Character Sharing And Advice Thread

My story is suffering from what people describe as "Marysuitis". The weird this is, that most of the themes I am using in the Mary Sue Trait list have some explanation, or it's shared all across the board (so it doesn't make everyone a beautiful little butterfly or a special snowflake).

Does explaining why they have a different hair color, have more strength than others or have a cool name help negate the blatant Mary Sueness, or is it an unjustifiable crime regardless?

The traits are just symptoms.

The problem is when you find the plot and characters bending around your character.

If this isn't happening, then yes, that would justify it.

But if not, no.

The plot and other characters do not bend around each other, and none of the main protagonists are flawless (they start pretty flawed and rely on one of their comrades to help with their issues) so I'm pretty sure it's okay. Since most of the things that make them sueish appearance-wise are natural for anyone in the current world they are in, I think I am making too big of a deal about it.

It's a good thing to keep in mind, but as long as you do, you shouldn't need to worry about it too much.

Hmm, Okay, I was hoping I could make Dave less of a problem by making most of his superpowers toned down, but I may need to lose the belt. It wasn't meant to be an expansive array of stuff, just enough to make something simple like a laser or a sonic screwdriver. There was also supposed to be a time limit on his ability use.

His weaknesses are the normal human vulnerability to electricity, radiation, most heavy explosions, and really sharp blades.

perhaps just the original abilities when my friend and I conceived him, strength, flight, and brains and I keep the Kevlar costume. Maybe he can bend steel but titanium is immovable to him? He was never meant to be particularly strong, just sort of like C. America.

I''d suggest a maximumlift weight of about 2500 pounds. Subsonic flight speeds. Um, additional toughness would still be fine, but anything over the category of about 'medium-heavy rounds' is overkill.

Not saying that you should limit yourself that far, but that's as high as I'd be willing to go with any superhero of my own. It's not an unreasonable limit.

Required Secondary Powers might be some help.

I think superpowers are most satisfying to the author and the audience when it's a single, seemingly specific power that is used in creative ways to achieve multiple effects.

^ I agree whole heartedly. If I had created the characters now they would've been completely different. But I created them about 6-8 years ago with a completely different mind and opinion and through stubbornness and an obsession with the past, I'm changing a lot but not too much about them.

Ever think of doing a Spiritual Successor?

I find that one of the most magical things about writing new stories is that you can rip off your old stories as much as you want and no one can do anything about it because it was never published.

Although, if someone told me today that I had to discard 13th Sage, I'd probably be quick to say No. Just... No, so I can understand why you would not want to.

edited 10th Jan '11 5:49:14 PM by MrAHR

I have two spiritual successors and Ace is the mentor in one of them. In those pretty much everyone has 2 or less powers and quite a number of them are Badass Normals.

edited 10th Jan '11 6:07:55 PM by ACDrawings

A Spiritual Successor is a type of sequel that is not part of the same world or story as its predecessor, but is nonetheless considered to be a successor because it's made by the same creators, shares common themes, styles, or elements; or, most likely, both. In other words, it's a sequel "in spirit."

We using the same definition here?

It appears not. Nevermind. The point is in my newer stories I use similar concepts but do things far differently that match my current sensibilities.

The original is supposed to take itself less seriously.

and technically I have 3 successors only 2 occurs in the same universe and the third doesn't and has a bit of an X-men/Heroes feel to it.