Writing Meme - Day 8

[aeron_lanart]

Questions are here.

8 - Do you write OCs? And if so, what do you do to make certain they're not Mary Sues, and if not, explain your thoughts on OCs.

Short answer - yes, and poke them with a metaphorical stick though sometimes they poke back

Rambly answer behind the cut

Comments

[idontlikegravy]

Helen may be a Mary-Sue of sorts but to call her that is totally dismissive* and unfair because you've crafted a wonderful character (who I can't wait to see more of) in both her and Siannon. As you said, the key is to make them fallible, human, believable.

Every OC is going to have elements of yourself or people you know because even the best authors draw on what and who they know to make their writing believable. The trick is getting the balance right and you have definitely managed that so far. :)

ETA: *because of the derogatory associations with the term

[aeron_lanart]

I shall consider my wrist slapped. *g*

I suppose the strange thing is that Helen was *supposed* to be a blatant Mary Sue and turned out kind of fun and quirky anyway - maybe because I'm a bit odd myself - and then she moved away from the whole Mary Sue thing and became herself.

I sometimes wish I could nip down to town, find Claire's coffee shop (and see what the hair colour of the week is), meet Shiv the alien publican of the Oxford and share a pint with him and the Torchwood 4 team. Like Claire, I think I'd fancy the arse off Callista McIan (the Scottish medic); maybe we could compare notes. If we did I'm fairly certain Helen would *not* be impressed.