6 Tips on Writing An Actually Inclusive Reader Insert:
1. Do a ctrl + f search of the colors red and pink. If these colors are being used to describe the reader in any way, delete it.
2. Instead of "blushing", use "goosebumps", "shivers", "avoiding eye contact", etc. It still conveys the same thing, and you can get more creative than just using "blushing" 10,000 times.
3. Don't mention being pale or becoming pale (like, seriously, this is just a given). If you want to talk about the reader looking sick or dying, use "ghastly" or "sunken eyes", etc. Again, this is a great opportunity to be more creative in your language as well as inclusive
4. For body-inclusivity, don't talk about the reader sharing clothes with someone. I personally would not fit into anything that Nancy Wheeler owns, so yeah, let's just not do this
5. Don't mention hair. A lot of us can't just wash our hair and move on with our day. Don't get me started on "running their fingers across their hair". Just refrain from descriptions of styling, washing, and touching the reader's hair.
6. Don't put pictures of pretty, white girls for "aesthetics". It honestly just deters readers, and it's just not inclusive in the slightest
That's it, that's basically all you need to do to be inclusive. I'll admit, as a lighter skin POC writer, some of these did slip my mind when I used to write, but what's important is actually listening to readers and encouraging inclusivity in your writing.
If anyone has any other suggestions, feel free to put your own.
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