You are a hero.

Fantastic essay, and fantastic writing!

Wow thanks for this. I'm requesting permission to do a parody, using almost all the characteristics of Mary Sues. Except for sex scenes.

I really enjoyed reading this, it was fair and helpful. At one or two moments I did find myself thinking 'oh no I think I did that!' but as my fiction has progressed I have tried to fix the errors. I also agree with a lot you have said about readers losing interest, I read one fiction about a girl who turned out to be Aragorn's long lost elven sister and could not bring myself to finish it.

Thanks for the tips, I will keep them in mind. :)

ShadowWhispers. x

This is really helpful. I will certainly be sharing this with I ends who are fellow fanfiction readers. A couple of funny parodys that you may be interested in if the list of other fics at the end was any indication though they are unfortunately not in the LotR fandom. they are called "sorcery and sudden perfection" (which is a chronicles of narnia fanfic) and "dear authors of fanfiction" which is a harry potter fanfiction. Thanks for writing this!

Very well done. I enjoy reading LOTR fanfiction – stories both with and without OCs – and you do a great job of highlighting the challenges to overcome when creating a solid character of your own, plus how one could go about overcoming them.

I think the inclusion of a list of stories that have more-or-less successfully inserted an OFC or multiple OCs could also be beneficial for any budding fanfic authors. I haven't read "Dawn of Many Colors," but "Lothíriel" by JunoMagic is by far my favorite LOTR fanfic, and she employs a pretty darn believable OFC who also becomes a Tenth Walker.

Anyway, as one of those budding young fanfic authors, I really appreciate this! It's equal parts illuminating and entertaining. Bookmarking for future reference for sure!

Thanks, whats nice is that these rules apply to pretty much all fanfiction. I have read many of these which you have brought up, and I must admit I got to the point of reading the end and then going back to the beginning. I would say that all fanfic writers should read these rules, no matter the fic they are writing. So, Thanks a lot, its given me much to think on.

This was great!

So very informative! You're helping stop the spread of this evil, thank you!

Awesome. This really made me laugh

Wonderful essay. Thank you for pointing out in this maner everything that is good and bad about OCs. Unfortunately those who are written well are few and far between.

Wonderful essay. Thank you for pointing out in this maner everything that is good and bad about OCs. Unfortunately those who are written well are few and far between.

Lots of people may not agree with me, but it is not necessary for a woman fight with a sword or a bow in order to be a good character.

This is my idea of a mary sue. She falls into middle earth, joins the fellowship, acts like a modern girl, is perfect, and is the center of the story.

Thanks for the advice. I've been debating a lord of the rings fanfic and how to introduce a few of my characters with the without cheesiness and-god forbid-the mary sueness. So thanks!