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PresidentStalkeyes The Best Worst Psychonaut from United Kingdom of England-land Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
The Best Worst Psychonaut
#76: May 8th 2020 at 6:42:21 AM

The infuriating thing about the whole 'OCs BAD' mentality is that it limits the kind of stories that people can write. I mean, even ignoring the inherent advantages of adding a fresh new perspective on canon, when was the last time a new instalment of a movie or game series didn't introduce at least one new character? Episodic series like TV shows and cartoons can usually get away with spending many episodes without introducing anyone, sure, but only because they tend to be shorter stories to begin with. That, and they probably introduced everyone two seasons ago anyway. :V If you're allergic to OCs - even minor ones - then Original Flavor fics in longer adventure- or action-based series will be pretty difficult without contriving events so that only canon characters are involved, which is gonna break the Willing Suspension of Disbelief to anyone used to the canon - which will be 99% of your readers, because you know, it's fanfiction. Elsewhere Fics are completely out of the question, too.

The really insidious thing about this mentality is that it's self-perpetuating. If novice writers are conditioned by close-minded individuals that all OC fanfics are bad self-insert shipping written by 13-year-old girls (or possibly bad self-insert power fantasy violence written by 13-year-old boys) then they'll limit themselves in order to avoid being baselessly accused of writing such things, but it won't limit the kind of people who write bad self-inserts to start with, because they're either too young or too lacking in self-awareness to care what the popular mentality is. This results in fewer examples of good OC work, which further perpetuates the stereotype, rinse and repeat.

The only real solution to this conundrum is to just not give a shit and write your OCs anyway - I'd bet money that most fanfic readers and writers who are still hung up on 'OCs BAD' are the same ones who think that all fanfic has to be shipping and can't conceive of anyone doing anything differentnote , and are therefore not worth giving any creative weight, attention, or the time of day. :V

Edited by PresidentStalkeyes on May 8th 2020 at 2:48:59 PM

"If you think like a child, you will do a child's work."
iamconstantine Since: Aug, 2014
#77: May 8th 2020 at 8:27:51 PM

(fellow oc writer here)

The issue with OC fics' general negative reception in my opinion comes down to two things: the "stereotypes" and "personal taste vs objective facts"

I think we can all agree that "overpowered OC that everyone loves and never loses and has no flaws" fics...do exist. They're still harmless and yes, many are written by some inexperienced young fans, but there's nothing wrong with acknowledging their existence and giving fair criticism. Problem being that many assume all OC fics are of this flavor. That the same way horror stories will be scary and coffeeshop fics will be lighthearted, OC fics WILL have really dumb OCs and unbelievable romances and such. It's like the "all animation is for kids" misconception. It's blatantly not true.

For the other matter, a lot of the "objective" issues I hear about OC fics aren't objective at all.

"OC fics are bad because what's the point of reading a story about a character I don't know?"

"OC fics are bad because having a canon character be shipped with a character someone made up is weird."

"OC fics are bad because insert fics don't change the plot so why does the OC even exist?"

Like... Those are tastes. If you want to read stories just about the canon characters, or you don't like romances with OCs, or you don't like canon-story insert fics, that's totally fine, but that's a preference. It's unfair to say all OC fics are bad because of these "objective issues". It's just an example of "I don't like it, therefore it's bad"

GlitterCat Since: Mar, 2018 Relationship Status: The Skitty to my Wailord
#78: May 25th 2020 at 12:28:49 PM

If I can tell a story with only canon characters, than I will. But if the story requires a character not introduced in the series (a priest, a neighbor, a shopkeeper etc.) than I will use OCs. If I can, I use an OC from a previous story, so there's added continuity. I currently write a lot of Tangled fanfics and they required me to create a few recurring Tangled OCs (In my mind I collectively label them the 'citizens of old corona' and I use that tag on tumblr).

What I like about OCs is getting the reader invested in them, so they create a reaction when they encounter them a second or third time. I think people should not be afraid to let their OCs be flawed. A particular OC of mine David is written as saying and doing hurtful things with the intended audience reaction being "I hate him. He's so mean." Because they have strong feelings (even negative ones) they're invested in his character arc. Even my nice OCs have character flaws (they refuse to plan ahead, they are pushy, they don't like certain animals, etc.) I think it makes them more well-rounded and thus more interesting to read.

Edited by GlitterCat on May 25th 2020 at 12:32:22 PM

see my completed Tangled (Varian) fanfic collection! https://archiveofourown.org/works/24467056/chapters/59049532
Adept (Holding A Herring) Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#79: May 26th 2020 at 8:33:38 AM

Yeah, as the whole, this really depends on why you're reading a particular fic in the first place. If you are a reader who wants to see the setting or universe being explored through a different lens, then you might be more willing to give OC-centric stories a chance. If, on the other hand, you are more interested in getting to see more of your favourite characters in various situations, then the reverse is true.

I tend to be the latter sort of fan, so I am more willing to read an Alternate Universe Fic featuring characters I like (although I acknowledge that those can be just as badly written as Mary Sue OC-fics—especially modern or High School AU fics) than an Elsewhere Fic.

But rejecting any kinds of OC, even minor ones, makes no sense TBH. If you want to flesh out a character whose backstory is never revealed, you do need a couple of OCs to serve as their family and friends so that they are not a completely blank slate who only exist in the context of the plot.

[up]And yeah, sometimes the story does need those bit-part characters whose role can't be filled by the ones from existing Canon.

Edited by Adept on May 26th 2020 at 11:39:29 PM

Silphanis Third rate duelist with a fourth rate deck Since: Feb, 2020 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
Third rate duelist with a fourth rate deck
#80: May 27th 2020 at 12:24:45 AM

[up][up] That's basically my approach as well. Sometimes more drastic OCs are necessary (one fic I'm writing has only OC antagonists, because no canon characters would fit), but most of mine are just needing a bit part or a secondary role in the plot filled.

I like to flesh them out from there like you mention, and I do love some of the OCs I've created, but the plot comes first for me and they're made to fit into it.

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