Tazzy: Okay, it obviously depends how exactly you’re going about trying to present this character. I’m assuming you’re planning to make them the main character of the story, as often I’ve found that if a character is essential to the plot but is notthe main character, they’re far less likely to be bashed for being a Sue. (Yes, you can get Mary-Sues that aren’tthe main character, to those who are wondering! c: )

You have to consider what it is about someone being prophesied that makes them a Sue. After all, it could be prophesied that someone completely bland and average unintentionally does something that tips off the apocalypse (or something). Would that make them a Sue? Not really, not in the broadest sense.

The problem is that people who tend to be reborn/incarnations/prophesied have certain other-worldly qualities that are the reasons for their Sue-ness. However, it’s perfectly possible to write a story of someone who’s like that but isn’t a Sue- let’s take the Belgariad, for example. If you’re not aware of the basic storyline, the main character, Garion, was prophesied to destroy the “dark god” who is planning to dominate the world and so forth. Garion has exceptional talent as a sorcerer, and is also granted an item than only people in his direct family line (and one god) can use which has the power to destroy continents, if he deems it so. Sounds a bit like a Sue already, right?

Wrong.

Taking the following quote from the Wikipedia article from him, ‘he has a tendency to act or speak without thinking, which can lead him into trouble. He is also ruled largely by his emotions… when annoyed he has a fearsome temper. He is also highly stubborn and proud, often refusing to admit he’s wrong even when he knows he is.’As well as this, his skill as a sorcerer is initially outweighed by the fact he is stunningly ignorant of how to use his power, partially due to the fact he’s uneducated.

You need to give your characters flaws.You can’t make them all powerful from the get go; whether or not they’re the one person in the universe who wields the strength to do whatever they wish, you can’t really give them access to it right at the beginning of your story. You need to make your character real; you need to let them learn how to use their strengths, let them discover what it is they need to do and how they’re going to go about doing.

Honestly, they’re just like regular characters in that sense! You keep them from being Mary Sues by giving them flaws as well as their strengths. I’m sure you’ve heard all of the suggestions before, so I shan’t draw out a huge post with the ways to prevent a character from being a Sue. :)

On the note of them being labelled a sue for being destined to save the world: this is coming from a society where a huge portion thinks that Bella Swan, Miss Bland-y McBlanderson, is the best thing to emerge from the literary world in the past century. Go figure.

Aaaaanyway, if you need further suggestions, feel free to message us! <3