I recently had an author review me and tell me that my characters were Mary Sues. They had only read the first chapter of my work and I don't think you can really judge by that. Not to say anything by it but the story has 400 reviews and it's one that I'm famous for in the manga section.

I thought that it was just a harmless review. They told me that I had too much unecessary description and my characters were Mary Sues, which I don't believe when so many people say that it's good.

I wrote a small portion of a response telling them that they didn't have to read it if they didn't like it. Furthermore, they could not tell a Mary Sue from first chapter.

I figured that I'd just forget about it because you get some good and you get some bad.

Then, this person wrote outright flames about two other stories that I've written- Tsurugi: Tsubasa no Gedatsu and Sumiko-chan in Twisted Land.

They were like 'A fallen angel story, HOW ORIGINAL' and I was thinking now they are just harrassing me. Then I got yet ANOTHER one on Sumiko-chan in Twisted Land and this is what it read- It's just outright offensive.

REVIEW SAYS:

"You may cry when reading this." Don't overestimate yourself. A writer as mediocre as yourself can't make a reader (that's actually read some decent literature, that is) feel sorry for the main character. Especially if the main character is so very mary sue and the story is so very cliche and "plot? what plot?"-esque. Also, "This is much more complex then anything I’ve written previously" ...I don't doubt that. probably because a person like yourself is inept regarding "complexity". Sweetie, were you angry at your best friend for missing out on movie night so you wrote about death doom and despair to relieve stress? If so, I'm terribly sorry. You must be going through a lot of pain right now. Maybe we should slit our wrists together? Undoubtedly necessary: /sarcasm. Thank you, and goodnight.

END REVIEW

First off, I'm not an EMO or anything just because I write gothic romance and horror stories. Second off, I have more of a sense of maturity then they'd like to think. I have disabled them from harrassing me further by blocking them and I reported them for three abuses for leaving reviews of this nature.

It just breaks my confidence a little to see reviews like this, not just on my works but on other people's. Don't harrass other authors like this by reviewing the FIRST chapter of EVERY single one of their works and saying the same things over and over again.

Also, do not attack an author's personal life when you do not know them. I don't slit my wrists, I'm not EMO and I'm not as immature as this person to have nothing better to do with their time then flame every one of my stories. I don't know if they are jealous or what.

I tried to see if I could read some of their stories to see if they were a better writer then me, because I'd give them some props if they did write better then me. Coincidently, they have no stories here and the one they had as their favorite was not written any better then my own works and yet they were not flamed. It doesn't add up at all.

Nothing they say is critisism and I've only gotten one flame before that was a little worse then this.

As an author of seven years here, I'm very dissapointed in this type of behavoir and I hope the admins do something about it. No author should be stalked and abused verbally like that.

Fictionpress is a place where you should be creative and express your talents not a place where you get harrassed because you write what you love.

It's very sad that someone would pick on you solely for your description technique and your genre basis.

I guess it had me questioning my abilities so if I don't write anything for a while after this week then I'm sorry to those that do read my works.

Perhaps I care too much...

~Melissa

See, I hate people like that. Don't be down about it, I've read all of your stories and you have actual plots and your characters aren't what they say. Besides, someone who's a member of this site that cannot give critisism is a flamer in general and it seems that this user is targeting you in specific for some reason. Maybe they are jealous that your stories are well-known around here. To me it seems that way.

I've read their reviews on your other works and they really are uncalled for. They say the same thing about every one of the stories and I don't think they even really read the chapters to be truthful.

They are a sorry excuse for a user here and I'd just block them, which you have done. It's an outright flame and if someone maliciously attacks all of your works then it's harrassment. Not that the admins will take care of it.

It just looks bad on an author whose works are good for people to read their reviews and get the wrong impression of it based on one nasty one.

I haven't read your recent chapters but I hope that you update soon regardless. Not updating is something that they want you to do. They probably hoped that you'd leave.

You hardly seem the person who is a whiny little EMO anyway, I can tell that just by your attitude. You seem like a very kind person, especially since I read a review you left to them on Sumiko-chan in Twisted Land. That was very kind to say the most and I would not have been that easy on the little Something-something....

**...Honestly...

Well, it isnt kind of them to spread lies but it seems they'd rather make a fool of themselves by doing what they are and showing their ignorance. As a man who has read very fine literature myself I'd hate to put myself in their class. Might I mention I also have an English Master's Degree...but I do not like to brag.

