Why is it bad to give a character a name you really like?

@OP: a lot of other people have said it, but I'll say it again; No, there's nothing at all wrong with giving your character a name that you like. In fact, you should. You're going to be reading, typing and otherwise dealing with this name for a while. And if you get famous, hearing it for even longer.

I'll go even further and say you should place emotional investment in your characters; they should be people to you. If they aren't real to you, how are they going to be real to someone else?

The line into Mary Sue territory is crossed when your characters aren't characters, but merely your idealized vision of yourself. Then the story isn't a story, but simple wish fulfillment.

Again, Twilight provides a classic example of this; a Mormon housewife *

writing about romance, adventure and a perfect baby who never cries, instinctively understands everything and can telepathically let you know what it wants? A central protagonist who looks exactly like her, sans about 30 pounds and some stretchmarks *

^{I've seen pictures of Meyer and the one description she wrote (outside of a book, mind you) of what Bella Swan was supposed to look like. Resemblance is more than uncanny}

?

That's a Sue. It isn't Bella's perfection or improbability that makes her what she is (though those don't help); its the fact that the author cannot separate her own desires from her story.

Characters can be people you love. They can be powerful, beautiful, unlikely, whatever. They just can't be someone you want to be, doing things you'd rather be doing. That means both you and they likely need help.

If I were to write some of the strange things that come under my eyes they would not be believed. ~Cora M. Strayer~

I don't actually think that's true (that a Sue must be an idealized version of the author). I think that it's just about warping the work in their favor, which can occur for a number of reasons besides just Wish-Fulfillment. Maybe the author just likes the character too much, for instance.

I've seen pictures of Meyer and the one description she wrote (outside of a book, mind you) of what Bella Swan was supposed to look like. Resemblance is more than uncanny

Complaining About Shows You Don't Watch?

Still Sheepin'

The original Mary Sue was basically an author self-insert fic written in the Star Trek universe if memory serves. Over time, the term has suffered about half a gallon of Memetic Mutation, turning from that into "character I don't like who also happens to be special in some way".

And let's face it, that last describes every character ever. If they aren't special somehow, why are we being asked to hear about them?

As far as my lexicon goes, Mary Sue = author wish fulfillment of some stripe or other. And yes, this can manifest itself as "liking the character too much"...but I see that as some unrealized dream or goal of the author showing itself in the character.

@Earth Sheep: Sorry, but no. I've read all four twilight novels AND seen two of the movies, specifically to see what everyone was so worked up over and whether or not it was deserved. What I meant by that comment was, Meyer didn't put the description of bella in any book...I got it from a transcription of an interview when someone asked what she looked like.

edited 20th Jul '11 9:27:11 PM by drunkscriblerian

If I were to write some of the strange things that come under my eyes they would not be believed. ~Cora M. Strayer~

Yup. I'm positive Drizzt isn't an idealized version of Bob Salvatore, but he was still hogging way too much story focus by the time the Legacy of the Drow series rolled around.

Still, Spotlight-Stealing Squad, Wish-Fulfillment Author Avatar, and God-Mode Sue represent completely different structural issues. It's odd that we lump them all together.

edited 20th Jul '11 9:27:50 PM by DomaDoma

Hail Martin Septim!

We're derailing Jewely's thread a tad. Making a new one.

If I were to write some of the strange things that come under my eyes they would not be believed. ~Cora M. Strayer~

Even then, it all depends on execution. You can make a character that's someone you want to be doing things you want to do, as long as you: A) Make their story compelling/entertaining enough. And B)have them earn their goals or whatever. Give them flaws, make them lose the fight, have them be the butt of a few jokes, etc.

"I'll show you fear, there is no hell, only darkness." My twitter

I give my characters names I like. My central (well, she's not the central character, but close enough) character in my newest project is called Ingrid, because I love that name and it suits her! As long as the name suits the character, I think it should be up to the author to choose a name they want.