My character scored a whopping 0 on the Mary Sue test. *does happy dance* 
It has been my experience that ideals might be what we think we want, but there's generally nothing more boring than a perfect person. Because everything about them is just as it seems. There are now shadows lurking beneath the surface, no secrets or hidden motivations. Everything they do, they do out in the open, because they have no reason not to. They have been written specifically to never be wrong.
And I understand the appeal of being able to write yourself the way you wish you were. But that person is never interesting to anyone other than you.
Flaws are fun, they colour the characters and make them unique. For instance, perhaps my Miqo'te points and laughs when he sees a Roegadyn accidentally kick a Lalafell underfoot. It's an asshole thing to do, but it adds depth to his character. Depending on your perspective you might construe it as a fundamental lack of empathy. Now why would he do that? Does he consider the Lalafell weak, and thus deserving of a kick? Does he just not give a shit about anyone other than himself? Is he racist against Lalafell for some reason?
Maybe it's justified, and then again maybe it isn't. But that's sort of the point though. No one is perfect, so giving your characters flaws will make them seem more real.
No one can identify with super ultra hero-sama of destiny, because no human being is actually like that. And if you can't identify with at least some part of the character, it is really difficult to care about anything they say or do.
Putting your character on a pedestal, will always be met with the same disdain as putting yourself on a pedestal is met with in real life. Have you ever considered why so many people hate stuff like Twilight, True Blood, Sword Art Online etc. etc.? It's because they're Mary Sue fiction. They're basically mental masturbation for the author, and for anyone who doesn't share the author's exact fantasy, it just comes off as delusional and self-centered.
It has been my experience that ideals might be what we think we want, but there's generally nothing more boring than a perfect person. Because everything about them is just as it seems. There are now shadows lurking beneath the surface, no secrets or hidden motivations. Everything they do, they do out in the open, because they have no reason not to. They have been written specifically to never be wrong.
And I understand the appeal of being able to write yourself the way you wish you were. But that person is never interesting to anyone other than you.
Flaws are fun, they colour the characters and make them unique. For instance, perhaps my Miqo'te points and laughs when he sees a Roegadyn accidentally kick a Lalafell underfoot. It's an asshole thing to do, but it adds depth to his character. Depending on your perspective you might construe it as a fundamental lack of empathy. Now why would he do that? Does he consider the Lalafell weak, and thus deserving of a kick? Does he just not give a shit about anyone other than himself? Is he racist against Lalafell for some reason?
Maybe it's justified, and then again maybe it isn't. But that's sort of the point though. No one is perfect, so giving your characters flaws will make them seem more real.
No one can identify with super ultra hero-sama of destiny, because no human being is actually like that. And if you can't identify with at least some part of the character, it is really difficult to care about anything they say or do.
Putting your character on a pedestal, will always be met with the same disdain as putting yourself on a pedestal is met with in real life. Have you ever considered why so many people hate stuff like Twilight, True Blood, Sword Art Online etc. etc.? It's because they're Mary Sue fiction. They're basically mental masturbation for the author, and for anyone who doesn't share the author's exact fantasy, it just comes off as delusional and self-centered.