Usually reviews like that are a once-over thing and more then likely the reviewer will not return. Yes, it does look bad on you unfortunately but you are so popular here your fans know your characters and plots enough to judge you as they should when it comes to new stories. It may hinder you from getting reviews from new fans, however.

I too, don't believe that you can tell a Mary Sue from reading the first chapter and it looks more like this person didn't even read your works, as Tragedy of Light and Dark stated earlier because all of the things they flamed you about were written in your author's notes or summary on your works.

True, no one was forcing them to read it but I don't believe they actually did. It seems like this was done intentionally even because they attacked your other stories as well. A first chapter doesn't give away the plot anyway.

I also noticed that they have no stories here. It's either coincidence or planned since a lot of people who flame have a tendancy not to write works on the site. One would like to think that they should be able to back it up with a solid work behind them that defies your own if they are as reputable as they say. In this case, they made themselves look like a classless idiot who merely wants to see you riled up.

I also think that author's should not offend one another's personal lives because while we may bring pieces into our stories that we all simply write here. No author is truly better then another and if they have to sink THAT low as in to insult your personal life then they are not a person, just a monster who likes to feed on emotions. They are trying to start something to get negative attention because they are insecure.

They obviously haven't read your biography or know how old you are. Even by writing what you did in your review on Sumiko-chan, showed why you are a reputable author here You also managed to show everyone what an ** they are by simply stating things in a kind manner. You're a good person and people can see that, Melissa-sama.

Besides, not to be judgemental but I think if you can use punctuation and form proper sentences (unlike the review shown) that you'd have enough sense to keep your mouth shut about knowing "quality literature". If you speak eloquently then you should form a proper sentence and not start them off with inproper fragments and objects that are proper and not punctuated. I think they managed to make themself seem pretty illiterate for their mistakes anyway.

People like this make FictionPress a less enjoyable atmosphere where authors can express themselves freely. They make me sick.

Don't give up on your works because someone is insecure about their own writing prowess. They had some nerve to type that horrid mess to you anyway. They obviously can't back it up and the one story that they have on their favorites list is, in my opinion worse then yours. I do not say how they can give it somewhat praise and turn around to slam dunk yours in the way that they did, unless the other author is their friend, which may very well be the case.

You have a band of loyal readers who would hate to see you give up because of some ill-manners dim-wit who couldn't write a proper review to save his life.

I know I'm just blowing off steam and I may get critisized for it but as a fellow author (of poetry but it's literature as well) it truly does disgust me to see people like this who ruin it for everyone else and try to wreck popular author's good works around here.

I've ranted enough...It's 4 in the morning here and I'm not about to check myself for errors so sorry if there are any.

~Kurogane

"You may cry when reading this?" Okay . . . .

I've never read the story, so I can't say, but that's a weird thing to add before the story even starts. That said, it's your story, so write whatever you like. Don't let someone get you down.

And don't stop writing just because you doubt your abilities. Most first drafts aren't the greatest anyway. That's why most good novels are finished, edited, then re-written. Keep writing anyway. I can't say for sure, since I haven't read much of your work, but I think you need to continue improving just like the rest of us. Writing is the way to do that. If you stop, your progress stops.

I learned something very important about this site: your story is rarely as bad as a review might say, and usually not as good either. People generally either blindly hate your work, or blindly love it (evidenced by the fact that I got 20 positive reviews on a now deleted poem about underwear called "Grand Underpants" a while back) -- and neither helps you determine the quality of your writing. The occaisonal helpful critique may be given, but that's usually about 1 out of every 15 reviews at best.

My advice: stay strong, keep writing, and don't take the reviews so seriously -- be it flames or praise. Wouldn't want anyone thinking you're EMO now, right?

Just kidding, MN. Good luck with your writing.

I suppose that the crying thing was odd of me to write there. I don't know what I was thinking so I erased it. I think it was one of those 'spurt of the moment' things.

I know that I need to improve. I never doubted that at all. I always try to outdo myself and I even think that published authors are probably like that too. It's the 'I can always do better' train of thought. I never think that I'm the best but if I write something that a lot of people enjoy, it makes me happy.

