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The Original Fiction
Mary-Sue Litmus Test
(c) Falstaff and Grayswandir
So you've written an original character, and you're wondering whether she (or he) is a Mary Sue. Well, you're in the right place to find out. Just read through the questions below, taking down the number of points your character scores every time you answer a question "yes" (or, "Well, sort of..."). Then add up your points, and check them against the numbers at the bottom of the page. Do try to be honest, or it probably won't do you much good.
Keep in mind, some of the things on this list are bound to happen in any story -- the problem is when they all start happening in the same story. Obviously, no test can take every contingency into account, and we can't promise you that every character who scores high on this test is a Mary-Sue, or that every character who scores low isn't. Heck, Bono from U2 scores a whopping 72 points! That doesn't mean he's a Mary-Sue; it just means he has astonishing number of romanticized traits -- and although he's a real person, he might not make a very believable character. It's up to you as the author to decide, as objectively as you can, how your results really apply to your story. This test isn't meant to tell you how to write your characters; it's just a reference list of points to think about when developing them. If you have any suggestions for how to improve it, feel free to let us know.
This test was created by Falstaff and Grayswandir, based on the original Gargoyles Mary-Sue Litmus Test. It was designed for use with original fiction characters, but will also work in relation to fan fiction, for most fandoms. Use it as much as you like, but please don't take it without asking.
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The Name
+ Is the character named after you (this includes your first, middle, and last names, and any nicknames or online names you use)? [20 points]
+ Is the character's name an unusual spelling of a more common word or name? [3 points]
+ Is the character's name a noun or adjective not normally used as a name? [2 points]
+ Does the character's name contain unnecessary hyphens, apostrophes, or other punctuation? (e.g. M'chelle, Gloria-Angelica, etc.) [4 points]
+ Does the character have more than one first, middle, or last name, without reason? [3 points]
+ Does the character have a name you really, really like? [1 point]
+ Is it Raven? [3 points]
+ Is it a variation of Raven? [1 point]
+ Is it Hunter? [5 points]
+ Does the character's name describe her/his personality? (e.g. Tristan means sad, Darcy means dark, Charity means charity, etc.) [1 point]
+ Is the character's name unlikely or highly unusual in relation to the time or place where she/he lives or grew up? [1 point]
+ Does the character have a nickname or pseudonym? [1 point]
+ Is it a "dangerous" nickname (e.g. Death Dealer, Crimson Fury, etc.)? [3 points]
+ Is the character's name foreign, even though the character isn't? [1 point]
+ Is it an Asian name? [2 points]
+ Does the character have a name or nickname that corresponds to a mythological/literary/historical/etc. figure (e.g. Venus, Faustus, Bonaparte)? [1 point]
Appearance
+ Does the character appear to be much younger than she/he really is? [3 points]
[Add only 1 point if the character is immortal.]
+ Is the character highly attractive? [3 points]
[Add only 1 point if the character has to work hard to maintain her/his physical beauty.]
+ Are one or more other characters attracted to her/him? [1 point]
+ Even though they are involved with someone else? [1 point]
+ In defiance of sexual orientation? [4 points]
+ Is an otherwise chaste or stoic character immediately attracted to her/him? [3 points]
+ Does the character have an unusual eye color, or otherwise exceptional eyes? [3 points]
+ And are these eyes a color that does not occur in nature? [1 point]
+ And will they have something to do with the plot? [2 points]
+ Does the character have eyes that somehow "reflect hidden depths or experience or sorrow"? [4 points]
+ Does the character have an appearance unsuited to the time or place (e.g. perfect hair prior to the invention of shampoo, a woman wearing pants in 1805, etc.)? [3 points]
+ Does the character get a disproportionate amount of physical description compared to the rest of the characters? [2 points]
+ Does the character have unusual or exceptional hair, or does her/his hair get a disproportionate amount of description compared to that of the other characters? [3 points]
+ Is the character a fashion plate (this applies to any style of dress, from preppie to goth to Western to Elvish, and so on)? [2 points]
+ Does the character dress in a manner you find particularly attractive, sexy, or cool? [1 point]
+ Even though it's illogical for the character to dress this way (for monetary reasons, for instance, or because it interferes with her/his job)? [3 points]
+ Is the character ever described as "thin enough to be anorexic," where this is intended as a compliment? [1 point]
[Subtract 3 points if the character is over 20 and appears much older than she/he really is.]
