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~Welcome To The Fandom~

• FC VS. OC: All fan characters are original characters, but not all original characters are fan characters. An original character (OC) is basically just the most basic way of saying that this is a character you made. A fan character is also a character that you made, but it’s a title specified to fandoms specifically. OCs don’t need to be in a fandom but you can't call your character a fan character if it’s not in a fandom. I will very rarely use the term FC myself because my OCs, while a lot of them ARE fan characters, they have their own books too and I would just generally prefer calling them OCs. I just felt the need to explain the difference here between OC and FC in case you didn't know.
• FANDOM: The fandom comes before the character. Generally speaking, it wouldn’t be good to have a non-fandom OC and then throw them into the canon universe just like that. They might not work in it. It may involve some hefty changes trying to force it in. That is why, if you want to make a FC, know your fandom well. Know the rules of the canon and its characters inside and out so you can make a character not only appropriate in the universe but that also serves some reason to exist in it. The biggest enemy here is ignorance and not knowing the fandom before you decide to jump in, because then you could make a contradicting character or end up with a Mary sue. So get to know the canon well.
• CLICHES: Know what's cliché in the fandom for other fan characters and avoid it like the plague. Whether it’s a name or a personality trait, even if it’s a cool thing, don’t use it! You don't want your character to be just like everyone else’s. Because then, can you really say that it is your character? Something to think about.
• EVERY FANDOM: For some reason I can't understand, some people feel the need to make a FC for EVERY fandom they’re in, which is completely unnecessary. Most people, if they are into fandoms, they have tons. And not every canon would actually benefit from FCs. Other reasons against this is it could get confusing to other people and the more fandoms your FCs are spread out into will make them seem less valid as believable and natural FCs.
• HEADCANONS: Everyone has their own headcanonns/headcanons and if you are going to nod to a specific headcanon in your story make sure you provide the proper explanation and how it correlates with your FC. Know that popular fan headcanons (otherwise known as fanon) are not usually anything more than theories. It’s a grey area. Accepting fanon as canon in your story will usually warrant an explanation on how you see the particular headcanon.
• TIMELINE: Don’t break canon to put your character in. Observe the canon timeline and then write your continuation of it. Your FC wasn't there since the beginning of canon and everyone knows it. But everything after canon ends is fair game! Develop your FC in the timeline of the story you create so that you can show how they become integrated with the world.
• CONNECTION: Just like your character should not be pointlessly inserted, they should not BE the story either. Weave them into the universe and chip away at who they are over time to reveal them to people. Generally speaking I would avoid making your FC the main character of your fanfiction because it’s so easy to become a sue that way. It can be done, but if you’re going to do it then do it well. Your character should have some kind of connection to the can universe viable and relatable/possible in it, but not anything that would take away from the glory of the other characters. Having your OC have “the same power” as a character who’s abilities are significantly special in whatever way is not only lame but also very sue-ish. I’m not saying that your character needs a power, but whatever they have, it should be their own thing. Maybe bring out a background idea of something that wasn't expounded on in canon. Think through carefully your FC’s relationships to other canon characters and how they go about their lives in this world. Keep them connected.
• OOC/MARY SUE: Mary sues are in every fandom! The most obvious ones though are those who will make the other characters act OOC around them and are just pointlessly tossed into the canon world. Avoid these things at all costs! A good FC should be treated as part of the world in whatever story but should also be worthy of it.
• PAIRING: A common specific Mary sue thing is for a character to be paired with a character that you yourself adore, especially if he is already paired with someone in canon. This is a turn off for most people right away. So, to validate your character being paired with a canon character, don't just thoughtlessly do it!! Add a history behind it but most importantly, make sure your character is the type of person who is actually right for this canon character. Maybe there was no canon character that was right to be paired with this canon character. Maybe the show ended on a bad pairing or one that wasn't going to last. There are plenty of reasons to validate your OC being paired with canon so just make sure you use them and make the pairing natural and believable. Don’t just pair your OC with canon because you like them!!
• FANDOM HOPPERS: If you are a fandom hopper and want to make a FC, I would definitely advise against it with the reason being that its wasted energy. Its wasted time because if you're going to leave that fandom you're going to abandon a great character you put a lot of effort into. I would say don’t be a fandom hopper in the first place but I know some people can't help it. That's just my take on it.
• ALTERNATE UNIVERSE: Basically this is the only excuse to break the silent rules of FCs a bit, but don't be obnoxious. Stating that you are writing an AU from canon is plausible but it may not appeal to most of the fandom. Make sure that there are still recognizable identifiable echoes of canon around though, or else your AU can easily start to sound like an original story instead of fanfiction. I like to stray away from AUs for this reason personally, because I find it easier and better to continue on writing in the main universe of the canon.
• RECEPTION: There are four types of people: those who make great FCs and hate Mary sues, those who make Mary sue FCs they think are great, those who enjoy FCs but don't or can't make them themselves, and those who hate FCs in general. Of those four, guess which is the rarest? If you thought the first one, correct! Most people go with popular belief and ideals, regardless of what that may be. People who are not into the worlds of fandoms tend to loop all FCs as the same and either hate them or like all of them and can't tell the good from the bad. Know your fandom and learn how FCs are viewed in it. If you want to get people to like your character then make sure you have a FC worthy of their attention so that you can hopefully turn a negative view of FCs around.