Mary-Sue Litmus Test
For those that want it. ^^;;
Section 1 - The Name Game
-Is the character named after you? (This can be your first name, middle name, or the name you go by in chat or irc.)
If so, stop now. Put your pencil (mouse?) down and turn in your test.
-Does the character have a really cool name that you wish you had?
-Does the character have more than one name? (i.e. a nickname or a pseudonym)
-Did you spend more than a day looking for just the right name?
-Have you considered naming your pet or child the character's name?
Section 2 - Physical Attributes
-Is the character the same gender as you?
-Is the character from the same racial group as you? (Note: if the character is a humanoid alien, fay, or another magical/genetically altered being, answer yes to this question.)
--Is the character a hybrid of two or more species?
-Is the character a teenager or in her/his early twenties?
-Does the character *look* like s/he is a teenager or in her/his early twenties for no apparent reason?
--For a magical reason?
---That you plan on making a plot point later?
-Is the character the age you would like to be?
-Is the character beautiful or roguishly handsome?
--Does one or more of the regulars find the character highly attractive?
---Do other regulars see him/her as a threat because of this?
-Is the character the "love" of one of the regular character's life?
-Does the character have an unusual eye color for no apparent reason Ex: Red/black eyes like X-Man Gambit?
--Will this be a plot point later?
-Does the character have an accent which you do not share (i.e. Southern or Irish)?
Section 3 - Personal Traits
-Is the character the long-lost child or descendent or sibling of a regular or recurring character?
--Of another original character for whom you intend to write another story or even another series?
-Is the character a member or a friend of a hitherto unknown group or branch of order/group/family of which you are writing about (i.e. Jedi Order or Wayne family as examples)?
--And is the last surviving member of that group/family/order (i.e. Yet another surviving Kryptonian)?
-Did the character have an unusual birth or childhood?
-Does the character have a twin, a clone, or a sibling of the same gender?
--About whom you plan on writing another story later?
-Does the character have a very good singing voice?
--Or play a musical instrument amazingly well?
-Does the character have better taste in music than you do? (For example, does your character own cd's that you think educated people ought to own, even though you've never actually listened to the music yourself?)
-Does the character do what you do for fun or profit? (This includes having the same job you have, or would like to have when you're older, or having a job that sounds like a lot of fun even though you know nothing about it. It can also mean RPing, computer programming, musician, whatever.)
-Does the character make witty wisecracks or offer sarcastic comments constantly?
-Does everyone end up liking the character (among the regular characters you like)?
Section 4 - Super Powers
The Fay:
-Is the character at all/part fay?
--But doesn't find out until the middle or end of the story, or will find out in a future story you already have planned?
The Rest:
(Keep in mind some of these are Gifts anyway, so they technically don't count.)
-Does the character, not being fay, have magical/mutant powers anyway?
-Does the character have telekinesis or telepathy? (Twins count.)
-Does the character just "know things" for no apparent reason?
-Can the character fly?
--Without the aid of wings?
-Can the character heal with a touch and/or thought?
-Do animals instinctively like the character?
Section 5 - The Love Connection
-Does the character fall in love with your favorite character in the genre?
--With whom *you* would like to fall in love and/or have sex?
--With another original character?
---With whom *you* would like to fall in love and/or have sex?
-Does the story end with the character's wedding?
-If it is a slash/porn fic, does your character engage in this with the character you like most? (Don't send it to me, though, YUCK!)
Section 6 - The Real World and Your Character
-Would you like to be friends with the character if you met in real life?
-Do you think everyone who reads the story should automatically like the character and want to be friends with the character?
-If someone tells you he/she doesn't like your character, do you take it as a personal attack on you? (Be honest.)
-Do you ever pretend, just to yourself, that you *are* the character, with the same strengths and abilities?
Section 7 - The Fiendish Plot
-Do you introduce the character on the first page of the story?
-Do you tell the story from the character's point of view, all or mostly?
-Does the character meet the characters you have them involved with, and after a few tense pages of plot, become friends with them?
-Does the character manage to develop a friendship with an otherwise villainous character, and through this friendship, reform the other character?
--Does the villain become evil again after the character dies, but retain some last vestige of goodness from his/her interaction with the character, evidenced in one selfless action at the end of the story
-Is the character transformed into a magical or genetically-altered being?
--Is the character happier in her/his new form?
---Do you wish you could be transformed because of the neat powers?
-Does the character save the day and/or another character's life?
--Through magical/mystical intervention?
--Through dying? (Turning to stone or becoming immortal counts.)
---Does everyone go into mourning?
---Does s/he get not-dead by the end of the story?
----In the sequel?
-Do you plan to write many more stories revolving around this character?
0-14 Developed character, unlikely MS.
15-19 Borderline character. Characters in this range are potential MS's, who can go either way dependent on the author's skill.
20+ Mary Sue/Gary Stu. Proceed with greatest caution.
