Mary Sues and you: OCxCanon relationships

Disclaimer: Since this is a free country, you are welcome to make any OCxCanon pairing you want, it's not like you're going to get arrested. Creating stories and stuff like what I advise against here is fun, certainly. But you'll find, I think, that people will take your OC and your story more seriously (and people won't make fun of you behind your back.. Or flame you to your face)

This is going to be harsh. You might be offended. I'm already not a fan of OCxCanon, and the ones I like a far and few between.

Also, I'm not claiming to be some sort of OC making guru. I'm most definitely not, but a friend asked me to do this for him so might as well post it here~ Also this is pretty much Bleach centered since that's the fandom we're both involved in. Aaanyway~

Things to avoid like the plague if you want your OCxCanon/ canon family members to be respected:

Some traits of an OCxCanon relationship are borderline suck, but it's made okay by other aspects of the relationship. But this list here is for things that you should always avoid if you want your OCxCanon to not be shit.

1. Creating an OC specifically to pair with your favorite canon characters.

Why is this bad?-- Because, when you create a character solely to wed them off to whatever canon, they end up flat and boring. All you're going to want to do is make them the perfect girl for Byakuya or the perfect guy for Soi-Fong, and so you'll base their personality only on what you think your preferred canon would want. And in turn, they become one-dimensional. And who wants to read a story about a one-dimensional bore? (read: Twilight fans do.)

And another point of this: IF YOU GET WEIRD AND JEALOUS ABOUT SEEING THAT CANON CHARACTER WITH ANOTHER OC OR CANON… RE-EVALUATE YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THAT CHARACTER. That is getting way too involved with an imaginary character and you need to calm down and step away. It's one thing to see one of your own Ocs paired with people you don't want them to be with, because they are your property. But a canon belongs to that author, and if they end up in an end-game relationship with another canon I don't want you to freak out and cry about it or something…

How to avoid this: Alright, so you're dead set on pairing your OC with Canon-X. Fine, but first, make your OC as if X doesn't exist FIRST. Make their personality and powers and history without considering X in the mix until your OC is fleshed out with all their flaws and strengths. This way, you can avoid making a vapid, boring Bella Swan character.


2. Having every part of your OC's life revolve around your chosen canon. (This includes OC siblings)

Why is this bad?-- Because that's not realistic. And I see it with almost every Toshiro pairing. They meet as kids and grow up together, go to the academy together, train together, live together, get into the same squad together… and sometimes even their freakin zanpakuto are similar..and blah blah. If you  took Toshiro away, what are you left with? Nothing.  Boredom. If everything in your OC's life and history revolves around the canon, that's frankly really boring… and really unrealistic. Especially when you drastically alter a canon's history to shove your OC into it. Real people (and this is what you want to treat your OC as) do not spend every single part of their lives with their partner. How boring would that be?

And another note before I move on… The gotei 13 is a military organization. I know not many of you have much experience in the matter, but here's the thing: People are not allowed to be in the same unit if they are dating. Why? Because then they will be accused of favoritism and leniency. Use your noggins, kids. If your OC is paired wit Toshiro, per say, and s/he is in squad ten, realistically everyone else in the squad would hate them and lose respect for Toshiro. Especially if your OC ranks up unnaturally fast. I dearly hope you see my point here.

How to avoid this: Give your poor OC their own life! Not everything has to revolve around the canon character. It's easy to fall into it because making your own history takes effort. But seriously, separate your OC from the canon for stuff. Cause sometimes it's a bit obsessive and creepy.


3. Making your OC BETTER at what your chosen canon is supposed to be the best at…. And in the same vein don't make them able to beat up the canon's.. well canon 'love interests'

Why is this bad?-- This one might need an explanation. I'm talking an OC with Yoruichi who's faster than her, or someone who is a younger captain than Toshiro or a Yamamoto 'brother' with a better fire zanpakuto than Yamamoto… or a long-lost Kukichi sibling that Byakuya loves more than Rukia.. Or rules. As for the second part, don't make a pair to Toshiro who hates Momo for no reason.. Or for Yoruichi who can (and does) easily defeat Soi-Fon.

Now why is this? Because it's unrealistic. Your OC, first of all, shouldn't be better than the proclaimed 'best', 'youngest' or 'oldest' in the canon. That's incredibly arrogant of you, first of all, to bend the canon like that, and it's very Mary-Sue. Second of all, if your character is faster than Yoruich, she's not going to like them. She's going to see them as a rival, a threat. Not someone she would want to bang. Your OC would make them feel inadequate, and that's no good in a relationship!

Also, if your OC hates on the canon's other potential love interest (for example, if your LI is Toshiro and they bag on Momo or Rangiku…) Toshiro isn't going to like them. He'd most likely be pissed your OC is messing with his friends.

How to avoid this: Honestly, just don't do it. Yamamoto's 'zan is strong enough, and Toshiro is barely a respectable captain already. Just don't do this. Seriously. If you already have, CHANGE THAT SHIT. Otherwise, just be aware people are making fun of you behind your back. And might actually flame you (or already have)

4. Long lost siblings or children that aren't questioned (or making siblings/kids for characters who already have established families).

Why is this bad?-- Because you are altering the story in a very drastic manner. I'm gonna pull some Naruto here because I see it too much: Long-lost Uchiha siblings. This totally undermines Sasuke's tragic situation and ruins the canon story. Or for Bleach, adding another Kurosaki sibling. Why would you do that?? It makes no sense and totally ruins the dynamic of Ichi's family. Or, and I see this all too often, children of Yamamoto or Unohana. You'd think they would have mentioned having kids (or for starters, a lover) by now.. And deep down, you know you chose them because they're the strongest.

Now, as for siblings of characters with no established family… keep it in character. Grimmjow is not going to be all huggy and affectionate  with a random person who shows up and claims to be his sister. He's probably going to try and kill them.

How to avoid this: First off, don't make family for peeps with established family. Don't make your OC a child or related to Yamamoto just because he's the captain commander and strong. He doesn't even have a wife! He'd have no time to raise a child! And… make your families make sense. Common sense is an uncommon virtue~

5. Making your chosen canon OOC **MOST IMPORTANT**.

Why is this bad?-- … This should be self-explanatory. If your OC makes Toshiro instantly like her/him, or Grimmjow is super sweet or protective towards them (which I see in almost every Grimmjow pairing) , THIS IS SHIT. ABSOLUTE SHIT. BAD. Scrap that pairing immediately. Nothing will make people hate you more than screwing with their favorite character (Besides the obligatory thirteen-year-old fan girls you always will get).
Look, you can write this kind of relationship well. I've seen it done. But I see way more of OOC shit like Toshiro getting suicidal over your OC's loss (hello totally against personality) or Byakuya breaking the rules for an OC or Grimmjow going soft and good for an OC's love. Come on people. Use your noggin

In the same vein, don't create an AU where your preferred canon is the same in looks and powers but not personality so they fit better with your OC… make another damn OC at this point. That's just being lazy/obsessive.


How to avoid this: Research your canon!!!! Would Toshiro really cut himself over your OC? No, he'd probably become a freak workaholic shut-in. In the same vein, would he actually like your OC right off the bat? No… read his past bro. Would Aizen drop all his plans for a girl? No, he's a magnificent bastard! (See TV Tropes for that one~) Do you see where I'm going with this?

And that's what you want to avoid… Again, you are free to do what you want, but don't expect anyone but two or three people with similar tastes to like them.