Working out the kinks on this...
Velvet Maces Sue Detector:
1) The most important thing for the readers to know about my character is:
a) The information she provides the canon characters
b) Her expertise and training
c) Is her current problems and personality
d) Her backstory and looks
e) Her name, fashion sense and adherence to current RL fads.
2) How much of the first chapter of a fic is devoted to my original character's plight, thoughts, or background.
a) None
b) Less than 25 percent
c) Less than half
d) Most of it
e) The canon characters don't even appear in this chapter.
3) How often do other characters talk/think about your OC
a) Rarely
b) Only when she is with them.
c) Only when talking about events she is central to.
d) Somehow she comes up as a topic at least once every scene
e) They don't talk/think about anything else.
4) The purpose of the fic is:
a) To tell a story about the canon characters, with my OC being only being one tiny part.
b) To tell a story about the canon characters, with my OC being an important part
c) To tell an adventure where my OC is of equal importance to the canon characters
d) To tell a story about my OC's relationship to a canon character
e) To tell a story where my OC is the main character and the canon characters support her.
5) The canon characters like my OC because:
a) She is pleasant and complimentary to them and generally agreeable to be around
b) She is vulnerable but sweet, if a bit quirky
c) She needs their help. And she's pretty.
d) She is weird, egotistical and rude, but in a somehow forgivable way.
e) I have no idea… they just do.
6) The canon characters hate my OC because
a) She's actively trying to wreck their lives
b) Even though she's not trying to cause problems for them, nonetheless, things she does cause the canon characters grief.
c) She was Fated to cause some horrible thing to happen, or she was born to an enemy clan
d) She is just too talented, sweet, and beautiful, and they are jealous.
e) Uh… because I want them to?
7) My OC is funny because
a) She says witty, clever things
b) She is quirky and eccentric
c) She's a goofball and a bit embarrassing
d) She's random, zany and sugar high
e) Because I -- I mean, because the canon characters say she is.
8) You can tell my OC is smart because:
a) She says intelligent things, and comes up with smart plans.
b) She has credentials and is an expert in a fantasy field where I can make up the jargon.
c) She easily sees through the enemy plans - almost as if she read the script (huh, funny that).
d) She has an IQ of 422. And she's 5.
e) I tell you she's smart. Repeatedly.
9) You can tell my OC is beautiful because:
a) She has to fend off come-ons even from people who aren't attractive and she has no interest in
b) People tend to look at her chest not her face
c) People tend to want to be around her, and even enemies cut her some slack.
d) I tell you in great detail exactly what she looks like, down to shade of nail polish
e) You just have to take my word for it.
10) My OC's unusual appearance causes:
a) People to ask her where she's from, but otherwise treat her normally once curiosity is satisfied.
b) People to treat her as a freak/ outcast, so she dyes her hair or covers over her features.
c) People to be attracted to her
d) Actually, no one really notices that she has green hair and opal eyes. Weird, huh.
e) Her appearance causes the good guys to fall in love with her and the bad guys to hate her.
11) The canon characters hang around my good guy OC because
a) She is helping them with their mission
b) She happens to be doing the same things they are doing
c) She asks them to help her with some project of hers.
d) She was foisted on them by a third party and they have to stick with her whether they want to or (usually) not.
e) They are magnetically drawn to her, the sad story of her life pulls their heartstrings and makes them melt.
12) The canon characters hang around my bad guy OC because
a) They are following her around in order to stop her from doing bad things
b) She is following them around because they are getting in the way of her doing bad things.
c) She has a personal beef with them.
d) They have a personal beef with her
e) The canon characters want to redeem her and make her good.
13) When my character makes a mistake:
a) She is embarrassed and tries to cover it up
b) She apologizes and tries to make things right
c) It actually isn't a mistake, it just looks like one for a while, but in the end it's a good thing.
d) She doesn't make mistakes, ever.
e) Other people try to frame her, but she easily shows her innocence.
14) If a canon character has some hot button issue that drives him nuts when mentioned, how often does your character bring the subject up?
a) Never - it's cliché in canon, why the hell would I put it in my fic.
b) My OC doesn't say it, but one of the other characters pushes the button and my character is startled by the reaction.
c) My OC presses the button innocently.
d) Some other character presses the button, and my character is amused by the reaction. (Because if it's funny to read about something in fic, it MUST be funny to see it first hand - right? Right?)
e) My OC presses it more than once and laughs every time. (Because this doesn't make her a complete dick!)