35+ Reconsider your character and plot. Please
Section 1 - The Name Game
-Is the character named after you? (This can be your first name, middle name, or the name you go by in chat or irc.)
If so, stop now. Put your pencil (mouse?) down and turn in your test.
-Does the character have a really cool name that you wish you had?
-Does the character have more than one name? (i.e. a nickname or a pseudonym)
-Did you spend more than a day looking for just the right name?
-Have you considered naming your pet or child the character's name?
Section 2 - Physical Attributes
-Is the character the same gender as you?
-Is the character from the same racial group as you? (Note: if the character is a humanoid alien, fay, or another magical/genetically altered being, answer yes to this question.)
--Is the character a hybrid of two or more species?
-Is the character a teenager or in her/his early twenties?
-Does the character *look* like s/he is a teenager or in her/his early twenties for no apparent reason?
--For a magical reason?
---That you plan on making a plot point later?
-Is the character the age you would like to be?
-Is the character beautiful or roguishly handsome?
--Does one or more of the regulars find the character highly attractive?
---Do other regulars see him/her as a threat because of this?
-Is the character the "love" of one of the regular character's life?
-Does the character have an unusual eye color for no apparent reason Ex: Red/black eyes like X-Man Gambit?
--Will this be a plot point later?
-Does the character have an accent which you do not share (i.e. Southern or Irish)?
Section 3 - Personal Traits
-Is the character the long-lost child or descendent or sibling of a regular or recurring character?
--Of another original character for whom you intend to write another story or even another series?
-Is the character a member or a friend of a hitherto unknown group or branch of order/group/family of which you are writing about (i.e. Jedi Order or Wayne family as examples)?
--And is the last surviving member of that group/family/order (i.e. Yet another surviving Kryptonian)?
-Did the character have an unusual birth or childhood?
-Does the character have a twin, a clone, or a sibling of the same gender?
--About whom you plan on writing another story later?
-Does the character have a very good singing voice?
--Or play a musical instrument amazingly well?
-Does the character have better taste in music than you do? (For example, does your character own cd's that you think educated people ought to own, even though you've never actually listened to the music yourself?)
-Does the character do what you do for fun or profit? (This includes having the same job you have, or would like to have when you're older, or having a job that sounds like a lot of fun even though you know nothing about it. It can also mean RPing, computer programming, musician, whatever.)
-Does the character make witty wisecracks or offer sarcastic comments constantly?
-Does everyone end up liking the character (among the regular characters you like)?
Section 4 - Super Powers
The Fay:
-Is the character at all/part fay?
--But doesn't find out until the middle or end of the story, or will find out in a future story you already have planned?
The Rest:
(Keep in mind some of these are Gifts anyway, so they technically don't count.)
-Does the character, not being fay, have magical/mutant powers anyway?
-Does the character have telekinesis or telepathy? (Twins count.)
-Does the character just "know things" for no apparent reason?
-Can the character fly?
--Without the aid of wings?
-Can the character heal with a touch and/or thought?
-Do animals instinctively like the character?
Section 5 - The Love Connection
-Does the character fall in love with your favorite character in the genre?
--With whom *you* would like to fall in love and/or have sex?
--With another original character?
---With whom *you* would like to fall in love and/or have sex?
-Does the story end with the character's wedding?
-If it is a slash/porn fic, does your character engage in this with the character you like most? (Don't send it to me, though, YUCK!)
Section 6 - The Real World and Your Character
-Would you like to be friends with the character if you met in real life?
-Do you think everyone who reads the story should automatically like the character and want to be friends with the character?
-If someone tells you he/she doesn't like your character, do you take it as a personal attack on you? (Be honest.)
-Do you ever pretend, just to yourself, that you *are* the character, with the same strengths and abilities?
Section 7 - The Fiendish Plot
-Do you introduce the character on the first page of the story?
-Do you tell the story from the character's point of view, all or mostly?
-Does the character meet the characters you have them involved with, and after a few tense pages of plot, become friends with them?
-Does the character manage to develop a friendship with an otherwise villainous character, and through this friendship, reform the other character?
--Does the villain become evil again after the character dies, but retain some last vestige of goodness from his/her interaction with the character, evidenced in one selfless action at the end of the story
-Is the character transformed into a magical or genetically-altered being?
--Is the character happier in her/his new form?
---Do you wish you could be transformed because of the neat powers?
-Does the character save the day and/or another character's life?
--Through magical/mystical intervention?
--Through dying? (Turning to stone or becoming immortal counts.)
---Does everyone go into mourning?
---Does s/he get not-dead by the end of the story?
----In the sequel?
-Do you plan to write many more stories revolving around this character?
0-14 Developed character, unlikely MS.
15-19 Borderline character. Characters in this range are potential MS's, who can go either way dependent on the author's skill.
20+ Mary Sue/Gary Stu. Proceed with greatest caution.
35+ Reconsider your character and plot. Please