[Subtract 3 points if the character is overweight for the full duration of the story. "Buxom" does not count.]
Character
+ Does the character have a clone or identical twin? [7 points]
[Add only 1 point if there are a large number of clones in your story, and your character is neither the original nor above average in prowess.]
+ Is the character of above average intelligence? [1 point]
+ Is she/he a genius? [1 point]
+ Is the character related to royalty or nobility? [4 points]
+ Is the character rich or well-to-do, although she/he doesn't work? [1 point]
+ Is the character heir to a large fortune? [1 point]
+ The sole heir? [1 point]
+ Is the character the last surviving member of a family/clan/race/species/etc.? [2 points]
+ Was the character ever the sole survivor of a calamity? [4 points]
+ Was the character ever estranged from her/his family/tribe/country/etc.? [1 point]
+ Was the character ever forcibly banished from her/his family/tribe/country/etc.? [3 points]
+ Does the character have amnesia? [4 points]
+ And does she/he still retain a trinket of some kind from her/his past? [4 points]
[Subtract 3 points if the character never remembers any of what she/he has forgotten.]
+ Is the character a minority, a woman, or a member of a lower caste, who succeeds or makes a contribution in spite of her/his social disadvantage? [3 points]
+ Does the character have an angsty childhood, or an angsty past? [1 point]
+ And does she/he angst about it during the story? (Angsting does not necessarily include simply relating events to an interested third party.) [2 points]
+ Does the character have angst in the present? [1 point]
+ Was the character an illegitimate birth? [1 point]
+ Was the character ever abducted? [1 point]
+ Was the character abandoned by her/his caregivers? [2 points]
+ Was the character born into slavery, or forced into slavery or prostitution? [1 point]
+ Was the character born/raised in extreme poverty? [1 point]
+ Did the character run away from home (for more than just a few days)? [1 point]
+ Did the character ever suffer physical or emotional abuse [2 points]
+ Did the character ever suffer sexual abuse [2 points]
[Add another point if it was rape.]
[Add another point if it was incest.]
+ Does the character feel guilty about something terrible that happened in the past? [1 point]
+ Even despite overwhelming evidence that it wasn't her/his fault? [2 points]
+ Does the character consider her/his beauty/talent/skill/etc. a curse? [3 points]
[Subtract 2 points if the character is a protagonist but ever freely, willingly, and knowingly worked for the villain/evil regime.]
More on Character
+ Is the character unusually accomplished for her/his age/species/etc.? [2 points]
+ Is the character fluent in more than two languages? [1 point]
+ More than four languages? [2 points]
+ Has the character traveled extensively? [1 point]
+ Does the character collect things you consider intellectual or cultured? [1 point]
+ Does the character have a faithful pet or animal familiar? [1 point]
+ That isn't a dog, cat, horse, or bird? [3 points]
+ Is the character educated despite living in a time or place where education is not widespread? [2 points]
[Ignore these points if the character is a scribe, monk, priest, scholar, etc.]
+ Is the character consistently irreverent or radical, without repercussions? [1 point]
+ Does the character ever easily learn a difficult skill (e.g. learn to play guitar in a matter of weeks)? [3 points]
+ Does the character have an amazing singing voice? [1 point]
[Subtract 3 points if the character has ever fairly lost in any kind of duel, fight, or competition against someone of equal or lesser ability, and the winner was not the character's rival.]
+ Does the character play a musical instrument well? [1 point]
+ Is it guitar? [1 point]
+ Bass? [1 point]
+ Violin? [1 point]
+ Piano? [1 point]
+ Does the character use a katana or any other Asian weapon [1 point]
+ Despite being of non-Asian heritage? [3 points]
+ Does the character "just know things"? [5 points]
+ Does the character have an accent relative to her/his country of residence? [1 point]
+ Does the character have a major quirk or habit in common with you? [2 points]
+ Does the character have a physical handicap that does not hinder her/him significantly? [6 points]
[Subtract 4 points if the character is significantly physically handicapped.]
[Subtract 10 points if the character is significantly mentally handicapped.]
+ Do animals or children instinctively like the character? [3 points]
[Subtract 1 point if the character is a smoker.]