I've not gotten flamed in about three years so it was quite a shock to see something like this happen.

%^^I learned something very important about this site: your story is rarely as bad as a review might say, and usually not as good either. People generally either blindly hate your work, or blindly love it (evidenced by the fact that I got 20 positive reviews on a now deleted poem about underwear called "Grand Underpants" a while back) -- and neither helps you determine the quality of your writing. &^^

I've learned this too actually and like is based on preference. Either you like it or you don't and it all depends on what you like. Even the most popular anime and manga have a few people who outright hate it.

I just don't believe I should be harrassed like that. I know they are maliciously trying to make me stop writing and this has happened to me several times before when I wrote fanfiction. While I have been discourged I've never given up something that makes me happy and I will never give up writing what I enjoy due to one person's opinion.

I had people give me good reviews on a discontinued story that I hated writing, so I can see why reviews don't really help you determine it. Some people do go by them, however.

%%%My advice: stay strong, keep writing, and don't take the reviews so seriously -- be it flames or praise. Wouldn't want anyone thinking you're EMO now, right?%%%

Lol, of course. This is actually the first time I was ever convicted of that. I'm quite the opposite in real life, being funny and sarcastic. I think the only time I get serious, aside from something grave happening is when I write.

I do have a tendancy to care a little too much about reviews at times because everyone wants to be liked. It's human nature but I have come to learn that it's the good opinions that count and that keep you doing what you enjoy. Besdies, if you enjoy it it should be done whether people like it or not.

Thank you for the advice. I'll continue to stay strong. I'm glad you're being supportive even though you haven't read much of my works. It makes me happy.

Hmm...why not a break from A&P (Anatomy & Physiology)? Yup! I'll do that!

Well, there isn't much to be said, but the biggest problem I see with people who hate the story is the claim that they're Mary Sues, while the people supporting you claim that they aren't Mary/Gary/Villain Sue's. The thing missing here is objectivity; concrete evidence backed up by a well-known test. Fortunately, there happens to be a test online I take frequently when I'm bored, and it's in the same class as what...Nutritional said - A Mary Sue Litmus Test.

http://www.onlyfiction.net/marysue2.html

This link will send you to the interactive version of the Mary Sue Litmus Test, so feel free to take it whenever you want too. A bit of advice, however. PLEASE BE HONEST. If you intentionally shift the test results to go a certain way, the test itself is useless and you will be lying to yourself. Also, like all Mary Sue tests, do it for one character at a time. Since you're the author, you're the one that has to take the test because you're the one that best knows the character. Once you're finished, post up the results on this forum, so everyone will have something concrete to base it on. Not just blind support from biased sources.

And if you're wondering why I'm being really scientific right now, I'm studying. There you go.

As for what Nutritional said, there are parts I support him/her on, and some parts that I don't; flaming you and insulting you personally is a no-no. What he said about your characters being Mary Sue's is something you need to look into, not just ignore. And what Dice Darwin stated is right: it's uncommon to get a helpful review, but it's really easy to get ones that love you or hate you. 400 reviews on a story doesn't mean anything; it just means a lot of people (or a small sect that reviews constantly) like that kind of story; it's not necessarily better either.

My opinion on this? It's really up to you how you want to take it. You don't have to follow my suggestion, but this will get certain groups of people to, for lack of a better term, "Shut up", and get certain problems addressed and fixed right away - such as this Mary Sue this and that thing. And one hint of advice: Try not to sound arrogant on your stories. Even if it's unintentional, avoid stating, "You may cry when reading this," statements and related statements when posting. That gives the hint that you think you're better than everyone else, even if it's totally unintentional - It's the Internet; people only care about what they think, not about the other side to the issue.

At least you blocked him, so that was the smartest thing to do. And if you did take the Mary Sue Litmus Test before, post the results; if you don't people will use it against you. Also, good luck with your manga stories.

Well, that's my two cents. Now back to being on a hiatus. -Nods and leaves-

There are some things on the test that I found to be a matter of situation and how things are set up in the story.I took this test honestly and did not change any answers to suit the characters.

I don’t think all angels/elves/magicians/vampires are Mary Sues and I think that’s why Tsurugi, Hiroshima and Fife racked up more points then others. While I found it a little unfair to their characters, I can see why they would do it considering there are a lot of unworldly being stories out there that are Mary Sues.

