Thoughts about Mary Sues...

First, definition: To me, a Mary Sue is an original character that takes over the storyline at the expense of the canon characters. I've read plenty of fics where an OC didn't do this, but still managed to be a good character in their own right. I will leave it to others' determination if my OC is a MS--she's a Slayer, but not an especially or exotically pretty one; with an atrocious singing voice; she can read and write Latin; she eventually marries Spike...and then dies a tragic death in the sequel. That being said, I tried to keep the focus on Spike in those stories, and his reactions to what was happening, rather than having her take over the whole thing. Yes, she gets some scenes of her own...but it's a fine line we walk in trying to make our OC's *real people* and still not MSing them.

And I don't see people screaming "Mary Sue!" every time a show adds a new character. Gunn's a big hero with a tragic past (had to kill his vamped little sister after he couldn't save her). Fred is a mousy but cute woman with a big brain and also the tragic past (trapped in a Hell dimension as a cow for five years). But I'm not seeing anyone yelling at Joss for adding characters as he sees fit.

Of course, it is his show, so I suppose he can do what he wants with it; and I'm just borrowing, so the line in the sand is deeper and wider for me. But I don't think that every original character is a Mary Sue...not even every OC who bids to be a real person in their own right in a fic. As long as the main focus is still on the canon character(s), and the OC is used as a foil for the CC, then I think it's okay.

Your mileage may vary.

Thoughts about Mary Sues...

First, definition: To me, a Mary Sue is an original character that takes over the storyline at the expense of the canon characters. I've read plenty of fics where an OC didn't do this, but still managed to be a good character in their own right. I will leave it to others' determination if my OC is a MS--she's a Slayer, but not an especially or exotically pretty one; with an atrocious singing voice; she can read and write Latin; she eventually marries Spike...and then dies a tragic death in the sequel. That being said, I tried to keep the focus on Spike in those stories, and his reactions to what was happening, rather than having her take over the whole thing. Yes, she gets some scenes of her own...but it's a fine line we walk in trying to make our OC's *real people* and still not MSing them.

And I don't see people screaming "Mary Sue!" every time a show adds a new character. Gunn's a big hero with a tragic past (had to kill his vamped little sister after he couldn't save her). Fred is a mousy but cute woman with a big brain and also the tragic past (trapped in a Hell dimension as a cow for five years). But I'm not seeing anyone yelling at Joss for adding characters as he sees fit.

Of course, it is his show, so I suppose he can do what he wants with it; and I'm just borrowing, so the line in the sand is deeper and wider for me. But I don't think that every original character is a Mary Sue...not even every OC who bids to be a real person in their own right in a fic. As long as the main focus is still on the canon character(s), and the OC is used as a foil for the CC, then I think it's okay.

Your mileage may vary.