[Subtract 2 points if the character has a dependency or addiction that is or would be very hard to break (e.g. alcoholism, drugs, gambling, sex addiction, etc.)]
[Subtract another point if the character never overcomes this vice.]
[Subtract 2 points if the character has a significant personality flaw (e.g. she/he is a spoiled brat, is horribly judgmental or biased, is irrationally violent, is naive and easily manipulated, etc.)]
[Subtract another point if these flaws persist until the character's death, OR subtract another 2 points if these flaws persist beyond the end of the story.]
[Subtract another 2 points if these flaws get the character in serious trouble (e.g. she/he gets fired, gets killed, gets someone else hurt, etc.)]
+ Does the character have a special birthmark or other marking? [4 points]
+ Does the character have a physical "flaw" that does not actually detract from her/his beauty (e.g. lips too full, white strip in hair, etc.)? [2 points]
+ Does the character have wings (this counts even if she/he is an angel, only has wings sometimes, can't fly, etc.) [10 points]
[Subtract 1 point for each of the following that applies to the character:
She/he remains in a committed relationship for the full duration of your story.
She/he has a child or children for the greater part of your story.
She/he does not learn from major mistakes.
She/he has very little or no empathy for other people.
She/he is selfishly manipulative or sadistic (e.g. threatens self-harm, lies, blackmails, etc. in order to get her/his way).]
Work and Play
+ Is the character astonishingly good at something that is not her/his profession? [1 point]
+ Does the character have any particular skill at which she/he the best or among the best? [2 points]
+ And is she/he widely knows for this skill? [2 points]
+ Does the character have any particular area of study/information/etc. in which she/he is the most knowledgeable or among the most knowledgeable? [2 points]
+ And is she/he widely known for having this knowledge? [2 points]
+ Is the character the sole or last practitioner of a particular martial art or magic? [3 points]
+ Is the character one of only two practitioners of a particular martial art or magic, in a master/student relationship? [3 points]
+ Does the other practitioner die during the course of the story? [2 points]
+ Does the character hold your job? [2 points]
+ Does the character hold your dream job? [3 points]
+ Is the character a female in a role not suited for women in the place/time period (e.g. a female cop before 1900, a female soldier in the US army before 1970, etc.)? [5 points]
+ Is the character a male in a role not suited for men in the place/time period (e.g. a male geisha, a coy young seamstress boy, etc.)? [5 points]
+ Is the character a secret agent? [1 point]
+ A double agent? [2 points]
+ And wears high heels or leather? [5 points]
Is the character, or was she/he ever... (add points for all that apply)
+ A model? [1 point]
+ A rock star? [2 points]
+ A stage actress/actor? [1 point]
+ A film actress/actor? [2 points]
+ A dancer? [2 points]
+ A cop? [1 point]
+ A ninja? [2 points]
+ A pirate? [2 points]
+ An alchemist? [1 point]
+ A bounty hunter? [2 points]
+ A mercenary? [1 point]
+ An assassin? [1 point]
+ A thief or pickpocket? [2 points]
+ An outlaw or member of organized crime? [2 points]
+ A diviner? [1 point]
+ A hero? [2 points]
+ A starving artist? [2 points]
+ A freelance writer? [1 point]
+ A freelance reporter? [1 point]
+ An explorer? [2 points]
+ A pro-athlete? [1 point]
+ A gymnast? [1 point]
[If your character exists in an otherwise normal universe, add 2 points to her/his score for *each* of the following abilities that your character possesses (with or without the aid of charms, spells, etc.). If, however, possession of these abilities is considered normal in your character's universe, add only 1 point each.]
+ Teleportation
+ Telepathy
+ Telekinesis
+ Pyrokinesis
+ Prophecy
+ Healing
+ Animal communication
+ Empathy
+ Shapeshifting abilities
+ Invisibility
+ Invulnerability
+ Flight
+ The ability to pass through matter
+ General magic or sorcery
+ Time travel
+ Transdimensional travel or communication
+ Photographic memory
+ The ability to see auras
+ Summoning
+ Power of seduction
+ The ability to shrug off minor wounds
+ The ability to kill people with her/his bare hands
+ Super strength or speed
+ Skill in martial arts or hand-to-hand combat
+ Sharp-shooting
+ Sleight of hand
+ Computer hacking
+ Does the character share more than one of your hobbies or interests? [1 point]
+ And is she/he better at these hobbies or more knowledgeable about these interests than you are? [2 points]
+ Does the character have the same taste in music as you have? [1 point]
+ In books? [1 point]
+ In movies? [1 point]
[Add another 5 points if you said yes to all three.]
