Self-Insert Fanfic.

[The Silent Orator]

So, I've been working on a self-insert lately. I've always been convinced of the saying that "everything can be done good if it is done right", so with that, I have come up with the daunting and daring task of writing a self-insert fanfic.

There are a few problems though. I'm rather afraid of falling into the same pitfalls that other self-insert writers do. I don't want my character being a Marty Stu or my character being a focal point of the story.

Also, there's the problem of the fact that the way I act IRL would make my character SEEM like a Marty Stu character. IE, IRL I do hit on a lot of girls, flirt a lot... and a lot of girls tend to fall for me (that's been proven rather... painfully... especially during my senior year in high school).

So, how can I carry over my personality traits over to a self-insert fic, retain everything, and STILL not make myself seem like "OMG, FANBOY! FLAME HIM, FLAME HIM, FLAME HIM!"



All I'm really asking for is advice on what you think makes a self-insert fic bad, what you think the limits are in terms of how involved I can be in the plot.

EDIT: Also, I probably should mention the fact that this will be an adaptation of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. For all of those of you who have played this game, I come in right around the time the Greil Mercenaries find Princess Elincia.

EDIT #2: First chapter is up here.

[Giant Brother]

Well, there are some hints and tips that I can give you for self-inserts.

For one, don't worry much. The idea of Mary-Sues (or whatever the guy version's called, there's so many different terms) and self-inserts being one and the same is a common misconception. You're probably gonna get flamers regardless once they see an original character.

However, that doesn't mean that the two are very different from eachother. So, I'll try to go over a few things.

For one, making a character based on yourself is all well and good, but remember the canon character relations and personality. This is typically where most self-inserts go rotten. For example, just because you like a character, doesn't mean they'll like you. FOr example, going off Path of Radiance, I actually really like Shinon, but in a real life situation, I doubt I would hit it off with someone like that. So remember, not everyone's gonna like you. That's even more important for pairings and relationships. Personality always comes into play. (E.g. Soft, shy, Ninian from FE7 shouldn't forget all about Eliwood and turn into sex-crazed maniac just by looking at your character. In fact, I'd say any pairing involving a character already with someone according to canon should be avoided. It only causes trouble.)

Next, make sure you're not all powerful. It's okay to have a strong character, but make sure he's not invincible, or way better than everyone else. So, some girl from modern day L.A. shouldn't be able to whip Albel Nox's ass in swordplay without so much as dirtying her hands.

Those are the only key points I can remember right now, I'll put up more if I remember them.

[The Silent Orator]

Yeah, I don't have everyone liking me. In fact, right now, Shinon hates my guts and Soren is very suspicious of me. Paranoid little freak... Ike is trying to be nice and helpful, and Titania is just going along with what Ike wants.

Elincia is the idiot she was in PoR. I'm trying my best to stick as much to canon as possible, but there WILL be a plot twist in the third part (the adaptation of Radiant Dawn... second part will be a shortfic of what my character did in the three years between the games...)



Also, would it be bad to be a dark mage, considering there weren't any in PoR. Dark magic had always been my favorite, and there ARE dark mages in Radiant Dawn.

[Giant Brother]

...Really? I didn't know they had them in Radiant Dawn. Yeah, I haven't played that one yet. And I have seen your fic, it's pretty good. For the most part, you've stuck to canon quite well. (Hell, you even had the part where Shinon had looted the bodies. I'm sure that wasn't meant for humour, but I chuckled.)

But then, how CAN you get along with Shinon? The only person I know that is on a friendly basis at all is Rolf, surprisingly.

Edit: Oh yeah, and in answer to your question, I would recommend, if you do make him a dark mage, add the dark magic as his promoted form. So, like, instead of having some of the bonuses of a Sniper, he can use that. Y'know, like a how a Ranger compensates from lacking some of a Sniper's bonuses by being mounted and using swords as well as bows. Plus, I'd only say for him to use Dark Magic if, and only if, it's canonically acceptable. If they have a good canon reason for why they don't have dark magic in PoR, then don't have him with it in the PoR storyline.

[The Silent Orator]

I don't know about canon-wise why they don't have it. I mean, you DO get a dark sage in Radiant Dawn (second playthrough). There's nothing in canon that says why they didn't have them in PoR.

Yeah, I'm sorta taking away the bows thing. I'm going to just plain out suck with bows in the game. Sorta like how mist sucks with normal swords in PoR. Eventually, my character's just gonna discard the bows altogether. Only reason I have the bows now is... well, my character doesn't know he has magic yet, and out of all the weapons in the game, I'd probably do best with a bow.

I'm still tossed up whether to be a mage/sage (with anima and staves) or a shaman/druid (with dark and staves). I could always do some research on Radiant Dawn's dark sage that you can get on your second playthrough and see what weapons that character uses. I personally like the idea of "able to use all magic types, but has horrible speed" that someone once suggested (sorta like... you can use all types like Athos, but I couldn't double-hit... in fact, it'd be very likely that the enemy would always double-hit me... game-mechanic-wise).

[Giant Brother]

Well, this is just my personal opinion, but I think your character should keep the bow. After doing that lucky shot, it's almost expected. (Y'know, working with it until that lucky shot isn't made by luck.)

But that's just me. You do what you feel works, I'm sure it'll turn out fine. But may I recomend not making him an all-magic type? Even if he is slow... It's always sort of rubbed me the wrong way.

But like I said before, just me, do what you feel is right.

...Shutting up now.

[The Silent Orator]

Lol, you may hate this one character from Radiant Dawn then... she uses a LOT of the magic types.

Anyway, I'm thinking of just a Druid... Dark/Staves or Dark/Anima.