By Blue Yeti

Not all of the original characters here at Artemis Fowl are Mary-Sues but we are like almost any other fandom in existence: a stepping stone for first-time writers, and so the recipients of a few less-than-original creations. And that is why I have decided to create a Litmus Test. You can see for yourself whether or not your character might need some developing, and so there should be less need for constructive critism to denegrade into a flame war. All you have to do is answer the questions according to your character and add a point (or the number in brackets if there is one) to your characters score, with the tally system being given a result at the end.

Please be honest. You are only tricking yourself if you say “Well technically it’s a yes, but…” or “It doesn’t really count because…”. If you can realise where your character might be unoriginal you can improve and more people will read your story, enjoy your story, and see the aspects of your plot that may have been missed because it was in the shadow of a high-profile Mary Sue. Having a Mary-Sue isn’t the end either because you can have a creative piece even if your character answers yes to a large number of the questions here. It is all about how you handle it, what your purpose is (for both the character and the fic) and where the story might go.

You are allowed to use your own judgement if you think that a particular trait is not really relevant to how 'Mary Sueish' your character might be. For example, there is a question about whether or not your character is the same racial group as you: if you are Caucasian with an Irish background, and your character is Caucasian because she/he is Irish and this is the most common racial background for someone living in Ireland, this question isn't an accurate measure of 'Mary Sueism'. The same for questions such as sharing beliefs with your character - if this is statistically accurate for the character's country of origin, not as much importance should be placed on this question. Some small amount of lee-way should be given if you have similar traits as your character because you want whatever the trait/situation/interest is to be more believable and accurate to the reader: an author who can sail could write a scene on a sailing ship far more realistic than I could, and the depth of their knowledge about boats could help boost their story in a particular situation.

In Artemis Fowl we have a reason for having so many Mary-Sues: we don’t have enough canon characters. If you stretch the definition we have one main (Artemis), one main/side (Holly), 3 sidekicks (Butler, Foaly, Root), twosignificant minor characters (Mulch, Juliet) and two minors (Angeline, Artemis Senior), as well as appropriate villians for each book. Whereas a fandom such as Harry Potter has at least 30 developed characters to work with before stepping into 'Completely Random Character Usage'. It’s not much to work with but it’s what we have, and what we love. We sometimes need Original Characters to make our stories work, or to be more interesting and engaging, and the best way to have a successful OC is to see a Mary-Sue and nip it in the bud.

Section 1 – The Name

1. Is the character named after you? (This can be your first name, middle name, or the name you go by in chat or irc.) If so, stop now. Put your pencil (mouse?) down and turn in your test. [10]
   DO NOT NAME YOUR CHARACTER AFTER YOURSELF.
   DO NOT NAME YOURSELF AFTER YOUR CHARACTER.
   I DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR EXCEPTION IS.
   
   
2. Is the character's name an unusual spelling of a more common name or word?
   
   
3. Is the character's name unusual in another way?
   
   1. A female with a male-sounding name?
      
   2. A name the character chose for him or herself?
      
   3. A noun or adjective not normally used for a name?
      
      
4. Does the character have a really cool name that you wish you had?
   
   
5. Do you introduce the character showing more than first and last name?
   
   
6. Is the name an alliteration or generally just sounds cool when you say the whole thing aloud?
   
   1. Even though no one would be able to pronounce this name aloud without extensive training?
      
      
7. Does he/she go by a nickname/pseudonym loving imparted on them by their little sister, for example?
   
   
8. Is the character's name in the title of the story or is the title otherwise a description of the character? (“The girl who flew.”)
   
   
9. Does the character have more than one name? (i.e. a nickname or a pseudonym that other characters use to refer to the character)
   
   
10. Did you spend more than a day looking for just the right name?
    
    
11. Have you considered naming your pet or child the character's name?
    
    
12. Does the name have significance to yourself which is not know by the readers, but might still be important?
    
    
13. Is the character a fairy of any description, which does not have a ‘related name’ somewhere? (eg. All elves have a plant in their name.)
    
    

Section 2 – Physical Attributes

14. Is the character the same gender as you?
    
    
15. Is the character from the same racial group as you?
    
    
16. Is the character the same age as you?
    
    
17. Shares your birthdate?
    
    
18. The same age as Artemis?
    
    1. Same birthdate as Artemis/other major character?
       
       
19. Is the character a hybrid of two or more species of fairy?
    
    
20. Is the character part fairy, part human? [3]
    
    1. The child of Holly and Artemis? [another 2]
       
       
21. Is the character a cross-breed of any other type? (i.e. multi-racial)
    
    
22. Does the character come from your country of origin, or are they in any way related to your country or a country you just think is cool. (Doesn’t count if the character is Irish.)
    