+ Does the character have what you consider better or more refined taste than you have in music? [1 point]
+ In books? [1 point]
+ In movies? [1 point]
+ Does the character have the same religious or spiritual beliefs as you? [2 points]
[Subtract 3 points if her/his beliefs are radically different from yours for the full duration of the story.]
Immortals, Gods, Fay, etc.
(This section only applies if your character is immortal, or of a species other than human.)
+ Is the character a vampire? [5 points]
+ Is the character an elf? [5 points]
+ Is the character a shinigami? [5 points]
+ Is the an angel or fallen angel? [10 points]
+ Is the character old, even by the standards of her/his race? [3 points]
+ Is the character exceptionally powerful, even by the standards of her/his race? [3 points]
+ Is the character exceptionally beautiful, even by the standards of her/his race? [3 points]
+ Was the character present at more than one earthly historical event? [5 points]
+ Because she/he instigated it? [3 points]
+ Was the character ever the inspiration for classical art, poetry, etc. (e.g. she was the Mona Lisa, or Shakespeare wrote a sonnet for her)? [8 points]
+ Is the character the only immortal or non-human in the story? [3 points]
+ Was the character made immortal, etc., by divine intervention? [1 point]
+ Is the character a crossbreed of species (e.g. half-vampire, half-demon, etc.)? [2 points]
[Subtract 3 points if one of these species is goblin, slime monster, etc.]
+ And does the she/he have the benefits of both species? [3 points]
+ And the drawbacks of neither? [5 points]
[Subtract 3 points if the character has no benefits from either species.]
+ Does the character angst about being immortal? [2 points]
+ Does the character angst about being a vampire or fallen angel? [3 points]
High School
(This section only applies if your character is currently attending high school or middle school.)
+ Is your character an outcast or rebel? [2 points]
+ Is your character top of her/his class? [2 points]
+ Is the character president or head of a school organization or group (e.g. head cheerleader, first-chair violin, editor of the school paper, class president, etc.) [2 points]
+ Is the character on a sports team? [1 point]
+ Is she/he the team captain? [1 point]
+ The star player? [1 point]
+ From her/his very first time playing? [3 points]
+ Is the character in the play? [1 point]
+ Does she/he have the lead role? [1 point]
+ Despite having never been in drama class before? [2 points]
+ Does the character give the winning or star performance in a school event (e.g. battle of the bands, debate, a sports game, a spelling bee)? [1 point]
+ Is this success totally unexpected? [2 points]
+ Is the character bullied for her/his sexual orientation, skin color, intelligence, poverty/wealth, looks, clothes, background, etc.? [2 points]
+ Is it because the bullies are jealous? [3 points]
+ Do the bullies eventually see the error of their ways, or else receive some form of retribution? [2 points]
+ Does the character ever beat up more than two bullies at the same time? [5 points]
+ Is the character part of a clique that you consider cool (e.g. goths, punks, ravers, skaters, etc.)? [2 points]
+ And does the character actually refer to her/himself as a part of said clique? [3 points]
+ Does the character rap? [1 point]
+ Is the character in a band (not including a school band or orchestra)? [1 point]
+ Is she/he the lead singer? [2 points]
+ Does she/he write all the band's songs? [2 points]
+ Is the band good enough to go professional? [2 points]
+ Does the character have a boyfriend or girlfriend who is out of high school? [4 points]
+ Does the character keep a notebook of poetry? [1 point]
+ Is the poetry "good enough to be published"? [3 points]
+ Does a love interest find this poetry book and begin to understand the character? [5 points]
+ Or does an antagonist find this poetry book and use it against the character? [4 points]
+ Do any poems written by the character actually appear in your story? [1 point]
+ Does the poetry contain any of the following words: crimson, soul, darkness, love, vampire, glass, moonlight, serpent, rose, dance, winter, flame, cold, goddess, blood, angel, star, forever? [1 point per word, because dude, what are you doing actually writing your character's angsty-teen poetry?]
