Fanfiction: the definition of Mary-Sue

[Tinker]

Hmmm..let's run your idea through the checklist, shall we Starfire?

Supposing you have an OC in Middle-Earth and Pippin has a romantic interest in her.

Potential Mary-Sue.

She has no special powers or great beauty and is not adored by everyone,

HURRAY!

she does not change events in any significant way,

Again Hurray!

she dies or is otherwise removed from the story,

awwwwwww...

and Pippin presumably returns to the Shire and marries Diamond. Is she a Sue?

Well..that's a yes and no according to the list. Being a female whom one of the Fellowship has in romantic interest in walks that line. So does the dieing. As for being "otherwise removed" that something you need to handle very delicatly, as that is a major Mary-Sue maker.

You'd also have to answer Reader question such as,

"If she doesn't change things in a significant way, why are we reading about her? Why should I care?" A not-quite-Sueish answer is that she helps change Pippin in a small yet significant way (the little things you know,) that help him accept his situation (whatever that may be)so that he can go marry Diamond and live happily hobbity for ever after.

So in answer to your question: your outline describes a potential Sue, which is good, because the best original characters can be made from those. Just watch yourself when you're writing.

I apologize if you were expecting a simple yes/no answer.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 6:26 PM January 25, 2004: Message edited by: Tinker ]