In the vast and imaginative world of Harry Potter fanfiction, there is an often-feared phenomenon lurking in the shadows. Its name is femininely gentle, yet sinfully notorious: Mary Sue. Mary Sues are characters who appear flawless, loved by everyone, possess an unrealistic prowess, and essentially, bore the reader because they're too perfect. Here's how to avoid creating one when you're crafting your next magical masterpiece.

Aspect 1: Depth of the Character

Creating any character, not just avoiding Mary Sues, comes with the first rule: depth. Characters should have meaningful backstories, flaws, motivations, and aspects that make them human. Mary Sues, in contrast, are shallow with no distinct personality traits, having everything served on a silver platter without any struggle. Avoid this by developing your character and their inner workings.

In the context of the Harry Potter universe, don't let your fanfic character be the one who effortlessly convinces Snape to stop being bitter, or the one who reveals a hidden talent for all types of magic. Those are the hallmarks of a Mary Sue.

Aspect 2: Power Levels

Mary Sue characters are typically overpowered with unbelievable abilities or qualities. For example, you don't want your character to be a first-year student who can perform complex spells flawlessly. Always maintain a balance. The growth of any ability in your character should have a reasonable pace with the storyline.

In the Harry Potter world, magic isn't just about waving a wand and uttering spells. It takes understanding, practice, and maturity. Make your character work hard and face failures before succeeding in mastering spells.

Aspect 3: Attention

Too much attention or importance given to a character is an obvious sign of a Mary Sue. It's not feasible for a character to be the center of attention and love from every other character. Ensure that other characters also have significant roles and understand that not everyone in the Harry Potter universe needs to be best friends with your character.

In the Harry Potter world, respect and friendship are earned, not given instantly. Let your characters earn their friendships and influence through meaningful actions and dialogues rather than unrealistic adoration.

Aspect 4: Romance

Romance, when included in a story, should be realistic and progressive. The Harry Potter universe isn't all about Romance. If you make everyone fall for your character at first glance, it can quickly drift into Mary Sue territory. Develop relationships over time and make it more realistic by adding obstacles and misunderstandings.

Aspect 5: Tragedy

An angsty or tragic past does not automatically make your character complex or deep. If the tragedy doesn’t help your character grow or doesn't tie into the story, refrain from creating a too tragic backstory just to make your character appear interesting. In Harry Potter, tragedies have shaped characters like Harry, Snape, and Neville, but they have also acknowledged their past and used it to grow, not just wallow in it.

Overcoming tragedy should be a part of the character's growth, not just a means to gather sympathy from other characters or readers.

Q & A

Q: What is a Mary Sue character?
A: A Mary Sue character typically refers to a fictional character (often female) who is portrayed as unrealistically lacking in flaws or weaknesses.

Q: I want to write a fanfiction where my character is the best wizard/witch at Hogwarts. Is this a bad idea?
A: That, in itself, is not necessarily a bad idea. It becomes problematic if your character becomes an all-knowing, all-powerful entity with no flaws and is loved by all. They should also face their difficulties, have their imperfections, and earn their achievements.

Q: Can a character have a tragic backstory without becoming a Mary Sue?
A: Certainly. What matters is how you employ this tragedy in your story. Is it used for mere sympathy, or it does contribute to their growth and character development?

Conclusion

Writing a captivating Harry Potter fanfiction without falling into the trap of creating a Mary Sue character revolves around realism, balance, and depth. Remember that a perfect character is often a boring one. Characters need flaws, progress, and depth to be relatable and human. It's their imperfect journey through the magical world that creates an interesting storyline.

References

1. Schmidt, Victoria Lynn. �5 MASTER CHARACTERS.�Writer's Digest Books, 2011.
2. Stasio, Marilyn. “The Dreaded Mary Sue Character.�The New York Times, 21 Oct. 2007.

Explore your companion in WeMate