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< The Common Room ~ Original Fictional Characters |
| azazello |
 Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 12:07 pm |
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Joined: 29 Nov 2004
Posts: 183
Location: Northern UK
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Razzberry wrote:
Quote: If 90% of the SSHG are badly written with bad characterizations, and 90% of the OFCs are badly written stories revolving around a Mary Sue, then why are you (you being anyone to whom this applies) more willing to wade through the SSHG crap to get to the one good one than you are to wade through the SSOFC crap to get to the one good one?
This is going to sound odd coming from an Ashwinder admin. I suppose I wade through a lot of SSHG, er stuff (!), and in someways as much as anyone. I still have an opinion about this.
I do not read to validate in that sense. It's much more of a scansion. Welcome is the fic that makes me stop scanning, and start reading. Generally, to do that, I like to see no cliches. If I see such a fic, I mentally note it and will go back if the fic is completed. I only read WIP's by writers I like and trust. Or by writers who I consider so good that their unfinished work is worth reading. That's not elitism, btw, just a chronic lack of reading time.
I'm very jaded as a reader with SS/HG. I see this feeling all around the pairing (among the older members) that we've seen it all before. So I tend to go by reccs, rather than just jump in. I'm just as likely to read OFC stuff, as SSHG stuff, I have no real preference. I'm just tired to death of cliche. At present, SS/HG is drowning in it. I feel like (with a few exceptions) I've read it all before. I see cardboard characterisation, fics set clearly in the US because the author could not even be bothered to British up their story (and they don't apparently see anything wrong with that), I see porn being valued over good story, and so on.
Jaded. So I can go to slash and not read the same ol, same ol.
Az - hurtling towards the dark side (slash), and not sorry in the least. I already have a slash OTP - Snape/Rosier. |
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Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony ~ Monty Python and the Holy Grail |
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| Snape Fan |
| Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 2:55 pm |
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Joined: 28 Dec 2004
Posts: 29
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I've tried to read Snape/OC, but I just can't get into it. I'm diehard Snape/Hermione all the way.
The only thing that makes me see red in these stories is where an author will make Hermione as smart as, if not smarter than Severus when she is still a student. While I do agree that she could have a different perspective on things, I never understand how a potions master would overlook things that she comes up with.
But everytime I do think, "been there, done that," I'm surprised with what authors come up with in dealing with Hermione/Severus.
But I do agree with you on the point where some authors set the story in the US. I just don't see that happening. That's part of the magic of those two and the wholesome Britishness that JKR brought to Harry Potter (can you ever imagine Snape living in a place like Florida?!) LOL |
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| LariLee |
| Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2005 8:58 pm |
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Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 27
Location: Kentucky, USA
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coesius wrote: The main thing that bothers me with OCs is when they are inserted with only one purpose in mind: to fall in love with Snape and give him a make-over. From the first moment we meet them, they are meant only to be seen alongside Snape, as a partner instead of an individual. I feel that in many OC fics, the characters are not established enough as individuals before they are thrown into the usual Snape romance. In such instances I find it very hard to believe that this OC can ever be a real person. This would be my main argument against the OC case.
I hear this a lot on any OCs. However, I have to ask why no one ever brings up the term Hermione-Sue? I've seen many fics where the only point of Hermione is to get a makeover, fall in love with Snape, and gave him a makeover (or force him to get a makeover for fear of losing her).
A flat character is a flat character whether they're a canon character or an original character. I've read more than my fair share of stories that, once Hermione discovered sex with Snape was good, never was caught her reading another book again (unless unless it was the Kama Sutra). Where in Chapter 1, she despises Quidditch and goes off on Ron and Harry for enjoying it, but that chapter 10, she's in the Slytherin stands next to Snape, cheering the game on.
Perhaps there needs to be a group that recommends stories with original characters in a leading role. Maybe then, the dreaded "Mary-Sue" will be put to rest. I've read some great OFC stories and I've read some great Granger - Snape stories. And I've read them in both genres that caused me to wear letters off my backspace key, trying to get away.  |
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| tonksinger |
| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:10 am |
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Joined: 02 Apr 2008
Posts: 15
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As someone who has posted a Snape/OFC story (on ff.net, mind) and has been accused of writing said OFC as a Mary-Sue, I feel like should say something.
I admit, it is irritating when any OFC who is intelligent, reasonably good-looking, and interesting in some way is automatically branded a Mary-Sue. Blond hair does not a Mary-Sue make. I see loads of HG/SS where Hermione suddenly "blossoms" (how I hate that term) into a stunning young woman overnight, with nary a drop of Sleakeazy's to be seen. Huge breasts, but a flat stomach and slim hips? Unlikely, especially for someone who spent her childhood reading. Personally, I have always pictured Hermione to be on the plump side of curvy.
Anyway, about supposed Mary-Sues... If a character (canon or not) has no personality flaws and makes no mistakes, I cry "Sue!" and backbutton. At some point, I want to find myself going "No! Don't do that, you idiot!" or at least being annoyed with their behavior - that's a real person to me. If they are on top of every single situation when that is unreasonable, then I see a Sue. I admitted that my OFC had Sue-ish qualities, but she had her flaws too - she was aggressive, painfully blunt, and confrontational to the point of violence. She used food, drink, or boys to deal with her emotions. Yes, she was pretty, intelligent and she could sing (which was part of the plot). Good at Potions, terrible at Transfiguration, and more than a little elitist.
I guess it's all a matter of taste. |
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