She’s beauty, she’s grace, she’s just another pretty face… in other words, she’s a Mary Sue and she’s ruining your story, dude.

Sure, you want to avoid creating a Mary Sue. But how can you avoid this trope if you don’t know what actually defines a character as a Mary Sue? If you’re not sure, you’re def not alone. See, the ‘Mary Sue’ title is slung around so much, the term itself has lost its true identity.

So what is a Mary Sue/Marty Stu trope and, most importantly, how can you avoid creating one in your story?

I’m getting to the core problems of the Sue/Stu character, without mentioning names. Why am I avoiding showing an exhibit of examples? Because a big issue the Mary Sue trope is facing is the pointing of fingers. We lose the sense of the term the more we point and say “LOoK AnOthEr mArY sUe!” Simply disliking a character does not a Mary Sue make.

The point of this article is to help you identify Sues/Stus without playing to the surface. We’re going deep, people. Getting to the real issue with this trope. So put on your diving masks and let’s break this trope wide open.

First of all, let’s talk about what a Mary Sue/Marty Stu is NOT:

A Mary Sue/Marty Stu is not a typical, basic or repeat looking character. Now, I know some peeps would say run-of-the-mill looks would fall under the Mary Sue category, but that’s where we start losing the meaning of the word. Sure, having a basic looking character may not be any fun but looks are the not the real issue with this problematic character. After all, there are plenty of wild looking characters out there that are Mary Sues.

A Mary Sue/Marty Stu is not just a copy and paste character. Or in other words, a character that is a replica of another character we’ve seen before. Why not? Because these characters have a more deep-seeded issue in common than twinning.

A Mary Sue/Marty Stu is not gender specific. Mary Sue is more common than Marty Stu, and that’s because female characters come under fire more than male characters do. However, this trope is not gender specific, or at least it shouldn’t be. Plenty of male characters out there suffer from Marty Stu symptoms and yet aren’t as easily recognized. A female character that you don’t personally like, again, does not a Mary Sue equal.

So what IS a Mary Sue/Marty Stu character?:

For all intents and purposes, it’s an underdeveloped character. The real problem with the Mary Sue/Marty Stu is this:

1. They lack a clear purpose in the story
2. They lack depth and believability

Sues/Stus lack clear direction, a definitive path. They meander across the page, can’t seem to pin point an emotional destination, and never seem to do much in the story. Their existence has zero impact in the plot. 

Your main character cannot just be pushed along by the story, going with the flow without any opinion on which direction that flow is taking them. Otherwise they’re basically a dead fish.

This is the core issue facing Sue/Stu characters: Their purpose is not made clear in the story, or it changes so often that the reader is confused with the character’s identity and objective. When the character’s purpose is unclear, there is no conflict, and when there is no conflict, there is no character arc. And when there’s no character arc, there’s no story. Just some words on a page.

Your character must have a personal goal. And ideally, that personal goal should conflict with the primary objective at some point, forcing them to make a sacrifice and grow as a character. 

So check yourself: does your character have a clear, distinct purpose in your story? What is their personal goal? What sacrifice will they make? Are they forced to grow as a person through the challenges they will face taking this journey?

The other issue facing the Sue/Stu character is that they’re either too perfect or too bland.

The perfection issue is basically a super idealized character that has no flaw, no weakness, no serious hiccup in the making. They are too powerful and/or have an answer for every problem they face. Your character cannot be super leveled up at the outset. Even if they’re a super hero or have magical powers, they can’t win every battle. Why not? Because stories are about growth. Stories are about flawed characters.

(YEAH need I remind you of this??) Even super powerful characters fall, break, and bleed.

On the other end of the perspective is the bland issue. Basically the Sue/Stu character is as interesting as unseasoned chicken. Even less, tbh, because at least chicken will feed me. The Sue/Stu character lacks a unique identity that makes up who they are and what they want. 

But Rae what if I have an orphan character that doesn’t know who she is or who her parents are?! Does that mean she’s a Sue?? 

No, not necessarily. Orphan characters have been repeated in fiction. Think of your favorite orphan character for a sec: did lacking info on their parents or their background make them a boring character? Why not? Because they still had a strong, clear purpose in the story, didn’t they? And they still had a unique personality. So if you are creating an orphan character (or any character) who isn’t clear on who they are just yet, don’t fret. You won’t have a Sue/Stu if you give them a strong purpose and a unique personality.

Now, this is where we need to clarify what constitutes a unique personality trait. Because this is where a lot of writers think they’ve been swimming in the deep end, only to be blind sided when they realize they’ve been splashing in a kitty pool the whole time.

SO LET ME BE CLEAR: being quirky, goofy, clumsy, etc. are not personality traits. They’re quirks, at best. Physical features do not define a character’s personality. Having blue eyes does not make someone interesting to talk to. A list of things that character likes does not equal a character personality. That only lists things they are likely to do on the weekend. Hobbies are not personality traits. They simply let us know what the character is interested in. Habits are not personality traits. They simply let us know what the character is drawn to. Clothing and style does not equal personality traits. It simply tells us what bands they listen to.

None of these things are wrong in it of themselves and all are still required to mold a great character. But it’s important to understand what personality actually is in order to formulate a strong character identity. Personality is the character’s attitude, their convictions and opinions (and how they express them), beliefs, their mannerisms, and their response to conflict. It is the core of the individual. And that’s why having a well-crafted personality keeps your character from slipping into the Sue/Stu coma.

You figure out your character’s personality over time like you do a dear friend. So, discover your character’s personality traits by throwing problems at them–problems that don’t have easy answers. And see who your character truly is.

Why?

We often ask what, who, when, where– but seem to have a hard time with why. And avoiding that question means we’re willingly pushing our character into Sue/Stu territory. 

If we ask why our character is about to do something, why they want a particular thing, why they react a certain way, why they’re in their current situation, it forces us to get to know our character more deeply. It forces us to discover satisfying answers. So be brave: ask “Why?” see what your character has to say.

Mary Sue/Marty Sue characters are underdeveloped. That’s their core issue. So avoid writing a Sue/Stu character by going deep: ask big questions of your characters and give them unique flaws. Make sure to give them a strong, clear purpose in your story– a purpose that even your reader will be able to explain to their friends.

Have more questions about the Mary Sue trope? Ask away! Let’s start a discussion below. And if you loved this article be sure to share it! Muchas gracias! 😉