Is My OC a Mary-Sue?

A common but unappealing writing trope seen especially in fanfiction is the Mary-Sue. Mary-Sues often exist in romantic fanfiction and are characterized by extremes in attractiveness, skill, intelligence, bravery, athleticism, and other traits. This character trope is often unappealing because of the lack of room for character growth (because they are practically perfect.

There is no exact science for pinpointing whether your character is a Mary-Sue, but this quiz can clue you in so you can decide whether to make improvements or not. This quiz exists for fanfiction OCs in which the OC in question is a romantic interest to a canon character.

Created by: Davina
  1. These questions may seem invasive, but I can't see your responses, so be as honest and accurate as possible. No one's judging you.
  2. Is your OC being written into a fanfiction? This answer has no affect on your percent score.
  3. How many romantic interests does your character have?
  4. Finding someone attractive doesn't make them a real love interest. How many canon characters in total have found your OC attractive and made note of it?
  5. Does your character's age align with the main characters' ages?
  6. Is your OC human? (Does their species align with the species of the main character(s)of the show/movie/book into which they're being written?)
  7. The following questions are about appearance. In simplest terms, what is your character's hair color?
  8. If your OC's hair is black, why?
  9. Is your OC's hair white/grey/silver because they are old?
  10. What is your OC's eye color?
  11. How conventionally attractive is your character?
  12. What is your OC's body type?
  13. How does your character dress?
  14. Does your character have scars or burns?
  15. The following questions are about your character's history and mentality. Who raised your OC?
  16. Which of the following best describes your character?
  17. If your OC was lacking a guardian as a child, why?
  18. Does your OC have a friend or supporting character (that is not a canon character) at the start of the fanfiction?
  19. Is your character often praised for a trait?
  20. Did your character spend parts of their childhood in isolation of some sort?
  21. Was your OC ever involved with someone abusive?
  22. In simplest terms, how is your OC introduced to the main characters.
  23. This is a trigger warning. The following three questions mention sexual assault. Your answer below will not affect your score.
  24. Has your character faced sexual assault before the setting of the story?
  25. Does your character face sexual assault during the course of the story?
  26. If your OC faced sexual assault, how has it affected them?
  27. Does your OC have a mental illness?
  28. Does your character grow or heal at all from their mental illness?
  29. Does your OC die at any point in the work?
  30. Does your OC have a significant phobia or fear which they cannot overcome?
  31. Does your OC have a prophecy based around them?
  32. Does your OC have magical powers in a world where magical powers do not exist? (Eg.: ability to turn into a fox in the real world; ability to bend wood in the Avatar world; ability to use alchemy in the Hunter x Hunter world, etc.)
  33. Think of the most powerful canon character; could your OC beat them in a fight? If combat is not a part of your plot, choose 'Not Evaluated.'
  34. Is your OC intelligent? How did they gain this intelligence?
  35. How does your OC feel about their interests?
  36. Does your OC listen to music when other characters usually do not?
  37. Does your OC have a goal or a pursuit outside of romance?
  38. Is your character physically or mentally disabled? (Eg.: amputee, blind/deaf, autistic, etc.)
  39. Is your character famous?
  40. Does your character go by a nicnkname that many people in their career or social circle recognize?
  41. Is your OC a quick learner with new skills?
  42. How well-liked is your OC by other characters?
  43. How does your OC feel about other women?
  44. How do you feel about the other female characters?
  45. Do you think you and your OC are similar?
  46. Does your OC make a villain good?
  47. Finally, the more personal questions. How often do you find it difficult to write because you don't know what your OC would say or do in response to something?
  48. How often do you draw experiences from your own life while you write.
  49. If you could meet your OC, what would be your relationship?
  50. Think of your favorite food? Is it the same as your OC's?
  51. Is your OC a romantic interest of your favorite character?
  52. The Mary-Sue trope's popularity exists because of ingrained misogyny, racism, heteronormativity, ableism, and/or fatphobia.
  53. Do you think a large part of writing romance fanfiction involves self-insertion or projecting yourself on your OCs? This answer does affect your percent score.

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