I`m trying to not make a mark sue character but I keep putting something about myself in the hero without even knowing it.
Anyone have any advice?
You can put yourself on the main character all you want, what you can't do is treat him better because of it.
Mostly, avoid the "hero carries the world upon his shoulders" situation, where only the hero can do anything to solve the situation, and no one else can do anything, because he is the only one awesome enough.
…Well, it mostly is something that's easy to spot when it's other people's characters, but when it's yours, you get carried away pretty easily. I know, so I'm gonna say practice and self-knowledge help a lot.
Well that`s reassuring. I started by picturing someone I knew and began tweaking the appearance into something less flattering. Just because he`s an elemental doesn`t mean he turns into Manly Mcsexyton all the sudden (Which always bothered me about superpowers). Slightly overweight (Gut protrudes from shirt a little), debated a neckbeard but I couldn`t do it with a straight face, plus it`d just be for the sake of making him as nasty looking as I could to avoid making him physically perfect. So far I`ve fleshed out a few more main characters and tried to avoid giving the main hero more attention than the rest of them and for the most part I`ve been able to avoid laying focus on one single character. In all honesty though I can handle it sucking a little no matter what I do considering it`s going to require people to suspend their belief quite a bit.
A bit late to matter, but I had this little revelation and it changed the way I think about writing.
"Every Character I write is me."
Well most people naturally place some of there own traits into their characters, it isn't a bad thing. UNTIL you start making that character some self insert (has all your traits) and the object of some crappy wish fulfillment shit, THEN will things turn bad. But in the mean time, a couple of your own traits put into your character is a good thing. Makes 'em seem more human.
You guys get too touchy about the little pretend rules we've made about webcomics.
Dude, Mary-Sues are prevalent in even professional comics and it's ok. In fact, Charlie Brown was a Mary-Sue. Most characters written for comics are based either off the author or people he knows in real life.
A few questions to ask if you're making a Mary-Sue:
-Did I make this character solely to do things I don't get to do in real life? If so, you'll have issues with believability.
-Do I let this character get all the good things? Your character is just one of several. If he gets all the favors, the respect, the recognition, people will hate him.
You can write whatever you want. These "rules" this site stresses are if you actually want somebody to like what you write. Can you draw yourself as a superhero battling aliens on top of a three-dicked unicorn while being a unicorn-humantaur? Of course. But don't expect anybody to actually like what you've written. If it's wankery keep it under your bed.
This doesn't sound like wankery. As long as it's not wankery, you shouldn't be fearing wanking. Worry if you start sniffing your own socks or reading Buckley voluntarily.
Alright, sounds like i`m not making the same mistakes as i`ve done before. Looking back on half the stuff i wrote in high school, I know i can come up with decent storyline…just my characters really fell short. I would love it if people could read this one and enjoy it and it`d be nice to know i`ve grown as a writer since those days.
Also, a three dicked unicorn sounds awesome…I have to find a way to work that in somehow
Can you draw yourself as a superhero battling aliens on top of a three-dicked unicorn while being a unicorn-humantaur Of course. But don't expect anybody to actually like what you've written.?
I can't see why this is a bad idea. In fact, the only thing cooler than this is a guy riding a motorcycle made of schools while fighting a dragon made of zombies with one hand and holding a scantily clad lady with the other one, on the post-apocalyptic ruins of Las Vegas.
Rule of thumb: Balance out strengths with weaknesses
For example:
Strength: You have a character who is a master swordsman, and there has yet to be anybody who can beat him, he's strong, smooth, charismatic, and the ladies like him!
Weakness: He's an asshole who only seems interested in really stupid whores or women he can manipulate and prone to losing his temper easily making it hard for him to swing a sword thus turning him into an overly strong brute.
Really easy stuff actually! Just try to think about these things realistically and you'll do fine!