Check out these articles on Mary Sues and why we hate them, by .
Part one can be found here [link] and part two here [link] . Part three is apparently on its way and eagerly awaited. (And if you don't know what a Mary Sue is, you'll understand perfectly after reading.)

The best part is that the author doesn't just rip Mary Sues to shreds, entertaining though that is. She also adds constructive criticism and helpful advice to help unwitting Sue-ers improve their craft. In other words, she's far more generous than I'd be.

BE YE WARNED. These articles quote extensively from a real live Harry Potter Suefic in which the main character's name is "Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way". And THIS IS NOT A JOKE. Needless to say I was too afraid to even glance at the fic itself, lest my eyeballs explode and my intestines erupt out of my mouth like that guy in Metalocalypse. (Which, technically, your own intestines couldn't come out of your mouth without turning themselves inside out, but that's as may be.)

Edit: Links should work now. I am of the dumb.

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