So, you scored really high on the Miracles Mary Sue Litmus Test, huh? What do you do now? You could do several different things: 1). You could think, "Who the heck is this Laurel chick? Who does she think she is?! I don't even know her! Forget Laurel!" and go about your business, having fun writing your stories. Hey, we're talking fanfic here; I'm just one writer, and my opinion doesn't have to matter to you at all. Really, it doesn't hurt my feelings much to have a complete stranger think I'm full of crap. ::SHRUG:: ^_^ 2). You could spread these qualities that got you such a high score out over several characters, instead of cramming them all into one. 3). You could take into account your age. If you are below the age of 25, it's very likely your Mary Sueism is just a symptom of inexperience. Many writers go through the, "I want a perfect, lovable, superpowered character" syndrome when they are young. Just keep writing, and living, and the rest will take care of itself. 4). Tone your character down. Give her some real flaws. Do you like people who are super perfect and superior to you in a way that makes you feel inadequate? No one likes a character who is like this either. 5). Remember that the show is about Paul, Alva, and Evie. Sure, everyone wants their character to interact with SQ - that idea is fine. BUT, do not outshine the canon characters. You love them and want to write for them for a reason, right? Not to shove them aside. 6). Do not perform character rape. Everyone acts out of character because of experiences they are going through at times. BUT, if you've got any of the canon characters acting way too off what they normally would do, people are going to be annoyed. Make it believable, or don't do it at all. Think of examples from the show to guide you. Paul acted out of character when he was possessed by a ghost, but it was still somewhat him, something that he might really do if the right buttons were pushed. Alva acted differently than everyone was used to when he met Debbie, but he was still Alva. Even Evie screamed and cussed at Paul while she was worried about Matty's disappearance, but that can be understood, can't it? Strive for this, if you're going to have a member of SQ act out of character. 7). Don't allow yourself to get too conceited about your own work. Be confident, not cocky. It's okay to have faith in your talent, but you need to be honest with yourself, too. If you are using your character to feed your ego, it's very likely she's a Mary Sue. The attention and praise will come to you if your story is enjoyable; you don't need to resort to "perfect character syndrome" to get it. 8). Realize that even some Mary Sue-like stories have the potential to become loved and popular. I've seen it happen. One particular fic I can think of from another fandom was a big self-insertion fic; all of the characters were based on the author and her friends. It was very popular for years before the author shut it down due to her own disinterest. Another fic I can think of from another fandom severely messes with the canon material, but it is still recommended to fans years after it debuted. Because of bearing witness to this, I have become convinced that a very good writer can make almost any idea work. It's all in how you do it, not what you do. How do you carry your ideas across to the reader? Think about that. 9). Overall, be willing to listen to criticism, consider it, and decide what to take to heart. You don't have to act on every comment given to you, but you do need to think about them. What things are different people saying to you over and over? Can you improve in this area? Be honest. If the answer comes back that someone is well-meaning, but wrong, then go with what you feel is right. If the answer comes back that they may have a point, reflect on making changes. 10). Just can't bear to make changes? Join the Mary Sue society! There are people online who celebrate their love of Mary Sues! They will appreciate your stories, so have fun! Back to The Miracles Mary Sue Litmus Test