hotchocolatewrites:noteIt’s ok… to have powerful characters. It’s ok… to have characters with...

hotchocolatewrites:

note

It’s ok… to have powerful characters. It’s ok… to have characters with tragic backstories. Powers should have limits and a tragic backstory should not be used to excuse present behaviour, but none of these things automatically makes a character a Mary Sue, guys.

Tragic backstories are interesting to read about, when done right – that’s why people write them. Powerful characters are fun to read about–that’s why people write them.

In my experience, a character becomes a Mary Sue when the narrative bends to kiss their ass and such things as a tragic backstory and powerful abilities are just their to make them cooler, and don’t add to their actual character.