Comments on: Writing Excuses Season 3 Episode 16: The Anti-Mary Sue Episode

By: Characters, Sartorialist, and Taglines. - Dissecting Words

Characters, Sartorialist, and Taglines. - Dissecting Words — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:54:09 +0000

[...] But you could also argue that you could sum up a period in someone’s life with a tag, and as we change our taglines would change. Now it’s not law, and it may not work, but so far but it’s keeping the characters different and I’ve totally avoided Old Sue. [...]

By: Mary Sue Is Not Who You Think She Is | The Saucy Scrivener

Mary Sue Is Not Who You Think She Is | The Saucy Scrivener — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:54:20 +0000

[...] and comic writer/artist Howard Tayler (Schlock Mercenary). Going through their archives I found a delightful podcast from last September tackling how to kill Miss Mary Sue with fire (like you [...]

By: ZH

ZH — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:20:29 +0000

Pretty much everywhere else I’ve ever read about Mary Sue defines the type of character as being overly idealized, too perfect, without flaws, too knowledgeable, and way too well liked by other characters, who never call him/her on his/her BS even though realistically someone would. This is the only place where it was definied as being a character that is like the author, which might not be such a good thing, but would also fall under something else. If you’re going to try and help new authors try to avoid the dreaded Mary Sue, it might be a good idea to do this podcast over, this time explaining what a Mary Sue actually is, why that’s bad, and how to actually avoid that type of character. Not trying to be a jerk or anything, though, and I’ve found most of your other podcasts helpful in my writing. I also understand that there are a lot of definitions thrown around regarding Mary Sue, and it is one of those terms that CAN be used solely to insult a particular character that people don’t like, but your definition of Mary Sue is just not what it is.

By: J. Rawlins

J. Rawlins — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:32:05 +0000

My understanding of the word “Mary Sue” is the character who is perfect. He’s strong, brave, with strong, unwavering virtues who has unexplainable skill in a weapon he’s never used before. She’s clever, likable, beautiful, nice, and is ready and willing to give up her throne and fortune and become a beggar on the streets to help her people.

I had a really hard time with this in my (absolutely horrible) first attempt at writing. I’m trying to redo that book, but I’m still struggling with making my characters more realistic. A podcast on THAT would be the best thing ever! Still a good one though! Thanks guys!

By: Lironah

Lironah — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:29:20 +0000

I think the second biggest Mary Sue-ism is characters that have no flaws. It can be ok to base a character on yourself as long as that character has realistic flaws to work through.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:43:07 +0000

I’m working on grinding through my first million words at the moment, and to do so I’m writing an inverse Mary Sue. The two characters are my worst characteristics with few of the redeeming value dealing with the worst possible outcome of the situations I daydream about being in. Maybe by getting those self indulgent fantasies out, stepping onto them, and showing myself what can go horribly wrong I can become skittish of ever creating a Mary Sue ever again.

By: Back of the Envelope

Back of the Envelope — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:42:16 +0000

Mary Sues…

The latest Writing Excuses podcast is the anti-Mary Sue edition. What’s a Mary Sue, you ask? Well, in this podcast, a Mary Sue is de……

By: Grokmeister

Grokmeister — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:21:26 +0000

Re: Andy’s question

Wouldn’t that be epigraphs?

By: Mike Barker

Mike Barker — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:59:37 +0000

text for the reading…

http://mbarker.livejournal.com/123741.html

By: Clifton Hill

Clifton Hill — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:40:23 +0000

Always so many great words of advice, and tips for us budding writers. I can’t tell you how many times though that I think, WAIT! Stop giving away all of this great advice. Your podcasts are going to create a legion of wonderful writers that will just be more competition to break-in.

But then I come off of the selfish-horse and realize that that is ok, and I learn as the rest learn and hopefully it will make us all the better for it…accursed competition included.

By the way congrats to John on the book deal.

Regards,
Clifton Hill