Mary Sue Litmus Test

stuff about Mary Sues, blah blah blah












Personal

  1. Is or does your character’s first name: (Check all that apply)
    Your name or any name that has applied to you?
    A name you have considered for a child of yours?
    An ordinary name spelled in an unusual way?
    A boyish sounding name for a female character?
    Involve a noun/verb/adjective not used as a name?
    Chosen specifically because you thought it had a character-appropriate meaning?
    Seem passable for an adult entertainer? (e.g. It includes a fruit or cosmic body)
    Start with the same letter as more than one other family member?
    Start with the same letter as a family member from the same multiple set? (e.g. a twin or triplet)

  2. Did you base your character's looks on your own?
    Yes
    No

  3. Is your character:
    Of an uncommon ethnicity?
    A member of a Native American tribe?
    From somewhere in the United Kingdom?

  4. Do you:
    Regularly describe your character in a manner that leads to the impression that they are extremely good-looking?
    Do so when your character is a first or second year?
    Do so when your character has a feature that would usually be detrimental to appearance (such as a scar or birthmark) that for some reason makes your character no less attractive?

    Speaking of that birthmark or scar, is it:
    Shaped like something?
    Shaped like something that is symbolic or significant in some way?
    Not the only one with a significant/symbolic meaning to its shape?

  5. Does your character have:
    Natural eye coloration that is different from the norm? (e.g. green, grey, or purple)
    Features that do not necessarily correspond with ethnicity? (e.g. almond-shaped eyes without Asian descent)
    Dyed hair?

  6. Has your character had:
    A history of dramatic romantic relationships?
    Only one significant other, ever, and they plan on staying together forever?

  7. Is your character a betrothed pureblood who:
    Resents their betrothal?
    Has cheated on their betrothed?
    Has broken or intends to break their betrothal?

  8. Does your character have any sort of minor mental disorder (ADHD, mild depression,
    etc.) that they overcome with no mental health help or medication?
    Yes
    Yes, but I can explain!
    No

  9. If your character plays Quidditch or is in the Drama Club, have they had an inordinate amount of experience for their age? (e.g. have they played the lead in a play or musical multiple times?)
    Yes
    Yes, but I can explain!
    No

  10. Has your character ever invented a spell or potion?
    Yes
    Yes, and it was before or during their fifth year.
    No

Significant Events

  1. Has your character or a member of your character's family ever:
    Been seriously injured, aside from normal, everyday accidents?
    Been attacked by a Dark witch/wizard of some kind?
    Received a mundane (non-magical) injury that does not heal for some reason?

    About that Dark witch or wizard: Were they:
    A family member or friend of your character?
    Defeated or driven off by your character or a family member?

  2. Has your character ever been pregnant or had a pregnancy scare?
    Yes
    No
    N/A, staff character

  3. Has your character or a member of their family experienced a significantly traumatic event (Severe injury/property loss/death)?
    Yes
    Yes, but I can explain!
    No

    If yes, was or did the event:
    A car accident?
    A car accident, when your character is a Pureblood or a halfblood raised in a magic environment?
    A fire or any other sort of natural disaster?
    Involve your character somehow, and they have lingering feelings of guilt or fear from this event?

  4. How many members of your character’s IMMEDIATE family (parents, siblings, spouse, children) have died of unnatural causes (like murder or arson)?
    0
    0, but it was close.
    1
    2
    3 or more, but not all of them
    All of them! My character was the only one to survive :(

  5. Has your character been abused in any way?
    Yes
    Yes, but I can explain!
    No

Family


  1. Does your character have more than the average number of siblings for someone of their ethnicity and class?
    Yes
    Yes, but I can explain!
    No

    If yes, how many more?
    1 more than average
    2 more than average
    3 more than...
    4 or more

    How many SETS of multiples are there among your character's siblings?
    1 (includes character)
    1 (does not include character)
    2
    3 or more

    Do your character’s parents still manage to easily afford all of their children despite holding ‘normal’ jobs?
    Yes
    Yes, but I can explain!
    No

  2. Is one or both of your character's parents or guardians the best or most notable in their field of work?
    Yes, one
    Yes, both
    No

  3. Does your character have a significant amount of conflict with their parents/guardians that is unrelated to adolescence?
     Yes
    Yes, but I can explain!
    No

    If yes, is it related to blood status?
    Yes
    No

    From an objective (not character-based) view, are their parents unreasonably strict or controlling?
    Yes
    No

    Has your character been threatened with disownment?
    Yes
    Yes, but I can explain!
    No

    Have they actually been disowned or otherwise estranged from their family?
    Yes
    Yes, but I can explain!
    No


Author


  1. When someone doesn't like your character, is it as if they didn't like you?
    Yes
    No

  2. Is your character attracted to the sort of person you wish you could date, or do date?
    Yes
    Yes, but I can explain!
    No

  3. Do you have plots for your characters that are planned out ahead of time?
    Yes
    Yes, but I can explain!
    I used to, but my characters never go along with them, so I don't see the point anymore.
    No, never have

De-Sueifiers


  1. Is this the first character you wrote at RMI?
    Yes
    No

  2. Does your character get along well with their family?
    Yes
    No

  3. Was your character adopted?
    Yes
    Yes, but they remember and miss their biological family
    Yes, but they don't remember or miss their biological family
    No

  4. Has your character been arrogant, selfish, jealous, petty, lazy, shallow, or pointlessly cruel at any point?
    Yes
    Yes, but it didn't really affect a relationship or friendship
    Yes, and it did seriously affect that relationship.
    No

  5. Is your character overweight?
    Yes
    No

  6. Does your character have a disability of any sort?
    Yes
    No

  7. Does your character honestly struggle with mental illness?
    Yes
    Yes, and they're on medication or receiving mental health help.
    Yes, but they aren't doing anything about it.
    No

  8. Is your character older than 30?
    Yes
    Yes; they're also older than 60.
    No

  9. Does your character frequently do things that you did not expect or plan for?
    Yes
    No

  10. Does your character struggle to do well in a subject?
    Yes
    Yes, an entire group of subjects (like wandwork)
    They're just bad at school in general
    No

  11. Does your character have an annoying habit (perpetual tapping, babbling, etc) that they do not apologize for?
    Yes
    No

  12. Does your character have consistent motives for the things they do?
    Yes
    No

  13. Does your character consider the consequences when making a decision?
    Yes
    No

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