In this episode, Lani (@copper_dust) and Jo (@pebblysand) talk about original characters in fanfiction. They discuss how they come up with them, how they name them, the purpose they can serve in fanfiction, and touch upon the somewhat controversial subject of self-inserts and "Mary Sues." They also talk about the differences between fanfiction and original fiction when it comes to writing characters, and about the different techniques writers can use to craft well-rounded protagonists.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• random name generator
• the sorting hat chats personality "test"

Our recommendations for this month are:

• My Dad Wrote a Porno - for the lolz and how not to write porn
• British Scandal - for bits of British history, great storytelling, and food for the brain

You can find Jo and Lani online at:

• Lani (@copper-dust): tumblr ; AO3
• Jo (@pebblysand): tumblr ; AO3

If you have any feedback, suggestions, or if you want to be featured on the podcast, please feel free to let us know by PM-ing us, or sending us an ask!