History SoYouWantTo / AvoidWritingAMarySue

* When writing what a character is like or can do it is important to know the standards of the universe he/she is in. [[ValuesDissonance What may be absurdly impossible in one universe may be common and acceptable in another]]. Play it safe, do the research and follow precedence of the setting and its characters; canon characters acting wildly {{out of character}} (especially in relation to an original character) is a large Sue trigger.

You have a cool/sexy/sweet/etc. {{original character}} you want to put in a story, whether it's a FanFiction or an original story. But you aren't sure whether your character rises to the level of a MarySue or not. Perhaps you have written other characters this way, or you're concerned that you might have put too much WishFulfillment into the character. Well, [[Website/TVTropes we]] are here to help.

* Also make sure to [[ContinuityNod reference canon, too]]; it will serve as a form of [[ShownTheirWork showing your work]]. Many times, you can even turn such a reference into a CallBack that helps to move your story's plot forward.

* When writing what a character is like or can do it is important to know the standards of the universe he/she is in. [[ValuesDissonance What may be absurdly impossible in one universe may be common and acceptable in another]]. Play it safe, do the research and follow precedence of the setting and its characters; canon characters acting wildly out of character is a large Sue trigger.

* Realize that there is a [[ImpracticallyFancyOutfit drawback]] to having a PimpedOutDress, [[OfCorsetsSexy wearing a corset]], and putting on anything overly flashy in general. The upper classes were able to get away with that sort of stuff because they had the money and the time for it, and didn't have to do manual labor. The flashiness was used to [[ErmineCapeEffect signify class and to intimidate others]] - not for being useful. If you are aiming for realism, don't expect your heroine to be able to fight with a sword when wearing a ball gown[[note]]unless KickingAssInAllHerFinery has been established in canon[[/note]], run away from pursuers through a thick forest with her long hair flowing free behind her, or pass as a peasant without taking her huge bling and showy makeup off first, because stunts like that are just plain unrealistic, and should [[TooDumbToLive get her killed]]. If your character's running around in an outfit that draws attention, it's very likely to draw the ''wrong'' kind of attention... unless that's what you're going for (like a sheltered princess who doesn't realize that going alone in the marketplace, while wearing a lacy silk dress and a [[PimpedOutCape cape lined]] [[PrettyInMink with fur]], will make her a target).

** If they explicitly do something to ''avoid'' said drawback (i.e. wearing a large cloak to conceal their bodies from sunlight), this can be justified and excused.

** If your character is a child of a main character, it had better be done in a way that makes sense. Being the child of [[HomosexualReproduction two same-sex characters]] just isn't going to cut it unless it involves surrogates, adoption, being the child of one of them from their LastHetRomance, the setting allows that with some sort of {{Phlebotinum}} or you explain/find out that sort of magic exists in the canon.

* [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes Phobias]] vary in their intensity, but they're still there. They don't vanish because somebody just forgot about them for a while. They don't vanish even when a character has to overcome them; most phobics are afraid for a long time afterwards. But they know they can do it now. Similarly, if the phobia never actually does anything - not even deepen your character - there's no point in you saying she's got a phobia of spiders when spiders will never show up in the story.

The problem is generally when the story proposes to take sides. And even if the story takes sides, things are made worse when one side is treated unfairly. Unless that side is an {{Acceptable Target|s}} (and possibly even then), even [[DontShootTheMessage fair-minded people who agree with that side may call it out]].

** That said, be careful with overly fitting {{Meaningful Name}}s. Parents cannot see into the future of their child (unless they're explicitly psychic), so if they call them Dragonslayer and the grown-up kid indeed ends up killing dragons for a living, it's plain unrealistic. It can be made more believable if there is a sound prospect that the name might be true one day; for example, said child is born into a warrior elite ''and'' the dragons are abound in the setting. On the contrary, an overly fitting surname will almost always stick out. Such things are better kept as a CharacterNameAlias or a nickname, but keep in mind that usually, nicknames are used only within a certain group, clique or subculture.

* If you are having your character trying to atone for (or angst over) a past misdeed in her life, make sure she has actually ''done'' something wrong. Having your character grieve over something minor or something that wasn't really her fault is cheap. Moreover, don't let other characters gloss over past actions with a pep talk to grant cheap resolution; your character must atone or get over her past through her own character development.

