Original characters don't have to be so-called Mary Sues. In fact, I don't particularly enjoy writing fics that feature too much of canon characters. The reason for this is simple: I don't like to fuck with canon. First, I can't write canon characters as well as the original author did, and I'm not presumptuous enough to try. Second, I don't believe in writing AU and I don't want to screw with continuity of the original story. It's more fun to write original characters anyway.

I am currently working on three projects: Into the West, which is a story that parallel's Stephen King's "The Stand". I'm making good progress on it and have been pumping out a couple thousand words every other day or so. The other one I'm working on is "Highlander: The Phoenix". It's the story of a young girl born to immortality far too early in her life. This story is going along far more slowly than my Stephen King fic is, probably because I'm a little bit more obsessive about it and want it to be perfect.

Also just as a note: If you find anything that I write in your reviews offensive - I sincerely apologize. My goals are to create better writers, not to be a sycophant to make you feel better by telling you what a great writer you are and how I can't wait for your next chapter. I suggest you seriously consider what I wrote to you before you decide to flame me for suggesting something about your story is bad. Nobody is perfect in their writing; not you and not me.