I would not deny Stargate's issues with female characters, and I definitely feel that the writer's don't understand what the concept of a Mary Sue is (which on SG-1 Sam skirted the line with a lot. She was better about it on SGA, but maybe that was because she was in the background a lot). Still, I love my show, and I'm always willing to give them the benefit of the doubt because hey, they're trying. (And they fill my life with squee!)
The Mary Sue fear is like this double-edged sword. I mean, I like the fact that people are aware that characters need flaws. However there's this knee-jerk reaction to any non-canon female character automatically not being "good enough".
I've been trying a new approach at least when I start out writing a new female OC if I'm having trouble with her personality. I'll either take some traits of a male character who has a similar role/function in the story and try capturing their voice a little. I've been finding it helps me get past the initial Mary Sue nervousness and they seem to find their own voice quickly enough. It's kind of a quick and dirty trick, because it's not truly drafting them from the ground up. I'm not sure it makes them any more "real" than a Mary Sue, but I at least get something written, which is my main goal in the rough draft.
I also grew up liking the "boys" books and toys much more fun than the girly stuff they kept trying to throw at me. American Girl books? No, thanks, just pass me the "Castle in the Attic", Ninja Turtles, and other adventure fare.
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The Mary Sue fear is like this double-edged sword. I mean, I like the fact that people are aware that characters need flaws. However there's this knee-jerk reaction to any non-canon female character automatically not being "good enough".
I've been trying a new approach at least when I start out writing a new female OC if I'm having trouble with her personality. I'll either take some traits of a male character who has a similar role/function in the story and try capturing their voice a little. I've been finding it helps me get past the initial Mary Sue nervousness and they seem to find their own voice quickly enough. It's kind of a quick and dirty trick, because it's not truly drafting them from the ground up. I'm not sure it makes them any more "real" than a Mary Sue, but I at least get something written, which is my main goal in the rough draft.
I also grew up liking the "boys" books and toys much more fun than the girly stuff they kept trying to throw at me. American Girl books? No, thanks, just pass me the "Castle in the Attic", Ninja Turtles, and other adventure fare.