Kiss them for me

The Mary Sue Debate

Mary Sue does exist. I have seen her a lot. In fact, I believe she enjoys stalking me, just like a vampire boyfriend, as I’m always stumbling upon her on my way to a seemingly good book.

I remember the authors’ crusade against Mary Sue, some time ago. It was funny, and somehow sad, but never for the right reasons. There was a lot of raging, and people wanting to get rid of the concept, because it was demeaning to women, or because it was used for women to harass other women, while ignoring the fact that a lot of them had created some terrible characters; which is the main point, and what a Mary Sue is about.

Understand that, when I say Mary Sue, and although I’m using “she” and “her,” I don’t mean only female, but also male; there are a lot of horrifying Man Sues around, and they deserve their share of criticism, as much as the female ones. You could argue, of course, that we (as mankind, as bloggers, as a Nation, as a group, as nerds, as a bookclub) are not used to pick on male characters, and I’d agree with you, but the solution to that is not to try and abolish the concept of Mary Sue, neither is pressing people, your readers, into doing so, just because you are secretly—very secretly—afraid that your heroine or hero you end up labeled as one.

Yes, I know you are afraid. Don’t lie. I have superpowers, and can read your mind.

Embrace the MS. Embrace the idea that the MS is real, and is lurking around the corner as we speak; demand quality from your writing, if you are a writer, and demand quality from your reading, if you are a reader.