14) How much of the OC's backstory and/or details of appearance make it into the fic?
a) Just the details that are strictly necessary for the plot.
b) Enough so that the reader gets a general idea of what my OC looks like and how she happens to be where she is.
c) My audience knows that she's an only child, and that she prefers to wear hot topic.
d) My audience knows all the major details of her life history, and can probably draw the pattern on her earrings.
e) I made a long authors note to include all the details of her appearance and backstory that I couldn't fit in the fic.
15) My OC's tragic past is mentioned because
a) It contains a vital clue to the plot
b) It explains why my character behaves in the way she does
c) It gives the canon characters a reason to protect her.
d) It wrings pity from the canon characters.
e) It wrings pity from the readers.
16) In a fight my OC
a) runs and hides
b) fights about as well as can be expected for someone of her background
c) Surprises the enemy with a sneak attack to help the canon character
d) Fights back to back with the canon characters, exchanging witty dialog all the while.
e) Awes the canon characters with her amazing special attack.
17) My OC is known for:
a) Being an expert in X field
b) Having a signature move or talent or a narrow area for which she is second to none
c) Being a prodigy, generally brilliant, or jack of all trades
d) Actually she is horrible at everything, she has no talents at all, she's ugly and has a bad personality, and, er, no, I have no idea why the canon characters don't just ditch her.
e) You name it -- she does it, perfectly.
18) My OC has a flaw
a) Which makes life difficult for her in expected but mildly inconvenient ways.
b) Which is mentioned in passing, but doesn't really change anything.
c) Which requires a lot of attention and care, (and paragraphs of description).
d) Which serves to make her more adorable
e) Which shows up only when it will cause pity, but is forgotten whenever it would be inconvenient or a hassle.
19) When faced with danger my OC
a) Gets serious, focuses and plans
b) Gets stressed, thinks negatively, and needs reassurance.
c) Shrugs it off, danger, what danger.
d) Throws off smug one liners, and confidently leads the canon characters into battle.
e) Quotes catch phrases from popular movies and poses.
20) I think of my OC as:
a) A useful tool for forwarding the plot
b) A memorable, interesting character
c) My baby, don't hurt her.
d) NOT a sue NOT a sue NOT a sue
e) A conduit for the readers to experience the excitement and drama, romance and tragedy of the fic. Readers will enjoy imagining themselves as her.
The farther down the list you are, the more likely you have a Sue on your hands.
1) The most important thing for the readers to know about my character is:
a) The information she provides the canon characters
b) Her expertise and training
c) Is her current problems and personality
d) Her backstory and looks
e) Her name, fashion sense and adherence to current RL fads.
2) How much of the first chapter of a fic is devoted to my original character's plight, thoughts, or background.
a) None
b) Less than 25 percent
c) Less than half
d) Most of it
e) The canon characters don't even appear in this chapter.
3) How often do other characters talk/think about your OC
a) Rarely
b) Only when she is with them.
c) Only when talking about events she is central to.
d) Somehow she comes up as a topic at least once every scene
e) They don't talk/think about anything else.
4) The purpose of the fic is:
a) To tell a story about the canon characters, with my OC being only being one tiny part.
b) To tell a story about the canon characters, with my OC being an important part
c) To tell an adventure where my OC is of equal importance to the canon characters
d) To tell a story about my OC's relationship to a canon character
e) To tell a story where my OC is the main character and the canon characters support her.
5) The canon characters like my OC because:
a) She is pleasant and complimentary to them and generally agreeable to be around
b) She is vulnerable but sweet, if a bit quirky
c) She needs their help. And she's pretty.
d) She is weird, egotistical and rude, but in a somehow forgivable way.
e) I have no idea… they just do.
6) The canon characters hate my OC because
a) She's actively trying to wreck their lives
b) Even though she's not trying to cause problems for them, nonetheless, things she does cause the canon characters grief.
c) She was Fated to cause some horrible thing to happen, or she was born to an enemy clan
d) She is just too talented, sweet, and beautiful, and they are jealous.
e) Uh… because I want them to?
7) My OC is funny because
a) She says witty, clever things
b) She is quirky and eccentric
c) She's a goofball and a bit embarrassing
d) She's random, zany and sugar high
e) Because I -- I mean, because the canon characters say she is.
8) You can tell my OC is smart because:
a) She says intelligent things, and comes up with smart plans.
b) She has credentials and is an expert in a fantasy field where I can make up the jargon.
c) She easily sees through the enemy plans - almost as if she read the script (huh, funny that).
d) She has an IQ of 422. And she's 5.
e) I tell you she's smart. Repeatedly.
