What do you do when realize your character is a Mary Sue?

[Koiyuki]

Personally, I always trying to do what I can to give them more 'human' traits in order contrast and give them more depth. Nothing is more boring to the reader than a character that never grows up or matures  

[Drathi]

The part about having a character who never truly developing that appeals to me is the fact that I've tried experimenting ways to make it seem like a character is developing, but then go, "Nah, in the end he's stuck in his ways."

Not every character HAS to go through some transformation. I like making protagonists that aren't very likeable at times.  

[Music For Hamsters]

I go back and make the mary-sueness more subtle and then add in a couple of plot twists and what not to bring the character back down to earth without damaging the persona I originally had in mind or making it unrealistic. SO basically what

Koiyuki said ;D  

[angelmage99]

When I start a character, even a minor one, I ask myself what will be the purpose of that character and is it necessary for me to create that character. Some times I want a character because I want to write about a certain personality type. Try to dash those.

Second I think about what are the basic needs in order for the character to fit into the story and how those personality, history, and qualities. Often that is all you really need to create a story. Though it's good to start with just that then have the character grow from there.  

[Exarielle BlackLaw]

When I find a Mary-Sue character in my midst, I usually try to rewrite their personality, but still keep some of their less Sue-like traits. Either that, or I shrink their part to that of an extremely minor character and then... -insert drumroll here- ... I kill them off.  

[Gurotsuki]

I'll redo the character's sheet.  

[vampiremistress702]

Depends. I've been known to completely re-write a piece because of sue characters, sometimes I just kill them off and most of the time I go back and re-write pars of the story to get rid of the sue-ness.  

[Heimdal the Ancient]

You know...sometimes a story just calls for a 'Mary Sue'. It's what you do with the character that counts.

Personally, I feel this chick nailed it on the head: http://thepunchlineismachismo.com/archives/589

So, even if you feel it's a "Sue", look at the story, and look at their significance before you flip out or anything.  

[kerushii-sushi]

It depends on the skill level of the writer and the story itself really. Mary sues can work in certain situations.  

[Starrymite]

Kill them off (:  

[A-Q-Kabuto]

Editing.

a character is only as good as you can write them: a mary-sue is just an excuse for poor/unpolished writing.

Take any character out of the context of their story and break them down, chances are they would be called a mary sue.... Or so I've come to believe.  

[VenusRain]

Mary Sues are only Mary Sues if they don't work within the context of the story.

Seriously, if they work, aren't rediculous within the context of the setting, and other characters react to their actions like a normal person within the setting would, they aren't a Sue.

Now, as for me? I mostly just see why they're Sueish and try to fix that.