    
23. Are the character’s parents from opposing social classes? (ie. Artemis’s child with an Indian street girl.) (ignore if mother a prostitute /other form of unplanned child)
    
    1. Did the parents have to over come social barriers because of their undying love?
       
       
24. Is the character not subject to limitations normally put upon someone of this species? (Examples: A character who is a fairy but not subject to the rules of the book. i.e. can be out in daylight and doesn’t have to obey orders. Can enter a building uninvited) (it counts if you conveniently forgot this so a particular event could happen with your character.)[3]
    
    
25. A fairy who is able to over come the order factor by will in a crucial moment in order to save the day? [2]
    
    
26. Is the character a teenager or in her/his early twenties?
    
    
27. Does the character look like s/he is a teenager or in her/his early twenties for no apparent reason?
    
    1. For a magical or special scientific reason?
       
    2. That you plan on making a plot point later?
       
       
28. Is the character the age you would like to be?
    
    
29. Is the character beautiful or roguishly handsome?
    
    
30. Does one or more of the regulars find the character highly attractive?
    
    1. Do other regulars see him/her as a threat because of this? (i.e Juliet jealous because Arty is giving Mary-Sue more attention.)
       
       
31. Does the character have an unusual eye colour for no apparent reason? [2]
    
    1. Will this be a plot point later?
       
       
32. Does the character have really nice hair that you describe more than once, or on the first page?
    
    
33. Does the character have a particular object / pet / jewel / item which is especially important to them and they can’t do without it?
    
    1. Will this be a plot point later? [2]
       
       
34. Is this something the main point of the story and everyone else wants to have it? [2]
    
    
35. Does the character have an accent which you do not share?
    
    1. Do you try to change the dialogue from the character so it reads with this accent?
       
       

Section 3 – The Smarts

36. Is the character a child crime prodigy? [5]
    
    
37. Does the character beat Artemis easily without trying?
    
    1. More than once?
       
       
38. Have an exceptionally high IQ? [2]
    
    1. When you don’t know how someone of 190 IQ would speak/act?
       
    1. You try to make them sound that smart anyway?
       
       
39. Do they come into the story as a criminal doing criminal activities? [3]
    
    1. Breaking into Fowl Manor? [another 2]
       
       
40. Do they want revenge on Arty for an unexplored/unexplained reason? [2]
    
    1. For a reason explored in depth? [2]
       
       
41. Are they generally the bad guy? [2]
    
    
42. Does the character start off as Artemis’ enemy?
    
    1. But then they have to work together and they become reluctant friends?
       
       
43. Does the character have a love/hate relationship with Artemis? (a façade of hating each other which is a cover for how each are secretly lusting (sorry, not lust, love) after the other.) [3]
    
    
44. Do you have a wonderful character, a wonderful idea and two really cool chapters and have no idea of where the plot is going? [4]
    
    1. You never planned to have a plot, just a character? [10]
       
       
45. Have you devoted an entire chapter to the character which is not relevant to the plot? [3]
    
    1. This is to help the audience understand/love your character more? [another 3]
       
    2. This is an effort to make your character more original and believable? [another 2]
       
    3. This ‘character chapter’ details a criminal exploit? (counts if it is the planning of criminal activity or the rehashing/extended mentions of past exploits.) [another 4]
       
       
46. Do they regret their extensive criminal activities by the end and have a ‘new start’? [2]
    
    1. Do they convince Artemis to do the same. [2]
       
       
47. Can they fight the mesmer
    
    1. And end up saving the day because of this. [3]
       
       

Section 4 – Personal Traits

48. Was the character adopted or did he/she otherwise live with people who were not his/her parents as a child?
    
    
49. Is the character a part of a surrogate family of original characters which you plan to write another story about? (counts if they are a group of friends and if they are part of the current story.)
    
    
50. Is the character a relative of the Fowls who has to come and stay with them? [2]
    
    1. For reasons unknown/unexplained?
       
    2. For known reasons relating to a traumatic experience or family problems?
       
       1. That you expand upon at every opportunity?
          
          
51. Did the character have a tragic youth?[3]
    (For this, read abuse, neglect, abandonment, sexual trauma, second or third-class cultural status, slavery, extreme poverty, forced criminality, or being the sole survivor of any calamity?)
    