* If you are having your character trying to atone (or angst over) a past misdeed in her life, make sure she has actually ''done'' something wrong. Having your character grieve over something minor or something that wasn't really her fault is cheap. Moreover, don't let other characters gloss over past actions with a pep talk to grant cheap resolution; your character must atone or get over her past through her own character development.

** If your character is the long-lost orphan child of a relative of one of the canon characters, consider how they know that they're related. How did they find out? Why do they believe it? Also consider how the rest of the family feels[=/=]felt about the character's parent; this may well affect how they react to that person's child showing up out of the blue.

** Giving characters no known parents or only one known parent doesn't automatically mean the parent that isn't seen is KilledOffForReal; think of other possible explanations for their absence before using death as the reason.

*** Similarly, don't break up a {{Canon}} couple or a popular {{Fanon}} couple or FanPreferredCouple ''just'' for the sake of getting your OC with your favorite canon character. Especially if there's [[DerailingLoveInterests no good reason for said couple to split]], and [[StrangledByTheRedString no good reason for the canon character to decide he/she wants to be with your OC]], this will almost certainly cause the audience to call foul.

* If your character is a time traveller, anachronistic accessories are acceptable. At the same time, always remember the limitations of the era the character is visiting: An analog-capable cellular telephone might work, though not without problems, in the 1950s, and will work in the mid 1970s, but not the 1920s. A gun will work anywhere, in any time, but replacement ammunition could be hard to come by. TechnologyMarchesOn in all fields; even so simple-seeming a thing as a dry cell battery changes over time.

* Avoid having the other characters excuse everything your character does ''solely'' because of her angsty backstory, because then you've got a JerkSue; just because a character has a traumatic FreudianExcuse doesn't mean that gives her a blank cheque to be a complete {{Jerkass}} to everyone around her, and the other characters shouldn't have to walk on eggshells around your character because of it. Some characters would not find it in their personalities to feel sorry for your character anyway (''Anime/DigimonAdventureTri'' is an official example of what happens when characters become too angsty and get the guilt-free card over said angst).

* If you give your character a physical flaw, make sure that it's relevant enough to be brought up. A character being prone to asthma attacks after lots of physical exertion is definitely important. A character having a wonky tooth is not, unless it has a major drawback. Maybe missing a fang [[AllOfTheOtherReindeer causes others of his kind to consider him an outcast or coward]], or lacking the tooth means that her beast-form is at a disadvantage due to loss of a tusk/fang/the power said tooth might grant if whole. Make sure the flaw is important to what the character is. A chipped nail on a upper-class woman is a minor inconvenience, but a broken claw to an animal is a important physical flaw.

* If you give your character a physical flaw, make sure that it's relevant enough to be brought up. A character being prone to asthma attacks after lots of physical exertion is definitely important. A character having a wonky tooth is not, unless it has a major drawback; maybe missing a fang [[AllOfTheOtherReindeer causes others of his kind to consider him an outcast or coward]], or lacking the tooth means that her beast-form is at a disadvantage due to loss of a tusk/fang/the power said tooth might grant if whole. Make sure the flaw is important to what the character is; A chipped nail on a upper-class woman is a minor inconvenience, but a broken claw to an animal is a important physical flaw.

--->He stared into her bright lavender eyes, which shimmered and danced in the pale white light illuminating from the moon. Her dark hair flowed from her head and shimmered in the night, and the man couldn't help but feel enthralled by her beauty. His own maroon eyes danced and glimmered in the pale light of the moon, as well; his black hair danced and shimmered in the moonlight, and the woman felt entrapped by his stunning looks.

* Make sure that the skills your character has fit the world she lives in. A medieval girl who knows how to play a lute is plausible. A medieval girl who knows how to play a magical electric guitar, African drums, or the didgeridoo is not. Similarly, if your character has no real reason to know a skill, don't give it to her; for example, resist the urge to give your thoroughly non-Japanese character a katana, even if KatanasAreJustBetter. Stretching the story to fit in a convenient swordmaster will not help.