Lol, but I did take into consideration this paragraph as well.

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.

Taking that into account I don’t feel so bad about Tsurugi’s score, since he scored the highest of anyone in my main cast.

I have nothing but my word here, so I just hope that I am believed.

I only did this for the main cast, I hope that’s alright with you guys.I did this for the two stories that were accused of having Mary Sues.

Mary Sue Litmus Test for Sacrifice

Hiroshima- 18 points

11-20 points: The Non-Sue. Your character is a well-developed, balanced person, and is almost certainly not a Mary Sue. Congratulations!

Undine- zero points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Azmy- 4 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Keiji- 4 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Ko- 7 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Fife- 18 points

11-20 points: The Non-Sue. Your character is a well-developed, balanced person, and is almost certainly not a Mary Sue. Congratulations!

Chichiri- 2 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Tsurugi- 26 points

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.

@@@@@

Is this a good amount of characters, (since they are my main cast) or should I do more?

@@@@@

Sumiko-chan in Twisted Land

This one should be easy; I only have 5 characters in it so far.

Sumiko- 4 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Polkhiol- 6 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Fria- 8 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Warashii- 7 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Shiba-14 points

11-20 points: The Non-Sue. Your character is a well-developed, balanced person, and is almost certainly not a Mary Sue. Congratulations!

%%%%%%%

I guess it’s safe to say that my characters are nothing like me O_o;

I can assume that I don’t write Mary Sues, so I have a bit more confidence now.Thanks for that test, KurenaiYume!I owe you for it!Mary Sues are something that I never want to create (even though I was guilty of it a long time ago when I wrote fanfiction but hey I was in the 5th grade!I came a long way from what I was!)

I REPEAT- I DID NOT LIE ON THIS TEST.I find it stupid to lie about something as trivial as a character anyway.

I can now rest easily now that I know that I didn’t make any Mary Sues. I kind of knew that Tsurugi would be my hard-hitter on the test but there are also things to take into consideration from the story that he’s in. I’m glad that my characters scored low and it definitely makes me feel better about myself as an author here.

I’m also glad that Nutritional, from the Litmus test I took, was wrong in what they had said in their review about my characters.

Thank you all for helping me out!

One more question though, should I also post this in a thread all its own or post it in a spot in my bio? I was thinking about doing that anyway and more then likely will. I wanted to know a few opinions…For some reason, posting it again as its own thread with no needed replies seems pointless and kind of defies the point of actually being a topic in a forum.

I actually went back through the test and I misinterpreted a question. Here are the real answers:

Mary Sue Litmus Test for Sacrifice

Hiroshima- 20 points

11-20 points: The Non-Sue. Your character is a well-developed, balanced person, and is almost certainly not a Mary Sue. Congratulations!

Undine- 1 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Azmy- 5 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Keiji- 4 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Ko- 7 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Fife- 19 points

11-20 points: The Non-Sue. Your character is a well-developed, balanced person, and is almost certainly not a Mary Sue. Congratulations!

Chichiri- 2 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Tsurugi- 29 points

21-35 points: Borderline-Sue. Your character is cutting it close, and you may w

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Polkhiol- 10 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Fria- 9 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Warashii- 8 points

0-10 points: The Anti-Sue. Your character is the very antithesis of a Mary-Sue. Why are you even taking this test?

Shiba-14 points

11-20 points: The Non-Sue. Your character is a well-developed, balanced person, and is almost certainly not a Mary Sue. Congratulations!

I think the Mary Sue Litmus Test is sorely overrated.

I have many issues with this test and it seems to be that the only way to tell if a character is a Mary Sue is subject to interpretation.

There are several questions that irritated me and seemed biased and unfair especially when taking in the standards the author has given for the races and general "land" that it's taking place in.

The question that named magical abilities are what kill supernatural, magician and mythological characters.

This seems unfair: So a character is a highly respected Sage, Mage or Sorcerer that would, disregarding that question at hand be a Non-Sue or Anti-Sue. Then when hit with that question shot straight up to Mary Sue because they have magical abilities. Does it mean that they are a Mary Sue sheerly because they have powers of magic?

Also the question about accent seems highly irrelevant to anything. An accent seems logical of a character that comes from a country or region of Japan even where a specific dialect is present. How does this contribute as a Mary Sue.

