Yourself as the main character?

Hello. I am attempting to write a novel (I wrote 90,000 words into it and decided to rewrite), and have decided to make myself as the main character, although much older... I do see that I personally will probably change once I reach my character's age, but I just feel that it would be the best thing to do (although some things will have to be altered slightly to fit the setting).

So, I was wondering, what would your opinions be on this? Would you think that this is a good idea? Have you ever done it? I would be truly curious... Ok

Mary Sue litmus tests advise against this, since the characters we create when we imagine ourselves are often idealised. No matter how well you think you know your own failings, writing yourself in can be an extremely dangerous thing.

Of course, we put a little of ourselves into every character we write. Maybe our temper, our opinions, even our hairstyles. I certainly have characters who are a lot like me! But they are not me. I understand them as people, see their motives, understand their thought processes... But, importantly, they are still themselves, I am still myself and I think that's something that really reflects in writing.

Hmm... Mayhap. Although I attempt to create an accurate projection, I do not think that it would be vital for the character to be 100% unique...I will research into the Mary Sue think you mentioned.

Edit: So I have researched the topic, and must say that my main character is probably not in danger of turning into Mary. Not only did I name him using a random name generator, but he also looks differently, so only his personality and behaviour are similar to mine. Since he is not exactly me, I do not fear to mutilate his mind into my own. Since I am rewriting my novel I have a certain storyline to meet, so certainly misfortune will happen. He will commit a certain kind of suicide at the end etc. I already gave him a few flaws, and know now a few others to add to the list. Anyhow, since I was unaware of Mary Sue, I must thank you for informing me. Now I will be more careful.

Actually, holding the same personality/behaviour as you is considered one of the faster ways of making a Mary Sue. Many an author insert doesn't look like their author, or share the same name.

Not to say it can't be done under any circumstances. But the key factors are personality and actions. If those are the same as the author, then it is far easier to turn them into a Mary Sue.

I think writing a self portrait is a good way to start refining your characterisation, but you have to be pretty fearless. It's like in art class when everyone has to draw self portraits, and most of them end up generic and not looking like their artists at all, because they edit out 'flaws'. The weird part is the more honest you are about your flaws, the more you reveal about your reader, because really we all have the same flaws. Likewise you can work from common emotions, write honestly about how you have felt and then extend out the edges of that state of mind to create someone who is quite different from you. '

I started off writing characters that were intended to be like me, and they would always grow into someone else entirely. And most of them were crazy. I'm not sure what that says about me :p I would also write characters based on my friends. Me and my nextdoor neighbour were really close, so I could pick up little habitual movements and expressions she had, like she would move her hand over stuff in a draw when she was looking for something like she had eyes in her fingers. I'm always surprised how much I could get away with with that stuff with friends, I'd start off with things I thought they'd like, having all the boys/girls into them, make them rockgods and stuff, then it got to the stage where I was like, "Okay....so, would you object to me making you a violent serial killer who lives in a cave and knits their own body hair using toenail needles?"
"Aw, man, that sounds awesome, totally do that, I can't wait to read it."



Here is Frida Khalo to guard against Mary Sues. She did have a monobrow and a moustache, also she was paralysed, and pretty much all she painted were brutally honest self portraits, many about her misery at being unable to have kids. The thing was, she seduced basically everyone she met, they couldn't help falling in love with her, viscerally, passionately, consumingly. Goes to show, being fearless in showing who your are is a lot more powerful in the end.

A lot of times when authors project themselves onto their characters, it's painfully obvious and creates bad fiction. (Some could say Bella Swan - a very terrible Mary Sue character - is likely Stephanie Meyer playing out her own romantic fantasies with superhot vampires). Not saying it can't be done well! It's just certainly harder.

Also, I can't imagine writing about ones self would be particularly interesting. I spend all day being myself. When I write, I like to experience someone else's life, outlooks, emotions, etc. Not just my own again and again. Of course, that's just me.

I have personally found that it forces me to explore myself much more, discovering thing that I did not know existed. I usually try not to think of myself, so this might be a reason.

Anyway, I would wonder, what makes people write Mary Sue characters? Is it just the writing of a fantasy or is there more to it?

I know that I should probably stop bragging on about myself, but since the beginning of the novel, the version of myself (I can see that it is not exact, and that is fine) that is the main character was one of the losers invited to a bogus party, was very nervous, had to walk under extreme cold, embarrassed himself and, being (or so he thinks) the most important guest,will receive a meal of meat, being a vegetarial. Not much fortune there.

I think that the biggest reason behind Mary Sues, is that it allows its writer to fantasize about the world they've always wanted to live in, looking how they've always wanted to look, having abilities and doing things that they've always wanted to do, as well as overall being the center of the universe.

There is also nothing wrong with an author deciding to write a story about a character who is practically similar to him or herself. Woody Allen does it in all of his movies. For a more mainstream example, look at the works of Larry David (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm): those shows both have characters who are based on Mr. David himself, yet they are faaaar from being Mary Sues/Marty Stus.

Overall, if the entire world revolves around your character, you may have created a Mary/Marty Sue. I think the best way to avoid this is to make sure you know your supporting characters as well as you know your main character. (Note: I have not tried the above method out yet, so it may or may not work).

Yuck. By all means write a story about yourself. Just don't ask me to read it.

Was that an insult?

Nope. A piece of advice. You are probably a very nice person, but nobody can write good fiction about themselves.

'Nobody' is a very general term... Take masochists, for example. They would love to see themselves humiliated in fiction, at least some of them. An interesting suggestion... Why exactly?

Because we aren't in control of our own stories. An author must assert constant authority over his characters.

Not entitely... That might result perhaps even in monotonous stories. I love to let my characters do whatever they see should be done without my need to control them. I might be the god of their universe, but I decided to give them free will. I will alter events if neccessary, though, and little can truly change that.

And I do not truly see how anyone could lose control by inserting themselves into the novel...

The implication was: Do you?