A Fine Line: Tips for Writing Self-Insertion

In the world of online fiction, much like fanfiction, self-insertion has a tendency to get a bad reputation. At first glance, a good majority of self-insertion stories can come across as simply a rabid fan-girl writing out her fantasies, and there are indeed a good chunk of self-insertion stories that fall into that category, but there is more to this type of fiction than meets the eye. Writing self-insertion can serve as a means of self-discovery, as long as it is done properly.

This tutorial outlines some ways to keep your self-insert from turning into the stereotypical Mary-Sue.

Staying True to Reality

Though it may be tempting to give yourself the looks or the body that you’ve always wanted (after all, it is your story), that would not be true self-insertion. One of the main aspects in self-insertion is staying true to who you are, flaws and all. Once you begin to tweak things, the character becomes less of who you really are and more of who you wish you were, which is one of the things that gives self-insertion such a bad name and pulls you into Mary-Sue territory.

No one wants to read about a perfect character, regardless of whether they’re a self-insert or an original character. It’s incredibly boring to read about a character who always does the right thing, always gets what they want, and is the absolute epitome of morality. Some of the things that flesh a character out and make them feel real to the reader are their quirks and imperfections. Being able to accept and embrace your own flaws can help aid in both character development of your self-insert and conflict and plot development of the story itself. For example, I’m aware of the fact that I’m ridiculously impatient and have serious commitment issues, and those character flaws often come into play in my own self-insertion stories.

No one is perfect, and as humans, our complexities are what make us individuals. As a self-insertion character, complexities will help readers be able to relate to your character and that connection will help them become involved and invested in the actual plot of the story.

Staying True to the Character

Once you’ve established yourself as a character and have developed that character in your story, stick to the characterization that you’ve established. If your self-insert is quiet and shy, it’s unlikely that they’re going to audition for the school’s talent show, pull off a great performance, and knock everyone’s socks off. This may work in Disney Channel films and shows, but it isn’t very realistic.

Also, once you’ve established them, stick to your character’s means. If your character is a starving freelance photographer living in a shoddy apartment and eating only Ramen noodles, it’s unlikely that they’re going to be able to afford countless Coach purses and other designer digs. Glamorizing your self-insert acts as another red flag that allows readers minds to skip directly to the Mary-Sue label.

Just like in other forms of fiction, it’s important to stick to the characterization you’ve developed in self-insertion.

Remember to Treat Your Self-Insert as a Character

Despite the inner Narcissus in us all, putting your self-insert on a pedestal is the easiest way to cross the line into turning your self-insert into a Mary-Sue. Even if your self-insert is the main character, the entire universe shouldn’t revolve around them. Keep in mind any minor characters that you’ve decided to include and any conflict that you’ve planned out for the story.

Just like in life, nothing worth having comes easily, the same holds true for self-insertion. Having everything go your character’s way is also another thing that will cause your self-insert to be labeled as a Mary-Sue. You must treat your self-insert the same way that you would treat any other character by having them face obstacles and deal with their own shortcomings.

In short, developing a self-insert is not much different from developing any other original or fandom character. You just have to avoid giving your self-insert any special treatment, flesh them out, and treat them the same as any other character.