tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post2280588501296671856..comments2024-01-24T05:13:06.164-08:00Comments on Not Your Usual Suspects: Mary Sue and You - How Much of Ourselves Do We Put in Our Novels?Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11286314155783213006noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-26210464974448332432015-02-28T16:53:42.321-08:002015-02-28T16:53:42.321-08:00There are a few romance writers I don't read b...There are a few romance writers I don't read because their heroines are so impossibly perfect (Jude Devereaux, yes, I'm talking about you...). And then there are Courtney Milan heroines, who are flawed and wonderful at the same time (yay for Minerva the Iron Chess Beyotch, who at the first tries to make herself smaller--but when it comes to chess, she can't). Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-34903413991506708852015-02-28T08:40:54.679-08:002015-02-28T08:40:54.679-08:00Excellent post, Janis. I learned early on that my ...Excellent post, Janis. I learned early on that my favorite characters in books, movies and on TV were those who had enough flaws to make them memorable. It seems to indicate a great level of realism. I'm definitely not perfect, so why should my characters be that way.<br /><br />Marja McGrawMarjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09528164359512905392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-68121358291865286752015-02-28T01:28:58.423-08:002015-02-28T01:28:58.423-08:00The "Mary Sue" syndrome was well known i...The "Mary Sue" syndrome was well known in fanfiction, where I started writing online, as an author insert - and also "Marty Stu" for male characters LOL.<br /><br />This is a great post because it highlights the conflict of the old advice of "write what you know". Of course, what we all should know now is that we can write whatever we like! as long as it's well crafted and plausible<br /><br />I write M/M romance so I suppose I'm free from inserting my physical characteristics on my characters LOL, but I know I bring my emotional feelings and opinions into their stories. <br /><br />One of the original perceived barriers to M/M romance was that female readers wouldn't like it because they like to associate with the Heroine. And M/M romance written by women comes under regular criticism, that women can't portray male life if they don't live it. <br /><br />I can safely say many readers *love* M/M, but these are all interesting debating points :).Clare Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09392142798976142547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-86766726857242371842015-02-27T18:31:33.598-08:002015-02-27T18:31:33.598-08:00Never heard the "Mary Sue" term before (...Never heard the "Mary Sue" term before (but the book that permanently lives under my bed probably had that beginner flaw). <br />An author brings their perspective to the keyboard, so I'd be surprised if at least something didn't show up. On the other hand, I do get assumed (and horrified) when people try to attribute some part of my characters to me personally!CathyPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04671747592743029540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-16675245028066069462015-02-27T16:33:12.497-08:002015-02-27T16:33:12.497-08:00I agree. perfect doesn't exist and no matter h...I agree. perfect doesn't exist and no matter how much your story is fiction, a perfect hero, heroin is too unbelievable.Larion aka Larriane Willshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05044089414209140043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-42924881776180997932015-02-27T14:06:20.940-08:002015-02-27T14:06:20.940-08:00I have two female protagonists in two different se...I have two female protagonists in two different series. Some of my likes, views, and interests occur in both ladies: love of science, baseball, birding. Right now I'm writing a new series and the protagonists is a man. What an education this is! It's really working out quite well.Kathleen Kaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16500241341014235792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-7045893300087529032015-02-27T07:42:20.892-08:002015-02-27T07:42:20.892-08:00I have seen this advice before, and I'm not su...I have seen this advice before, and I'm not sure that some very famous characters are not Mary Sues. How about Miss Marple? How about Kinsey Millhone? OTOH, of course there's Scarlett O'Hara. Maybe I'm just not seeing the flaws in Miss Marple and Kinsey. That said, I think the advice is good advice overall. I do write a lot in the male POV, but I think that's because I read mostly male writers when in my teens and early twenties. Thanks for an interesting, thought-provoking post.Jan Christensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027877440748580764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-4914193765604959122015-02-27T07:18:55.169-08:002015-02-27T07:18:55.169-08:00Ah, poor Mary Sue. Nobody likes her because she...Ah, poor Mary Sue. Nobody likes her because she's too perfect. ;)<br /><br />I enjoy flawed characters, but I believe what Jacqueline said is true - that flaws are less tolerated in romances. Or they're at least trickier to write. Yes, readers still want the flaws, but which ones? And I'm sure it's different for everyone. As are the personality types I enjoy reading. For instance, I find I enjoy alpha heroes more, and strong heroines, and while they can have flaws, I like these types of characters, especially if they recognize their flaws fairly early on and I can tell they're going to face them. A friend of mine wrote a beta hero recently, and I fell in love with him eventually, but it took me some time! ;)<br /><br />Oh, and my favorite kinds of movies/books are those where the flaw becomes the strength that saves the day. Love that!Anne Marie Beckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17603878676306179018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-8164703175718090192015-02-27T05:44:28.362-08:002015-02-27T05:44:28.362-08:00It's always interesting to read another writer...It's always interesting to read another writer's take on characterisation. I probably put too much of myself into my characters, but they don't necessarily have my personality, more my quirks. I'll pick one and magnify it, make it their thing. That helps me define them and figure out who they are. <br /><br />Also, I prefer writing the opposite gender. I think it's because if I am putting myself into the character, using the opposite gender provides that little bit of distance. Maybe? :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00576261253538655251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-2118287177689336332015-02-27T05:20:20.930-08:002015-02-27T05:20:20.930-08:00Hi, Janis,
With mysteries, flawed H/H are the the...Hi, Janis,<br /><br />With mysteries, flawed H/H are the the norm. With romances, it's trickier. For example, in the PW review of TEA LEAVES AND TAROT CARDS, the hero was criticized as unlikable because he was flawed. It surprised me. I don't like "perfect" people in fiction, even romances. P.S. I never heard the term "Mary Sue" before. Interesting.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-34577224732190177762015-02-27T04:52:33.064-08:002015-02-27T04:52:33.064-08:00Wonderful perspective, Janice.Wonderful perspective, Janice.Rose Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04429566802562925080noreply@blogger.com