I write as a reader, not knowing what the author will say next.
– Russell Edson
Tag: author
Quotable 40
Great literature must spring from an upheaval in the author’s soul. If that upheaval is not present then it must come from the works of any other author which happens to be handy and easily adapted.
– Robert Benchley
Quotable 30
The two most engaging powers of an author are to make new things familiar and familiar things new.
– Samuel Johnson
Pen to Paper: Mary Sue
Mary Sue comes to us from Star Trek fan fiction. She was in a parody of the fanfic of the day, and her fame has grown since. As you’ll see if you follow the links, nailing down what is and what isn’t a Mary Sue character is like nailing Jell-O to a wall.
The definition I want to focus on is Mary Sue as an author avatar: the over-the-top perfect character that outshines the sun itself. This is the author writing himself into the story in an idealized form for the purpose of wish fulfillment. The author adds a new character who is smarter, braver, more beautiful, more caring, more, more, more than the original characters, who instantly adore the avatar.
This sort of character shows up in original fiction, too. Mary Sue wasn’t a 20th century invention, either, but was around at least in the 19th century.
The term has come to be strictly pejorative, and there is growing controversy in some circles about its use. There are those who believe that a strong female character is too often labeled a Mary Sue. Or that any character who has his head screwed on reasonably well is tarred with the Mary Sue brush. These are valid concerns.
The point I want to make today is simple: enjoy Mary Sue in your daydreams, but leave her out of your fiction. She merely annoys the reader.
Quotable 5
He has the mind of an author exactly, some of the simplest things he can’t understand.
– Olivia “Susy” Clemens, of her father
A Cute Stress: Author’s Note
After this word of introduction, you will find installment one of “A Cute Stress.”
This is an experiment. I am interested in these characters and want to continue with them when the mood strikes. So there will be occasional additions to the story, clearly titled and tagged.
I am not necessarily trying to write a novel or novella before your very eyes. Nor have I worked out the slightest scrap of a plot. We will meet these people and learn about them together for as long as we’re all having fun.
Which I very much hope begins now.