Star Signs - Writing Help

TIP TWO - Canon Related OCs

Canon Related OCs

Ah, yes, the canon related OC. The terrible, dreaded canon related OC. Legend has it that if your OC is even distantly related to a canon character, you will be doomed to a cliche plot for all of eternity.

At which point you'll get super popular because, turns out, things are "cliche" for a reason. People like them.

And I can see why. One of the biggest issues that seems to come up with including OCs is how to make them fit. How do they get into the story? Having them related to a character makes that answer simple — they're with their relative.

Honestly? I really like canon related OCs (which I will now be calling "Sibling OCs" since that's what a majority are and the name's shorter.) Especially in shows like The Umbrella Academy, where a big part of the story is centered around family relationships. They give a chance to explore canon families from different perspectives, or to see families that don't often get attention.

In my opinion, some versions Sibling OCs are over used, but they are definitely under explored and under utilized as a concept.

Which might have you asking: how do you make a Sibling OC interesting?

Know The Trends

This, I think, is one of the most important steps. Actually know what's over used. If you read enough sibling fics like me, you'll start to see trends. The same relationships, the same sibling/love interest combo. To bring back The Umbrella Academy, it's so bad in that fandom that I can probably describe half of the OCs' relationship with their family in one go.

The best way to start is to know this trend. Know what is over used, and why, so you know what to do differently.

To give some examples of what I'm talking about:

— Hargreeves sibling, except they don't see them as siblings (despite calling Grace "Mom" and often slipping up and calling everyone but their love interest their "brothers" and "sisters.") They hate Luther and Reginald, love Vanya's book (which, of course, is easy for them when all she wrote about them was sun shine and rainbows), are really close with Klaus, Diego, and Ben, and Allison is on thin ice since she's loved as long as she agrees with OC and a vapid idiot if she doesn't

— See what I meant about being able describing a majority of The Umbrella Academy OCs?

— Dustin's sister with Steve as the love interest, usually with some babysitter reference

— Alina's sister with the Darkling as a love interest, where the author basically writes Darklina fanfiction with their OC

— Will's sister, who spends the night at Mike's house when he's taken (which logically makes no sense. It's a school night, first of all, and second, if OC is allowed to stay why isn't Will?)

— Mike's sister with El as the love interest, where they basically just write Mileven but wlw 

Integration

Second biggest point — how will you integrate them into the family?