Subject: More metatextual madness
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Posted on: 2014-05-06 13:45:00 UTC

Reading a bit more, as far as Lothlorien, there's a a lot of fun metatextual stuff going on in the background of the story.

Your inner writer wants to create a fully-rounded, complex, three-dimensional character while Neveil just wants to be a Sue inserting herself into the movie for the sake of it. This is a sort-of reversed mirror-image of what happens in-universe, with Sauron creating what was supposed to be a one-dimensional projection of his will, a mockery of a real person, only for someone (presumably Eru?) granting her a soul and giving her the freedom to develop as a character.

This first comes to a head on Caradhras during that flashback to the Rivendell stables. It's a nice, non-movie scene to showcase the more complex non-Sueish aspects of the Neviel's character. And she responds by breaking the fourth wall and attacking you for including a non-Sue scene.

However, you're not going to let a Sue win that easily. You turn your attention to Boromir. While Neveil has been mechanically going through the motions of lusting after Legolas because that's what Sue's are supposed to do, your inner writer seems to have a genuine soft spot for Boromir.

Up to now, this affection has shown itself by trying to hide the Sue's Designated Misogynist Bastard!Boromir behind large yellow Post-It notes saying, "AN: Not a misogynist but a tragic hero, honest!" But now you get the radical idea of actually writing him like a tragic hero instead of a misogynist. By the time the Fellowship arrives at the gates of Moria, Boromir is getting back to something like his in-character canon self.

How does the Sue respond to his developing and reacting in ways she hadn't expected? She literally punches him in the face!

So, I'm actually enjoying this story, but for all the wrong reasons. It's trying so hard to redeem the Sue, and she's trying so hard to resist it. I want to keep on reading and see which one wins.

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