and everything about the character in the show or movie or FF. Very little things may be different about the character. The name may be close to the original characters. Or the copy of the original character may be a long lost relative that no one knew about.
The God-Modeling Sue
These Sues usually have special powers and never know that they have them until they need them. When they find out that they have them, instead of learning their ability, they automatically know it and can use it to the full extent. The powers in themselves are generally numerous. The powers that this Sue has can take on the worst villains and defeat them.
The Plot-Thief Sue
Have you ever read a Fan Fiction where one female character, Sally, hates the most popular and perfect female character, Sam, because she is dating or really close to Sally's love interest?? You are most likely dealing with the Plot-Thief Sue. You are most definitely dealing with the PTS if Sally takes Sam's place in the story.
The Man-Hunter Sue
This Sue is one of the most used. This is where the writer makes a character of herself/himself and creates their dream date. Often times, they leave out important details such as time and place, other characters and so on. They will go to any extreme lengths into getting the object of their imagination. This is where they create the perfect girl/guy and will continue to perfect their love scenarios.
The Perfect Sue
This Sue combines every other Sue in the book. She is perfect. Absolutely perfect in every way possible. Every guy and girl will fall in love with her. Nobody can compare to her intelligence, beauty, skills, talents, gracefulness, etc. etc.. These characters are definitely characters that beginning authors with no experience create, unless they are created on purpose. This character has no depth whatsoever.
Lemon Sue
This Sue is perfect in sex. Mostly appearing in erotic fiction/FanFic/all other stories. They will last as long as they want. They're partners will perceive them to be absolutely perfect. She will not fall asleep after sex. She will immediately leave usually unless there is something to gain by staying behind. She will perform perfectly each time. There will be no awkwardness. So on and so on. (Usually written by a hormonal teenager that has no vocabulary in the subject or experience in the act.)
Relationship Sue
This is the perfect girl. She will be absolutely ideal in being a girlfriend. And the only ideal trait for her to care about in the story is being in a relationship.
Villain Sue
Most villains are hard to kill but are still beatable in some way. Imagine a villain that is impossible to defeat. This is the Villain Sue.
Parody Sue
This is the intentional creation of a Mary Sue that is used deliberately for a joking purpose. In this case, the name might even be Mary Sue. If used a lot, these Sues can be just as annoying as the real thing.
Anti-Sue
A Sue that is absolutely horrible at everything. The opposite of a Mary-Sue is the Anti-Sue (given in the name).
Conclusion: I will have more on Mary-Sues these next few months. Remember that the websites are listed under Websites tab the button below will take you there. Stay tuned for next week!
Next Time on Writers Unit 2014: How to Create an Original Character