+ Does the character have her/his own credit card and/or large amounts of disposable income? [2 points]
+ Do the character's parents have a special or glamorous job of which the character reaps the benefits (e.g. her/his parents design video games, so she/he gets games before they are officially released)? [3 points]
+ Does the character have a tattoo or body piercing? [1 point]
+ Does the character frequently get drunk or do drugs without repercussions? [1 point]
+ Does the character use Japanese words in conversation, although she/he does not live in Japan? [2 points]
+ Does the character talk about anime frequently or have lots of anime clothes, collectibles, etc.? [1 point]
+ Does the character have a pet named after an anime character? [1 point]
+ Does the character draw really well in the anime style? [1 point]
The Plot
+ Has everyone significant heard of the character? [2 points]
+ Do all of the important characters end up liking/respecting/fearing her/him? [3 points]
+ Did they all like/respect/fear her/him from the beginning? [1 point]
[Subtract 2 points if everyone liked the character at first, but ends up disliking her/him by the end of the story.]
[Subtract 1 point if the character's problems continue after the end of your story without hope of respite (i.e. she/he neither dies nor gets a happy ending).]
+ Is the character repeatedly rivalled by the same person? [3 points]
+ Is your character a member of The Resistance or a band of freedom fighters? [1 point]
+ Is your character the leader or a lieutenant of The Resistance or a band of freedom fighters? [2 points]
+ Does the character suffer punishment for a crime she/he did not commit? [2 points]
[Subtract 2 points if your character ever willfully commits rape or murder.]
[Subtract another 2 points if the character goes to prison for the crime.]
+ Does the character reform a villainous character? [3 points]
+ And does the villain become evil again after the character dies or leaves, but retain some last vestige of goodness from his/her interaction with the character? [2 points]
+ Does the character fall in (reciprocated) love with, or have sex with, a character you would like to fall in love with or have sex with? [3 points]
+ Is the character someone you would like to fall in love with or have sex with? [3 points]
+ Does the character effect a major change in her/his love interest to make said love interest a more appropriate partner? [3 points]
+ Has the character ever been nursed back to health from serious injuries by a warm, kind, and loving person? [3 points]
+ Was this person the character's love interest? [2 points]
+ Does the character die a romantic death (e.g. suicide, execution, battle wounds, broken heart, etc.)? [2 points]
+ Does the character die in her/his beloved's arms? [3 points]
+ Does the character's beloved die in her/his arms? [3 points]
+ Does the character sacrifice her/himself for love, or so that two other characters can be together? [4 points]
+ Have you ever written a fight scene in which you described with needless extravagence everything your character did? [2 points]
+ Was this scene inspired by a movie, show, or game? [2 points]
+ Did you actually reference the movie, show, or game (e.g. "He jumped up and hung in the air, like Neo in The Matrix"? [15 points]
Your Character and You
+ Do you draw the character, or ask other people to draw her/him for you, more often than any of your other characters? [2 points]
+ Did you base the character on your favorite previously existing character or person? [4 points]
+ Is the character someone you would want to be friends with, assuming she/he would be receptive to friendship with you? [1 point]
+ Would you be very surprised if someone did not like the character? [1 point]
+ Do you take any negative feedback about the character as a personal affront? [4 points]
+ Is the character a mouthpiece for your own beliefs or views? [3 points]
+ Do you have a character journal for her/him? [4 points]
+ Do you ever wish you could be like the character? [4 points]
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Finished? All right, tally up your points. Here are the scores:
0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. You might need to give them a little personality though! Why are you even taking this test?
11-20 points: The Non-Sue. Your character is a well-developed, balanced person, and is almost certainly not a Mary Sue. Congratulations!
21-35 points: Borderline-Sue. Your character is cutting it close, and you may want to work on the details a bit, but you're well on your way to having a lovely original character. Good work.
36-55 points: Mary-Sue. Your character needs some work in order to be believable. But despair not; you should still be able to salvage her/him with a little effort. Don't give up.
56-70 points: Über-Sue. You've got one hell of a Mary-Sue on your hands here, and it's not going to be easy to set things right. But do your best. There may possibly be a little hope for you yet.
71 point or more: Irredeemable-Sue. You're going to have to start over, my friend. I know you want to keep writing, but no. Just no.
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