OCs are cool

I think its really cool how personal OCs can get for some people. 

OCs to a lot of people, my self included, are not merely OCs. They are extensions of ourselves and our personalities, even if we don't realize it. You might not even think twice about making your OC the way they are, you might just write whatever sounds cool, but have you ever thought about why?

My girlfriend can psychologically strip me bare just by looking at my OCs. She'll notice things hidden in their stories and character arcs that reflect me and my experiences. She'll notice the way a character's backstory will mirror the way I was raised, or how another OC is currently reflecting how I feel in the modern day.

This is why I'm very careful when criticizing OCs, especially those written by younger kids. Yes, "mary sue" OCs can be irritating, but they're still an OC. They're a vessel for the author to connect to a version of themselves that they otherwise never entertain. I hate it when I see "cringe" OCs getting absolutely flamed on the internet. OCs aren't just characters for a lot of people. They are an extension of the author in many ways. I know this isn't always the case, but I do know that it happens, and I personally think all OCs have the potential to be amazing characters that others will absolutely fall in love with.

thanks for coming to my little ted talk/rant.