This test is sheerly circumstancial due to the storyline. I did a few experiments (one with Melissa Norvell and the other with popular anime characters) to show that this test is sheerly opinion-based and there is, in fact, no true way to call anything a Mary Sue.

First off, I took this test as well-liked anime characters. I did these based on information, author interviews and character books. I took these being unbiased to characters that are my favorite or ones I RP (i.e. I RP as Kurogane from Tsubasa Resevior Chronicles). As I have stated before, this is based on nothing but facts.

Here is a list of characters I took the test as:

Sakura Kinomoto: Cardcaptor Sakura

Kurogane: Tsubasa Resevoir Chronicles

Sesshoumaru: Inuyasha

Kurama: Yuu Yuu Hakushou

Kitsune: Love Hine

Sasuke Uchiha: Naruto

Trunks: Bragonball Z/GT

Ed- Full Metal Alchemist

Ceres Victoria: Hellsing

All of them scored as Mary Sues (this is even without personal references that would sheerly only be the creator's opinion)

I also took this as an OC that I RP as on MySpace that I didn't believe was a Mary Sue and I scored with 43 points.

When I omit things that I didn't feel he should have been judged for considering the storyline and the standards for his type of character, I came out with 19 points.

I believe that you can omit questions with regards to the story.

I also had friends (one of them who published a book) take it as their characters and they turned out as Mary Sues as well.

I then had Melissa tell me over an IM the answers to her test for the characters Tsurugi and Hiroshima (both of which are angels). Since they had scored more points then the other characters, I then went through (after hearing basic abilities of her angel characters) and omitted questions that would shoot them down simply because their basic description fell under it as angels. (this is the magical factor, above average intelligence, seeing auras and phohecies and things of that nature that ALL of her angels have because it's a basic ability) I don't think those things should have been counted against them because it's a standard- just as any magician would know magic and possess a vast amount of the powers mentioned.

According to their story standards, they are not Mary Sues - Hiroshima scored 15 points vs. his 20 and Tsurugi scored a 22 considering his 30 something.

I did count them having wings and being angels because there are angel-sues out there as well.

If done properly and honestly your character might not test as a Mary Sue.

As Kurenai Yume stated, you must be honest.

However, judging by your story standards is important. I don't see harm in omission of questions that would apply to everyone in the story because of standards a person has to that specific entity. I am not being biased or completely for anyone who creates Mary Sues. This is just a case study as you will of how this test is unfair and there is truly no way to tell a Mary Sue even by a solid test.

This test is an opinion and even it cannot prove your characters to be Mary Sues. Hell,it even tells you not every character is necessarily a Mary Sue who scores as one.

I think a bit of advice is to take this test and omit everything that is an attribute all characters have (otherwise Harry Potter would be considered a cast of Mary Sues) You should not, hoever make an exception for one character saying things like "they do this because it's normal for them" because it's being biased and making excuses not to check that little box that would count as a strike against you.

Just like I didn't excuse Hiroshima and Tsurugi as being angels or having wings (Melissa did the same, for she knew that same thing). We both put a check mark in that box as should anyone else.

This test is a matter of opinion. To be truthful, someone could take it as your character based on information from your story and and make it come out as a Mary Sue. It's a matter of opinion and not really as solid and foolproof as people claim

Well, there's my five dollars (I would say two cents but I pitched in more then that @_@)

~Kurogane

First of all, thank you very much for your kind review on Monster's Ball. I was very proud to hear that you found it interesting, and it certainly gave me great energy to strive further with the idea. :] Also, thank you for the addition to your community. I was elated to find that it had been added with so many other remarkable stories. I apologize for not poking into this forum sooner. Things got a little wild with some research projects. How mundane!

Nevertheless, I have no intention of a ramble regarding nonsense like that. I caught this thread and cringed. I remember having similar incidents early on when I was a fully active member of Fictionpress during 2003 to 2006, and, unfortunately, it is something that you honestly can't avoid. Harsh reviews, flames, and attacks on your abilities happen. They're irritating and offensive, but you learn to grit your teeth and shove them aside as if they were nothing of importance. If a critique does not come constructively, it is more than likely insincere - and by the sounds of it they were not constructively criticizing you so much as attacking your work. On a quick skim, I find nothing mediocre. In fact, I'm looking forward to really reading your stories as soon as I settle down and get things into order. And I'm a 'reader of decent literature' as well. I love classical literature. I love literature in general, and I know decent writing when I see it. Mediocrity is virtually nonexistent beyond the silly little construction of illegible-on-a-mass-scale content (Hw R U 2day? i am fyn thx lol :]).

