author_by_night (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
author_by_night) wrote2009-10-18 01:14 pm
author_by_night) wrote2009-10-18 01:14 pm
Entry tags:
On Original Characters, Version 87
Coming across a blatant Mary Sue made me think OC thoughts yet again. As did reading a question from a new writer a few weeks ago about how to avoid them. Besides, it's been a while since my last OC rant, no? ;)
The most important thing to me about an OC is that you have to realize the position you've put your character in. The book the readers have read has an established universe with established characters; you're adding in a newcomer, and the closer the newcomer comes to your characters, the more lines they are crossing.
I've always felt that the best OCs often did not affect the main characters, and worked within an established timeline. For instance, one Harry Potter fanficcer wrote a piece about one of his mentors as a young boy and a young man. This particular mentor was a werewolf, and in the author's story, she explored the werewolf who bit him. (This was before readers knew who bit the mentor in canon.) Harry's story was not at all affected by this woman's presence, and in general, nothing had to be altered. There were a few small things one could argue if they really wanted to dispute OCs even existing, but that's another argument. Stay tuned. ;)
It also worked because it involved someone who, in a way, already existed. For this character to have become a werewolf (I'm being vague because we find out he's a werewolf through a really cool twist, so I don't want to spoil anyone), another person had to have been present. At the time the fanfic was written, we did not know who, how, or even why. We just knew that at some point in this man's young life, innocent carelessness took a horrible, horrible turn because of another werewolf.
I think that OCs can affect the main characters and still be plausible. There are some other ground rules, however. Your character needs flaws. Not fake flaws, like clumsyness or having a fear of spiders. Real flaws that actually affect that character's personality, how they react to others, and frankly, how others react to them.
And then there's the fact that the problem with a lot of OCs, whether they affect minor, major, or main characters, is that they sometimes seem to exist to break established dynamics. For instance, the problem with a lot of Harry-has-a-long-lost-sibling fanfics is that we know who Harry's "real family" is: his friends. While he never states it quite like that, although he does at one point say he loves Hermione like a sister, it's how the books are set up. You have to respect established relationships and dynamics.
An OC also shouldn't render everyone so OOC, the entire story may as well be your own. If you don't like how the characters act at all and want to completely alter them... write your own story.
That said, I think that in the defense of OC writers, some things need to be kept in mind.
First, as much as I hate it when butthurt authors go "OMG, DON'T LIKE DON'T READ", there are times when they actually have a point. I absolutely cannot understand certain ships, but unless I feel the fic renders the characters OOC, I don't say anything. I will say something if it's one of those fics that makes a canon character abusive so the other character runs into the arms of the "better man", but otherwise, I let those writers write what they want. The same applies to OCs - if you don't like them all... well, either don't read the fic, or try and be neutral when reviewing. Never go looking for a fight.
I also feel like a lot of the "advice for OC writers" and Mary Sue Litmust Tests I've seen are possibly written by people who do not like OCs, maybe even by people who don't write. Even if that's not the case, they're often taken for gospel truth.I think that writers need to be careful, because honestly, your story idea is your story idea. If you want to be technical, most main characters are borderline Mary Sues and Gary Stus anyway. They have to be, because they are the main characters. Yes, Sherlock Holmes does solve every mystery he comes across - otherwise, the books wouldn't be about him.
One argument I really hate that is often used in OC essays and litmus tests is this: "Don't make your OC like you." Now, in some ways, I completely agree. The OC I came across today was named after the author, and this perfect version of her, apparently. That's annoying. But a character is likely to have aspects of yourself; after all, we write what you know. Even people who write canon characters will often choose the ones they can relate to, or give some of their characteristics to that character. The key word is "some", of course... a character who is 100% you is not a strong character unless you are writing non-fiction.
Last point, if slightly OT (in regards to the Harry Potter fandom): It interests me that people complain about "transfer student" fics not being canon, because while they're normally not very good, and the transfer thing itself is not canon... we do know that students may not attend the school in their "region." Draco almost went to Durmstrang.
