CheerfulElegance

Holepunch's Mary Sue Litmus Test: Ah, the Mary Sue. We can't cobble together a truly comprehensive description of what they are, exactly, but we can agree on one thing: an annoying, 'perfect' character who, through a general lack of flaws and character development, is excruciating to sit through and often makes us gnash our teeth, tear our hair, and reach for the back button. This nefarious creature can be measured and detected, so let's all grab our magnifying glasses and get classifying. This is a subjective subject; a trait that drives one person right up the wall might fail to get any reaction from another. As you go through the list, c

Murdering Mary Sue Every aspiring writer has met her at least once, whether in his own works or in those of others. The alluring temptation of a perfect character taunts the author from one side while his muse urges him to keep writing from the other. Who wouldn't love her? She's the most beautiful, talented, fantastic woman in the universe, with not a flaw in sight. Every woman wants to be her; every man wants to marry her, so why would anyone want to kill her? Who would want to murder Mary Sue? I would. I and many greater authors have been working hard to keep this succubus in her proper place: the trash can. Mary Sue is one of the wors