    1. For rape or other sexual abuse?
       
       
52. Does the character have an interesting/unusual youth in some way?
    
    
53. Does the character suffer from guilt about something terrible that s/he did in the past?
    
    
54. Do the other characters eventually convince her/him that it was not his/her fault?
    
    
55. Does the character share your religious beliefs?
    
    1. Is your character a fairy?
       
       
56. Does the character not suffer from guilt even though they have done worse things (criminally) than Artemis has? [2]
    
    
57. Did the character have an unusual birth or unusual experience in early infancy? (i.e. abducted, placed in a basket and set afloat, visited by Three Weirdos, etc.)[2]
    
    
58. Does the character have a sibling of the same gender, a twin, or a clone? [2]
    
    1. About whom you plan on writing another story later? (count if they are mains in current story together.) [2]
       
       
59. Does the character have a very good singing voice?
    
    
60. Or play a musical instrument amazingly well?
    
    1. The guitar or flute, for instance?
       
       
61. Does the character have better taste in music than you do? (For example, does your character own CD's that you think educated people ought to own, even though you've never actually listened to the music yourself?)
    
    
62. Does the character’s only fault relate to how they can’t play the banjo? [3]
    
    
63. Can your character play the banjo? [5]
    
    
64. Does the character do what you do for fun or profit? (This includes having the same job you have, or would like to have when you're older, or having a job that sounds like a lot of fun even though you know nothing about it. It can also mean RPing, computer programming, whatever.)
    
    
65. Does the character have “cool” traits that you wish you had but most likely never will? (eg. A computer hacker, a thief, being exceptionally smart or beautiful counts too.) [3]
    
    
66. Does the character have interests, which are related to yours? (eg. Interested in Arthurian history.) [2]
    
    1. Will this be a plot point / reason s/he can save the day later on? [another one]
       
       1. You chose this so you could be accurate and engaging in what your character talks about? [-3 points, (even if you only added two, you get a brownie point)]
          
          
67. Is the character royalty of any type?
    
    1. That she/he does not originally know about?
       
       
68. Does everyone end up liking the character (among the regulars you like)?
    
    

Section 5 – Super Powers

69. Does the character have telekinesis or telepathy? (Twins count.) [2]
    
    
70. Does the character have magic even though they are not fully fairy or have broken the rules of the Book? [2]
    
    
71. Does the character just "know things" for no apparent reason?
    
    
72. Can the character fly? (this includes them being able to pilot a helicopter which will become an essential moment later.)
    
    1. Can fly the helicopter/private jet even though they are 12 yrs old and so not legally able? [2]
       
       
73. Immune to the effects of magic for an inexplicable reason?
    
    
74. Will this become a tragic plot point later?
    
    
75. Do animals (especially fuzzy ones) instinctively like the character? [2]
    
    1. The only animals that like the character are non-butterfly insects and crawly lizard-types? [-2]
       
       

Section 6 – The Love Connection

76. Does the character fall in love with Artemis and they kiss passionately under a setting sun? [2]
    
    1. Because you want to kiss Artemis?
       
    2. Even though they are enemies at the beginning?
       
    3. Even though they are cousins or otherwise related? [2] (for the shameless squick factor)
       
    4. Even though the girl is a fairy and so can’t be out before it is dark? [3]
       
       
77. Does the character fall in love with and/or snog with another recurring character from the books?
    
    1. With whom you would like to fall in love and/or snog?
       
       
78. Does the character fall in love with and/or snog with another original character?
    
    1. With whom you would like to fall in love and/or snog?
       
       
79. Does the character's presence (eventually) make Artemis and Holly, Holly and Trouble, Artemis and Juliet (or another pair of canon characters) realize they were meant for each other? [2]
    
    
80. The only reason you created this character is to have a romantic relationship with Artemis? [2]
    
    
81. Does the story end with the character's wedding?
    
    1. Is it attended by more than one race of people (ie. Fairies and humans together)?
       
       

Section 7 – The Real World and your Character

82. Would you like to be friends with the character if you met in real life? [2]
    
    
83. Do you think everyone who reads the story should automatically like the character and want to be friends with the character? [2]
    
    
84. If someone tells you he/she doesn't like your character, do you take it as a personal attack on you? [2]
    
    
85. Do you ever pretend, just to yourself, that you are the character, with the same strengths and abilities? [2]
    
    

Section 8 – The Fiendish Plot

86. Do you introduce the character on the first page of the story? [2]
    
    1. In the first sentence?
       
       
87. Do you tell the story from the character's point of view, all or mostly?
    
    
88. Does the character meet Artemis/The People, and after a few tense pages of plot, become friends with them? [2]
    
    
89. They are a human and found out about the People of their own accord? [3]
    
    
90. Does the character manage to develop a friendship with an otherwise villainous character, and through this friendship, reform the other character? (reforming Artemis counts) [2]
    
    1. Is the villain in question Briar back from the dead?
       
    2. Does the villain become evil again after the character dies, but retain some last vestige of goodness from his/her interaction with the character, evidenced in one selfless action at the end of the story?
       