I don't hate OCs as long as they're believable, and as long as I can accept them as a new part of a universe I presumably already love.
The most important thing to me about an OC is that you have to realize the position you've put your character in. The book the readers have read has an established universe with established characters; you're adding in a newcomer, and the closer the newcomer comes to your characters, the more lines they are crossing.
I've always felt that the best OCs often did not affect the main characters, and worked within an established timeline. For instance, one Harry Potter fanficcer wrote a piece about one of his mentors as a young boy and a young man. This particular mentor was a werewolf, and in the author's story, she explored the werewolf who bit him. (This was before readers knew who bit the mentor in canon.) Harry's story was not at all affected by this woman's presence, and in general, nothing had to be altered. There were a few small things one could argue if they really wanted to dispute OCs even existing, but that's another argument. Stay tuned. ;)
It also worked because it involved someone who, in a way, already existed. For this character to have become a werewolf (I'm being vague because we find out he's a werewolf through a really cool twist, so I don't want to spoil anyone), another person had to have been present. At the time the fanfic was written, we did not know who, how, or even why. We just knew that at some point in this man's young life, innocent carelessness took a horrible, horrible turn because of another werewolf.
I think that OCs can affect the main characters and still be plausible. There are some other ground rules, however. Your character needs flaws. Not fake flaws, like clumsyness or having a fear of spiders. Real flaws that actually affect that character's personality, how they react to others, and frankly, how others react to them.
And then there's the fact that the problem with a lot of OCs, whether they affect minor, major, or main characters, is that they sometimes seem to exist to break established dynamics. For instance, the problem with a lot of Harry-has-a-long-lost-sibling fanfics is that we know who Harry's "real family" is: his friends. While he never states it quite like that, although he does at one point say he loves Hermione like a sister, it's how the books are set up. You have to respect established relationships and dynamics.
An OC also shouldn't render everyone so OOC, the entire story may as well be your own. If you don't like how the characters act at all and want to completely alter them... write your own story.
That said, I think that in the defense of OC writers, some things need to be kept in mind.
First, as much as I hate it when butthurt authors go "OMG, DON'T LIKE DON'T READ", there are times when they actually have a point. I absolutely cannot understand certain ships, but unless I feel the fic renders the characters OOC, I don't say anything. I will say something if it's one of those fics that makes a canon character abusive so the other character runs into the arms of the "better man", but otherwise, I let those writers write what they want. The same applies to OCs - if you don't like them all... well, either don't read the fic, or try and be neutral when reviewing. Never go looking for a fight.
I also feel like a lot of the "advice for OC writers" and Mary Sue Litmust Tests I've seen are possibly written by people who do not like OCs, maybe even by people who don't write. Even if that's not the case, they're often taken for gospel truth.I think that writers need to be careful, because honestly, your story idea is your story idea. If you want to be technical, most main characters are borderline Mary Sues and Gary Stus anyway. They have to be, because they are the main characters. Yes, Sherlock Holmes does solve every mystery he comes across - otherwise, the books wouldn't be about him.
One argument I really hate that is often used in OC essays and litmus tests is this: "Don't make your OC like you." Now, in some ways, I completely agree. The OC I came across today was named after the author, and this perfect version of her, apparently. That's annoying. But a character is likely to have aspects of yourself; after all, we write what you know. Even people who write canon characters will often choose the ones they can relate to, or give some of their characteristics to that character. The key word is "some", of course... a character who is 100% you is not a strong character unless you are writing non-fiction.
Last point, if slightly OT (in regards to the Harry Potter fandom): It interests me that people complain about "transfer student" fics not being canon, because while they're normally not very good, and the transfer thing itself is not canon... we do know that students may not attend the school in their "region." Draco almost went to Durmstrang.
I don't hate OCs as long as they're believable, and as long as I can accept them as a new part of a universe I presumably already love.