We all know Mary Sue. She's absolutely GORGEOUS. EVERYBODY loves her. She's super intelligent. And when someone's in trouble, she's there to save the day with some special skill or hobby she just happens to have. Oh, and did I mention she usually ends up sleeping with the author's favorite character? She's practically perfect in every way. Think Mary Poppins here, folks. So...how do you know if your new character is a Mary Sue or, if male, her twin brother Gary Stu? That's what this test is for. Give yourself one point for every question you answer yes to. A scoring guide is at the bottom. This is based off the origional Mary Sue Litmus Test by Dr. Merlin.

The Name Game

  • Is the character named after you? Your first name. Your middle name. Your pen name. It doesn't matter. If so, put down your pencil. Turn in your test NOW.
  • Does the character have a really cool name you wish you had?
  • Does the character have a name that is an odd spelling of a normal name or an odd spelling of an every day word?
  • Is the character's name in the title of the story or does the title in any way describe the character?
  • Does the character have more than one name? (ie:a nickname or psuedonym?)
  • Did you spend all day looking for the perfect name?
  • Have you considered naming your pet or child with this name?

    • Looks

  • Does the character have mismatched eyes?
  • Does the character look freakishly like one of the canon characters?
  • Does the character have an unusual hair and/or eye color?
  • Is the character the same gender as you?
  • Is the character the same racial group as you? (Answer yes if it's a Fae, goblin, or any other race of the Underground.)
  • Is the character in his/her teens or early twenties?
  • Does he/she LOOK like he/she is in his/her teens or early twenties?
  • Is the character the age you would like to be?
  • Is the character extremly beautiful or rogueshly handsome?
  • Do any of the canon characters find him/her amazingly attractive?

    • Abilities

    "You remind me of the babe." "What babe?" "The babe with the power." "What power?" "The power of voodoo." "Who do?" "You do." "Do what?" "Remind me of the babe."

  • Can the character do magic?
  • Can the character do telekenisis or does he/she have any other psychic abilities?(Twins count.)
  • Is the character all or part Fae?
  • Can the character fly without the aid of wings?
  • Does the character just "know" things for no apparent reason?
  • Do animals naturally like the character?
  • Does the character sing, play an instrument, or any other art form extremely well?
  • Is the character super intelligent?

    • Family/Friends/Past

  • Is the character related to Jareth or Sarah?
  • Does the character have a twin of the same gender?
  • Is the character an orphan?
  • Does the character have any family he/she doesn't know about?
  • Does the character come from a dysfunctional family?
  • Was the character abused as a child?
  • Was the character born or raised in poverty?
  • Was the character born illegitamately?
  • Does the character become the parent of an illegitamate child?
  • Was the character born or forced into slavery or servitude?
  • Does the character suffer from a lot of guilt from something in his or her past, even if it's not his/her fault?
  • Does the character share your religion?
  • Did the character have an unusual birth?(Placed in a basket, given away for adoption immediately after birth to be saved, etc counts.)
  • Does the character do what you do for fun or profit?
  • Does the character contenuously tease Jareth about his socks and/or tights and/or glittery make-up and/or 80's hairdo? (That's one point for each item the character makes fun of in this little list.)
  • Does EVERYONE end up liking the character?

    • The Love Connection

    "As the pain sweeps through/Makes no sense for you/Every thrill that's gone/Wasn't too much fun at all/But I'll be there for you/As the world falls down."

  • Does the character fall in love with Jareth or Sarah?
  • Does the character fall in love/get busy with any other canon character?
  • Does the story end in the character's wedding?
  • Do more than two of the canon characters attend the wedding?

    • Plot? What Plot?

  • Is the character introduced on the first page of the story?
  • Is the story told all or mostly from the character's point of view?
  • Does the character meet Jareth and/or Sarah, and after a few tense pages of plot, become lovers with him and/or her?
  • Does the character befriend a villain (Jareth or other) and, through that friendship, reform said villain?
  • Does the character become Fae or some other species of the Underground?
  • Does the character save the day and/or another character's life?
  • Does the character stay in the Underground in the end?
  • Does he/she end up living in the castle with Jareth?
  • Do you plan to write many more stories about this character?
  • Do you plan to write more stories about his/her child(ren)?
    • Your Character And You

    "Go back to your room. Play with your toys and costumes."

  • Would YOU like to be friends with your character in real life?
  • Do you think EVERYONE should love your character and want to be friends with him/her?
  • If someone says they don't like your character, do you take it as a personal attack?
  • Do you ever pretend, just to yourself, that you ARE your character?
  • If someone calls your character a Mary-Sue, do you immediately assume they're jealous, even if just out of denial?

    • There are 95 possible points here. And here is the scoring chart.

    0-20:A well developed character. Unlikely Mary Sue
    21-30:Borderline. Watch it.
    31 or more:Your character is definately a Mary Sue. Consider rivising him/her.

    Now, as for the plot....

    There are 21 points possible in the plot alone. Consider revising the plot a little if you answered more than half of those alone with a yes.