       
91. Is the character transformed into a fairy (if human) or human (if fairy) for an inexplicable reason? [2]
    
    1. Is the character happier in her/his new form?
       
    2. Do people like the character better in her/his new form?
       
    3. Do you wish you could be transformed because of the neat powers?
       
       
92. Does the character save the day and/or another character's life? [3]
    
    1. Through magical/mystical intervention?
       
    2. Through dying? [3]
       
    3. Through almost dying? [2]
       
    4. Does everyone go into mourning?
       
    5. Does s/he get not-dead by the end of the story? [4]
       
    6. Will s/he get not-dead in the sequel? [4]
       
       
93. Does the character end up having a teary farewell with the fairies/Artemis because they have to go back home.
    
    1. Do they have new resolve to stand up against their tragic past or angsty remembrances?
       
    2. Are they then memory wiped [2]
       
       1. Do regular characters pled for this not to happen/cry when it does? [2]
          
       2. Did the character want to be memory-wiped? [2]
          
          
94. Does the character end up living at the Fowl Manor/with Holly? [2]
    
    1. When they originally came from the other world?
       
       
95. Do you plan to write many more stories involving around this character? [2]
    
    
96. Do you plan to write one or more stories featuring this character's child(ren)? [2]
    
    

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Grand Total = 271 Points

The Scale:

For an Original Character that is of The People
Under 14 – A developed character, probably not Mary-Sue
15-20 - A borderline Mary-Sue, according to the writer it could turn either way.
Over 21 – Likely a Mary-Sue/Gary Stu. Be careful.
Over 30 – it might be valuable to reconsider your character.

For an original human character
Under 20 – A developed character, probably not Mary-Sue
21-30 – A borderline Mary-Sue, could turn either way.
Over 31 – Be careful, in Mary Sue territory.
Over 45 – Look very carefully at your character, (s)he is unlikely to be well recieved by many readers.

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This is by no means the be-all and end-all of character development, Mary Sues, and how good or engaging your fanfic is. This is a guide, a parody of aspects which established readers are sick of seeing in original characters, and so it would be in your interest to steer away from them as well. The aspects mentioned above can, and probably will, make a story less believable or engaging, but think through your story and character; an immediate scrapping of all previous work is hardly necessary. I recommend The Character Chart to help you further develop your characters (even the canon ones!).
Now, some words from the original Mary Sue Litmus Examiner, Dr Merlin.

“Okay, so you've taken the test, and the character in question has failed miserably. You're stuck with a conundrum: should you write this wonderful story you have in your head? How can you do it without your character? I can't answer that for you. There are plenty of wonderful stories out there with characters who fit an alarming number of these traits, and still manage to be excellent fiction with interesting characters. The authors in question knew what they were doing when handling a character of this type, and pulled it off well. On the other hand, there are a disturbingly large number of stories in the same places with very painful examples of the above in them. Some of them helped inspire the test. In the end, your own common sense must be the judge.

“If you see too many traits in common with your own character, can you change the character accordingly? Does the character have to be, or look, sixteen? Can you tell the exact same story with just the regulars? (You'd be amazed how often a little imagination can make this work, sometimes with even better results. Try it.) Does the character have to save the day? Must he/she be such an integral part of the story? Can you use the character instead as a means of examining the reactions of the regulars (to something other than the character's demise)? Can you give the character a major flaw? (Being unable to sing is not a major flaw. Being a gargoyle who is afraid of heights is a major flaw. Being socially inept can be a major flaw.)

“I have one piece of advice to impart. (You knew this was coming.) When creating a new character, no matter of what species, at his or her most basic level, the character will be human, because the author will be human. The audience will also be human, and will relate to the character on those terms. Yes, your character might have wonderful magical powers, and that is fun to fantasize about having for yourself. At the same time, your character also has fears, and wishes, and dreams, and s/he will make mistakes, sometimes painful ones. Not everything your character does can be perfect and good. Humans don't work that way. We say stupid things sometimes, and get wrapped up in ourselves, and we step on the feelings of other people whether we mean to or not, and we laugh at dumb jokes, and we smell bad when we sweat, and we drool on our pillows.

“If you really want to make an original character, give him or her bad habits, and good ones, and thoughts you don't necessarily share. Have the relationship not necessarily work out, especially right from the start. Even Goliath and Elisa didn't admit their feelings until they'd known each other for two years and a really long cruise. First and last of all, be real. The fantasy will make itself.”

This end section was stolen from the original Mary-Sue litmus test because I was unable to say all the things as eloquently as Dr Merlin has. Credit for that and for the original test goes to her. You can see the original here. The Mary Sue society at SubReality.