So here it is, the score the Savage Redhead achieved on the Litmus Test. I strove to be as brutally honest as possible, answering even maybe questions as "Yes". How Miya Scored on the Test
(if you really care)Positive answers are bolded and blue.
Section 1 - What's Your Name, Little Girl? Is the character named after you? (This can be your first name, middle name, or your favorite nickname.) If so, stop now. Put your pencil (mouse?) down and turn in your test. You flunk. Does the character have a really cool name that you wish you had? Like Scarlet? (If you're writing for one of the American dubs, ignore this question.) Does the character have more than one name? (i.e. a nickname or a pseudonym--Galactor/Spectran names or Science Ninja/G-Force names count but shortened versions of the character's real name do not.) Did you spend more than a day looking for just the right name? Have you named or considered naming your pet or child the character's name? Section 2 - Check Your Look In The Mirror Is the character the same gender as you? Is the character from the same racial group as you? (Note: if the character is an alien, mutant, cyborg, or some other "super- human", answer yes to this question.) Is the character a half-breed (human/alien, etc.)? Is the character too young to legally drink alcohol (below 21)? Does s/he drink anyway? Does the character *look* like s/he is younger than 21? For a particular reason? That you plan on making a plot point later? Is the character drop-dead gorgeous or roguishly handsome? Does one or more of the regulars find the character highly attractive? Do other regulars see him/her as a threat because of this? Does the character have an unusual hair and/or eye color for no apparent reason? (Peroxide and contacts do not count.) Will this be a plot point later? Does the character do any one thing better than any of the regulars? (We're talking fighting skills, technological abilities, etc.) Does the character do MORE than one thing better? Section 3 - Written In Your History Is the character the long-lost child or descendent or sibling of a regular or recurring character? Of Ken/Mark/Ace/Hunter and/or Joe/Jason/Dirk? Of Nambu/Anderson/Brighthead/Keane and/or Katze/Zoltar/Galactor? Of another original character for whom you intend to write another story or even another series? Is the character a member or a friend of a hitherto unknown Science Ninja Team/Galactic Security team like G-Force? And is the last surviving member of that team? Did the character have an unusual birth? Does the character have a twin (male or female), a clone, or a sibling of the same gender? About whom you plan on writing another story later? Does the character have a very good singing voice? Does the character play a musical instrument really well? The guitar, for instance? Does the character have better taste in music than you do? (For example, does your character own cd's that you think cool people ought to own, even though you've never actually listened to the music yourself?) 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.) Is the character Nambu/Anderson/Brighthead's secretary? Does the character insult the regulars constantly and/or show a blatant disregard for authority? Does s/he get away with this stuff? Does everyone end up liking the character (among the regulars you like)? In spite of his/her bad attitude? Section 4 - All The Right Moves The Bad Guys: Is the character a Galactor/Spectran? A Devil Star? One of Katze/Zoltar/Galactor's most "trusted" aides? Is the character the child of Galactor/Spectrans? But doesn't find out until the middle or end of the story, or will find out in a future story you already have planned? Is the character currently being actively hunted by Galactor/Spectra? Is the character actually a double agent for the ISO/Galactic Security? The Rest: Does the character, not being either Galactor/Spectran or a Science Ninja/ G-Force member, have special fighting skills anyway? Is s/he trained as a Science Ninja and/or have a cerebonic implant in spite of not being originally on the team? Does the character have any psionic abilities (telepathy, telekinesis, empathy, precognition, etc.?), even if only with a sibling or lover? Does the character just "know things" for no apparent reason? Can the character fly? Without the aid of BirdStyle? Can the character heal with a touch and/or thought? Do animals instinctively like the character? (If the character has animal empathy, answer "Yes".) Section 5 - Love Is In The Air (I was wondering what that smell was...) Does the character fall in love with and/or have sex with Joe/Jason/Dirk and/or Katze/Zoltar/Galactor? (And if anyone writes a story with both being "AND" send me a copy.) With another recurring character from the show? With Ken or Jun? With Ken AND Jun? At the same time? (Ooh...kinky...) With whom *you* would like to fall in love and/or have sex? With another original character? With whom *you* would like to fall in love and/or have sex? Does the story end with the character's wedding? Does the story end with the character getting pregnant or getting another character pregnant? Is the father Joe or the mother-to-be Jun? Is Katze either the father or the mother? Is another regular one of the parents? Is Sosai X? (If so, give yourself 20 extra points and the X-Files "Out There" Award for Originality--thanks to Katharine Foust-Martin for this idea!) Section 6 - Meanwhile, Back in the Real World... Would you like to be friends with the character if you met in real life? Do you think everyone who reads the story should automatically like the character and want to be friends with the character? If someone tells you s/he doesn't like your character, do you take it as a personal attack on you? (Be honest.) Do you ever pretend, just to yourself, that you *are* the character, with the same strengths and abilities? Section 7 - The Plot Thickens Do you introduce the character on the first page of the story? Before any of the regulars appear? Do you tell the story primarily from the character's point of view? Does the character meet the team, and after a few tense pages of plot, become friends with them? Does the character figure out right away who the Science Ninja/G-Force team are? Without any prior knowledge? Does the character manage to develop a friendship with an otherwise villainous character, and through this friendship, reform the other character? Is the villain in question Katze/Zoltar/Galactor? 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? Does the character become a Science Ninja/G-Force member during the course of the story? Does s/he become G-6? Is this an alternate reality where s/he has always been with the team? Does the character save the day and/or another character's life? Through use of their superior fighting skills/firepower? Through dying? Does everyone go into mourning? Does s/he return miraculously from the dead by the end of the story? In the sequel? Does the character become an ISO/Galactic Security agent? Does the character end up living at the Snack Jun/Crescent Coral/ Center Neptune? With one of the other regulars (at the airstrip, in the trailer, at the harbor, etc.)? On a permanent basis? Do you plan on basing all your future stories around this particular character?
Now compare your total score to the list below:
16-25 Borderline case. If poorly or inobjectively written, s/he could be branded a Mary Sue. If handled well, people will forgive you a lot of personal excess.
Miya scored a total of 16 points on the test, which barely but decisively puts her in the "borderline" category. Of course, this means I have to watch Miya like a hawk so she doesn't slip over the line into full-blown Mary Sueism. I could reduce her score by taking away some of the abilities she has that don't really matter to the story, or by cutting some of the character development down, or by not having her get together with the Condor, or making her unrelated to any of the team--but I choose not to because that would make the story less special to me. It's a selfish choice, but I'm the one writing this stuff, and enough people seem to like what I'm doing so I don't feel too bad about it. Writing an original character into an established universe and keeping it real is a constant struggle, but if you care enough not only about your characters, but your readers as well, you can pull it off.
A special note about the very first question: Yes, some people on the Net know me as "Miya" or "Miyae". This was due to some early confusion between me (Emby Quinn) and the character. I used the name "Miya" on the old Center Neptune Telnet talker, and the nick has sort of stuck in certain areas of Gatchdom. I don't consider this to mean that Miya was named after me--if anything, the reverse is true. (Does that make me Miya's Mary Sue character? Frightening thought, that.)
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