* Don't make your character better at everything the canon characters can do, because then you don't have a character. You have TheMunchkin. If you have to, choose one skill from a canon character (but not one he/she is [[TheAce canonically the best at]]) that your character is better at, and make sure this character has a good reason to be more skilled. Let's say the canon character is a swordfighter. If this character has only been training for a few years, and your character has been training since childhood, you have a good reason. But this doesn't mean your character replaces that main character, only that your character has more experience in that skill. If used right, this can actually be ''beneficial'' to the character; giving him/her somebody to act as TheRival to them can kickstart CharacterDevelopment, if capitalized upon.

* Do not give your character a [[MyNaymeIs name with a 'creative' alternate spelling]] just to make her seem more special or unique. "Jennifer" is no less special or interesting than a "Jynnifyr". This includes [[PunctuationShaker excessive punctuation]], such as "Jy'n'ff'er" or "J'yn-i-Ffer". It's much more likely to pull your readers out of your world and into one where they laugh or gag (depending on the reader) at your poor sense in naming[[note]]An exception would be if it's your character's EmbarrassingFirstName due to parents thinking it would be a cute name, and your character prefers to use the proper spelling[[/note]].

* If another character is TheChosenOne, that character ''stays'' TheChosenOne. Your character doesn't become the new one instead (unless a story has that happen all the time, like Slayers on ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' and Avatars on ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''). Now, if your character is chosen for something else, preferably a lot less significant than a main character, you could get away with that. Or your character could be destined to play support staff, like TakingTheBullet or something similar.

* If your character still gets criticism, look at the kind it is. If it's insulting and not really getting at what the problem with the character is, and just a problem with you, it may be {{Troll}}ing. If it's ConstructiveCriticism, you don't have to follow it, but at least consider their points.

** If the character comes from a fictional culture where everyone's names are similarly made-up, you are also safe. If the character [[AnAlienNamedBob is an alien]] or otherwise nonhuman, [[LogicBomb a real name would be]] ''[[LogicBomb less]]'' [[LogicBomb realistic]]. If, however, the fiction culture has an established language or naming convention, follow the naming conventions rather than picking sounds at random.

* Historically, almost every name at some point in its history was a MeaningfulName. In some cultures, this is still true; it's either given by hopeful parents, earned by one's own deeds or attributes, or indicates family status or place of origin. In other cases, instead of considering the meaning, a parent might name a child after another friend or relative, or just pick a name that sounds nice. If you're going to make a point of giving your character an unusual or meaningful name, think about who chose it, and why. Because seriously, ''nobody'' is going to name their child "dark blood" in ''any'' language unless [[WhoNamesTheirKidDude they're either horrible parents]] or genuinely ignorant (or are part of a culture that names offspring names like "garbage", "stench" or such other things to ward off spirits).

** On a similar tangent, please ''don't'' try to redeem established {{Complete Monster}}s like [[Franchise/ResidentEvil Albert Wesker]] or [[Anime/{{Monster}} Johan Liebert]] and get away with it scot-free. You just don't, and your OC can't. They ''will'' bite your character in the back and we mean it. Same goes for AlwaysChaoticEvil or MadeOfEvil characters -- it goes without saying that, if your character redeems goblins and successfully integrates them into society in a ''LightNovel/GoblinSlayer'' setting, it's a very bad idea.

** But don't go in the opposite direction and write a RelationshipSue who makes up for all of the existing character's shortcomings, tolerates (or fixes) all of his flaws, and always knows just the right way to respond to his behavior and bring out the best in him; that's just boring. Relationships are flawed at times; even those in love will verbally fight at times.

* Don't intentionally design your character to be the soul mate of an existing character. Also, don't just make her the [[DistaffCounterpart female version]] of a male character. She can be similar to an existing character in some ways, but, since no two people are exactly alike, she shouldn't be [[CopycatSue his equivalent in every way]]. Also, her being similar to a male character doesn't necessarily mean that he will like her; sometimes when people are too similar or similar in the wrong ways (e.g. they are both very stubborn, very temperamental or very egotistical), it can cause them to grate on each other.

* Don't intentionally design your character to be the soul mate of an existing character; also, don't just make her the [[DistaffCounterpart female version]] of a male character. She can be similar to an existing character in some ways, but, since no two people are exactly alike, she shouldn't be [[CopycatSue his equivalent in every way]]. Also, her being similar to a male character doesn't necessarily mean that he will like her; sometimes when people are too similar or similar in the wrong ways (e.g. they are both very stubborn, very temperamental or very egotistical), it can cause them to grate on each other.