Avaloyuru

LOL @CloverReef Thanks for the shout out! Absolutely! There are a number of forum threads that are a few years old that I’m reading and commenting on over the past couple of days. I know there are a lot of voyeurs in here that I hope will take something positive away from what we share here. I’m still trying to learn a lot of new things, particularly when it comes to initials used to describe things. Some, like OC’s are easy to figure out, others not so much. I find myself having these DUH moments, LOL. I have to admit the title of 'Mary Sue' is new to me, it wasn't something I heard 20-25 years ago when I first started writing Fan-Fic but reading through some of the forums I understand it. We all write for different reasons and purposes which are what determines the need or rejection of these types of characters. I've read a few stories with them included, some were very nicely written while others were for what I call humor relief. The writer may not agree with me but hey, I got something out of the story and somebody out there loved what they wrote and that's what it's all about. For example, I'm currently working on a short 'break out' story for this site. It's a bit mild in the erotic area than my usual choice and it's F/M instead of M/M. But at the same time, there is a purpose in this 'episode' and that is to introduce a deeper element (that I see) in a Hobbit/LOTR canon character. This storyline actually has more OC’s than canon characters LOL

I do both Fan-Fiction and Original Works so I have a lot of OC’s on file. When it comes to Fan-Fiction, I see my OC’s in the same position and purpose as a supporting actor/actress in a movie. Each of them has their 'backstory' so to speak which is thoroughly researched and compiled on a bio-sheet that can be anywhere from one to several pages in length, depending on their role in the story. I try not to create what I call ‘disposable’ characters simply because of the amount of time and effort that goes into creating them just to have them killed off or something. As far as their ‘backstory’ I reveal only as much and when as necessary to the reader in order to both maintain the continuity of the storyline as well as the canon character(s) they are supporting or to accommodate the drama of a particular scenario being played out. OC’s play an important role in a lot of Fan-Fiction because they have the ability to contribute certain aspects to the storyline that canon characters cannot, particularly if the writer is to maintain (their concept) of the canon character. I know there are writers that have canon characters do or say things that I find completely out of character based on my research. However, even though it is Fan-Fiction, I agree that there is a certain level of creativity that should be allowed. Because in cases where a certain action is not addressed either for or against, I myself have had canon characters do things that the original creator would probably flip out over.

Wow! A lot of insights on these Mary/Marty Sue characters, the good, the bad, and the ugly so to speak. I don’t judge those who use these types of characters, however, personally, I don’t use them (based on the definition I understand them to be) but I totally and completely get the concept that type of writing provides, regardless of the genre, it is a personal expression and should be viewed as such. I'm just now getting back into writing after about a 20-25 year break, it's amazing to me that Fan-Fiction has actually been around that long, but then again not! I think it's important to remember that there is an audience for every type or style of writing, even for the ‘out of this world, totally perfect’ non-canon characters. Some readers are simply looking for an escape so to speak from the normal routine of a particular storyline, these characters do that for them and it’s a good thing! It won’t and shouldn’t blow their minds so speak about the original storyline. I compare it to my choice of genre and accept the fact that there are some (a lot of) people that are offended by graphically described sexual acts whether they are normal (if there is such a thing) or blatant erotica and that that entails. I love being the antagonist, I don’t want some superhero coming in to save the day or a bumbling idiot for the sake of humor. It’s just a personal choice, but I tend to do enormous amounts of research when it comes to canon characters and I do my best (in my opinion) to maintain some form of continuity to that character. With that being said, when I choose to create a new character from the ground up, all that research is heavily relied on in an effort to make them fit into the world I’m writing. For example, my current (and forever shall be) obsession is Tolkien, so I resort to my membership in various Tolkien Societies to create these ‘new’ characters so they will fit in. Every character has their own bio-sheet that describes everything about them, some are several pages long depending on what role they are to play in the story. I have about seven personally created characters in my overall cast for the Hobbit/LOTR. Introducing them to canon characters can sometimes be difficult if I intend to run some form of a parallel path with the original authors' ideology. Beyond the fact that I completely adore Tolkiens’ works, I think the gaps in time, the abundance of unknowns, and the general ‘left undone’ and missing parts of his works leave a lot of room for Fan-Fiction creativity. There’s always an interesting side story to tell (evil grin). Respectfully speaking, I am not judging anyone regardless of their use or non-use of these types of characters. In another site, I still belong to (because they have great resources), these types of characters are forbidden which I think is wrong. It is now strictly a Hobbit/LOTR site and the admins are getting pretty picking if you get ‘too far out of line’ (in their opinion) with canon characters. No writer should be limited in their creativity as long as there is an audience that is reading their work. Thanks for reading, it’s just another point of view.

In some ways, I do and yet I don’t really care whether every reader even likes any or all of my characters much less holds out hope for some form of redemption. I will provide the redemption in my own way, even though most will not see it. As with all things, there is a balance most commonly sought between the readers' perception of right/wrong, good/evil, etc. The character traits that I tend to instill within my original works are more along the lines of attitude and personality because it's so much fun to let out the evil now once the reader has 'fallen in love' with the character. Unless of course, they're looking for a goody-goody which is entirely boring! Characters that have the ability to reach out and grab the hearts and minds of the reader should be just as diversified (within the contextual setting) as people are in real-life. People, in my opinion, are like diamonds, there are many facets to an individual personality. Which one sparkles depends greatly on which way you turn the diamond, so it should apply to characters. I’ve read through numerous stories in the archives and honestly, the ones I love the most are the ones that hold my attention because as a reader there is some level of redemption sought, but it’s the fact that I didn’t get my way that makes the story so much more appealing to me.

Hmmm, why do I write, very good question! While I’ve written a few original creation stories, I have recently returned to fanfiction. I write for a number of reasons, foremost being the idea that I’m completely infatuated with at least one of not a few characters, the setting, the whole ball of wax so to speak. I never fall for the actor, just the character because actors will come and go but a well-written character can live as long as fanfiction writers continue to breathe life into them. Although I was first introduced to him in 1973, I have returned to my first love, Tolkien, and have become almost obsessive about his writings. Unlike other authors and storylines that I have followed, Tolkien was a bit of a disorganized writer. The world and the characters he created are extremely vivid to me, yet there are numerous gaps in time creating almost endless possibilities as far as what the characters can do and what can be done to them. Although I take his characters to places he never would, I also view my writing as a way of paying a form of homage to someone I see as a great literary icon.

I’ve found that there will always be those who want to give you advice or suggestions but I believe going with your own idea is important. Everyone not only has their own writing style, they have their own ‘story’ to tell. For me, I’m open to listening to what others may have to say, however, however, it’s mostly a moot topic. This is because when I write there is a set process as I’m sure we all have to some degree. It all starts with your idea, how you see what’s going to happen and what you want to happen. I know I’m new to this site but not new to fanfiction writing. For my part (as a few others I used to talk with) I write this type of storyline because I have found myself to be at times obsessed with a specific character(s) and even the essence of their origin whether it's a movie or a book. I want to be able to sit back and know that although in fanfiction certain characters are not mine, the story is. As with any writer, wanting your particular audience to appreciate your work is part of the 'endgame' yet we also write for ourselves, for the love of the characters and the story.