I’m a writer blog

Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Is there any merit to the term “Mary Sue”?

Are Mary Sue Good?

As a literary trope, the Mary Sue archetype is broadly associated with poor quality writing, and stories featuring a Mary Sue character are often considered weaker for it. Though the term is mostly used negatively, it is occasionally used positively.

What does it mean when someone calls you a Mary Sue?

Mary Sue is a derogatory criticism for a character that fits either or both of two character archetypes; 1: an author-insert character used for wish-fulfillment and/or 2: an idealized character who is talented at everything and has no meaningful flaws but may have a tragic backstory.

Why is Mary Sue Good?

Exceptionally Talented



A Mary Sue is usually good at everything she does—even if she’s never done it before. She can fly a spaceship with no practice, or use powerful spells moments after discovering magic exists. She speaks several languages, especially the ones vital to the story.

What are Mary Sue flaws?

A Mary Sue is a way of describing fictional characters lacking in any weaknesses and flaws, therefore deeming them unrealistic. A Mary Sue is a character who seems unrealistically perfect; an idealized female character without demonstrable flaws, used as a kind of wish fulfilment for the author and audience.

Is Bella from Twilight a Mary Sue?

Bella Swan from Twilight is often hailed as the archetype of all Mary Sues. She is described to look much like the author, Stephanie Meyer. Her only significant flaws are being clumsy (which everyone finds cute) and brooding (which draws her significant love interests in more).

How do you spot a Mary Sue?

Your character might be a Mary Sue if…



How to Spot (and Kill) Your Mary Sue Characters

  1. She has no flaws to speak of.
  2. She’s a fictionalized version of the author.
  3. She saves the day every. single. time.
  4. She’s drop-dead gorgeous.
  5. She’s a fictionalized version of who the author wishes to be.



How do you tell she’s definitely not a Mary Sue?


Quote from video: She's far from idealized. Another great example of a non-mary sue is veronica mars a sharp-minded and brazen amateur detective who is often brought down by her own internal conflicts. While she could

What is the male version of Mary Sue?

Mary Sue (sometimes abbreviated “Sue”)is a term used to describe characters who are typically considered to be wish-fulfillment characters of the author. The male equivalent is known as a Gary Stu, Marty Stu, or Larry Stu.

How to avoid Mary Sue?

So avoid writing a Sue/Stu character by going deep: ask big questions of your characters and give them unique flaws. Make sure to give them a strong, clear purpose in your story– a purpose that even your reader will be able to explain to their friends.

Is Arya Stark a Mary Sue?

Despite some fans throwing sexist tantrums about Arya Stark’s hero moment, the character is not, in fact, a “Mary Sue.” Revisiting the original fanfic definition, a “Mary Sue” is someone, almost always a female-identifying someone, who possesses traits and abilities that are so unrealistic they’re almost laughable.



What is the opposite of a Mary Sue?

A Mary Sue is a Friend to All Living Things who is So Beautiful, It’s A Curse and can solve any problem in five minutes or less? Then an Anti-Sue will be The Grotesque and an Enemy to All Living Things who never does anything right.