Mary Sues and Clichés? They are lies. Nothing more than personal opinions. I happen to find 'Clichés' infatuating to begin with. There are a variety of ways to spin stories that have supposedly been beaten a thousand times over. Writing is about perspective, and to shun an idea that may come into your mind for sake of it being 'Clichés' is ludicrous. Write for fun; write because you enjoy your idea and it appeals to your fancy. In the long run, it most definitely will play out different than any work acting as its precedent (with the exception of copiers and plagiarists, which regrettably exist to blend and duplicate existing stories with no insert of thought or coherency. I'm confident you are neither of those things, and therefore confident that your work has its own flavor). A Clichés is a beginning direction. The foundations of an idea (the hero's journey, anyone?) may share massive common ground, but the methods in which it plays out is the only thing that truly matter - and that is almost guaranteed uniqueness. As far as most things are concerned.

Besides. What is over-done is subjected to opinion. Nothing more. And Mary Sues? Even remarkable characters can be called 'Mary Sues' or 'Gary Stus'. It depends on the outlook towards the character when reading, which is bound to vary from person to person. Anything can be construed as 'Mary Sue' nowadays, be it the use of angels, demons, and magic - or the use of a reasonably attractive and nice character. Even mean-spirited villains are construed as Mary Sues. It's ridiculous, and it's a shallow label. If a character is two-dimensional to one person, it's bound to be three-dimensional to another. An enormous amount of well established characters are, frankly, easily compared to Mary Sue standards. Tastes. Fancy. It's all a matter of opinion and portrayal. Or that's my belief in the matter. I don't believe in Clichés. To do that is just condemning my imagination for dreaming something a thousand people may have dreamed before me, and telling it not to venture down the creative road it so desires to go down. How fruitless for the imagination. How destructive of the creative mind the labeling of ideas as Cliché is. It's rather sad and infuriating. No idea is so over done that it can not be worked again and again.

I find it hilarious that your reviewer finds it acceptable or constructive to bring up the slitting of wrists or the subject matter of death, gloom, and despair. If they're a reader of decent literature, they know such things exist universally within written work. I can name dozens of classical books off the top of my head which have themes of gloom and despair intermingled with many other things. It's a genre. Oh, the lack of logic. Ha, ha, ha, ha? They sound disenchanting and condescending. That's about all I can think in regards to those comments. If they had serious points they wanted to make, they failed to do so through being detestable and unprofessional.

Don't worry too much about them. Just write what you like and take advice you deem necessary and valid with a grain of salt. And that's my two-cents I wanted to give.

Again, I look forward to really getting to sit down and thoroughly read your stories. :]

Don't feel bad, my main character (or at least one of them) got a 38 "YOUR CHARACTER SUCKS" haha.

I had a troll not too long ago as well, pretty much I replied "I'm dearly sorry that you, my intrepid reader, had to endure such a horrible experience as reading my prologue and also offending you by dedicating this book in your honor and writing it especially for you in the first place.....Oh wait...... I didn't.... Haha......** you...."

Probably the most daunting thing about writing is the fact that total strangers will be reading it and the most critical people are those who have never written anything with half the effort you probably have so who cares?

And for the record, my character isn't "Mary Sue" it's "Kyle Burks" :P I'd like to think that name will be famous someday.

Haha Ilze09, I had a similar run-in awhile back- this guy would read my chapters (which are about 15-20 pages in length) and then criticize me. I mean, yeah, I know not everyone will like a certain authors stories but you gotta wonder why these people are so adamant about reading your material in length if they so happen to despise it. Trolls are funny like that.

Also it helps to just ignore them, rarely have I lashed back except for said person above who didn't have a single post to his name yet was willing to scrutinize every single facet of my story- which went back to his thesis "Why should I care?" which I replied "Why did you click the link? O_o". I find that most non-constructive criticism is relevant to aspects which are the readers problem and have been set LONG before they ever wandered into your story so I don't take it personally.

-J

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