9) You can tell my OC is beautiful because:
a) She has to fend off come-ons even from people who aren't attractive and she has no interest in
b) People tend to look at her chest not her face
c) People tend to want to be around her, and even enemies cut her some slack.
d) I tell you in great detail exactly what she looks like, down to shade of nail polish
e) You just have to take my word for it.
10) My OC's unusual appearance causes:
a) People to ask her where she's from, but otherwise treat her normally once curiosity is satisfied.
b) People to treat her as a freak/ outcast, so she dyes her hair or covers over her features.
c) People to be attracted to her
d) Actually, no one really notices that she has green hair and opal eyes. Weird, huh.
e) Her appearance causes the good guys to fall in love with her and the bad guys to hate her.
11) The canon characters hang around my good guy OC because
a) She is helping them with their mission
b) She happens to be doing the same things they are doing
c) She asks them to help her with some project of hers.
d) She was foisted on them by a third party and they have to stick with her whether they want to or (usually) not.
e) They are magnetically drawn to her, the sad story of her life pulls their heartstrings and makes them melt.
12) The canon characters hang around my bad guy OC because
a) They are following her around in order to stop her from doing bad things
b) She is following them around because they are getting in the way of her doing bad things.
c) She has a personal beef with them.
d) They have a personal beef with her
e) The canon characters want to redeem her and make her good.
13) When my character makes a mistake:
a) She is embarrassed and tries to cover it up
b) She apologizes and tries to make things right
c) It actually isn't a mistake, it just looks like one for a while, but in the end it's a good thing.
d) She doesn't make mistakes, ever.
e) Other people try to frame her, but she easily shows her innocence.
14) If a canon character has some hot button issue that drives him nuts when mentioned, how often does your character bring the subject up?
a) Never - it's cliché in canon, why the hell would I put it in my fic.
b) My OC doesn't say it, but one of the other characters pushes the button and my character is startled by the reaction.
c) My OC presses the button innocently.
d) Some other character presses the button, and my character is amused by the reaction. (Because if it's funny to read about something in fic, it MUST be funny to see it first hand - right? Right?)
e) My OC presses it more than once and laughs every time. (Because this doesn't make her a complete dick!)
14) How much of the OC's backstory and/or details of appearance make it into the fic?
a) Just the details that are strictly necessary for the plot.
b) Enough so that the reader gets a general idea of what my OC looks like and how she happens to be where she is.
c) My audience knows that she's an only child, and that she prefers to wear hot topic.
d) My audience knows all the major details of her life history, and can probably draw the pattern on her earrings.
e) I made a long authors note to include all the details of her appearance and backstory that I couldn't fit in the fic.
15) My OC's tragic past is mentioned because
a) It contains a vital clue to the plot
b) It explains why my character behaves in the way she does
c) It gives the canon characters a reason to protect her.
d) It wrings pity from the canon characters.
e) It wrings pity from the readers.
16) In a fight my OC
a) runs and hides
b) fights about as well as can be expected for someone of her background
c) Surprises the enemy with a sneak attack to help the canon character
d) Fights back to back with the canon characters, exchanging witty dialog all the while.
e) Awes the canon characters with her amazing special attack.
17) My OC is known for:
a) Being an expert in X field
b) Having a signature move or talent or a narrow area for which she is second to none
c) Being a prodigy, generally brilliant, or jack of all trades
d) Actually she is horrible at everything, she has no talents at all, she's ugly and has a bad personality, and, er, no, I have no idea why the canon characters don't just ditch her.
e) You name it -- she does it, perfectly.
18) My OC has a flaw
a) Which makes life difficult for her in expected but mildly inconvenient ways.
b) Which is mentioned in passing, but doesn't really change anything.
c) Which requires a lot of attention and care, (and paragraphs of description).
d) Which serves to make her more adorable
e) Which shows up only when it will cause pity, but is forgotten whenever it would be inconvenient or a hassle.
19) When faced with danger my OC
a) Gets serious, focuses and plans
b) Gets stressed, thinks negatively, and needs reassurance.
c) Shrugs it off, danger, what danger.
d) Throws off smug one liners, and confidently leads the canon characters into battle.
e) Quotes catch phrases from popular movies and poses.
20) I think of my OC as:
a) A useful tool for forwarding the plot
b) A memorable, interesting character
c) My baby, don't hurt her.
d) NOT a sue NOT a sue NOT a sue
e) A conduit for the readers to experience the excitement and drama, romance and tragedy of the fic. Readers will enjoy imagining themselves as her.
The farther down the list you are, the more likely you have a Sue on your hands.