Hi! Long-time lurker on your blog, love your writing!
I was hoping i could ask you a question about fic etiquette? Is there a hard line between what makes a reader-main-character and what makes an oc? Like I see some people saying that its just about specific physical characteristics & having a name instead of (y/n), and others saying its not a reader insert if the reader character has any background or personality that isn't directly plot-relevant. Maybe I'm over thinking this, idk. But I don't want to write a reader fic then be told I should actually be tagging it as oc.
Thank you for sharing your writing!
One of the primary rules of writing fanfiction, that so many people forget, both writer and reader, is that you can’t please everyone, but that’s okay. The only person you should be writing for is yourself.
And I think the line you're trying to find in this question is tied very closely to the lack of inclusivity within the x reader community, which is simultaneously a very important but very sensitive topic. There are a lot of young and/or new writers in this space that are so excited to see themselves inserted into worlds that they love, amongst characters they admire, that they’ll go ahead and start posting fics, and throwing on a bunch of tags in the hopes of finding an audience, without stopping to think about who that audience is.
If you write a reader character that is very specifically young, white, feminine and petite, and don’t make that apparent to potential readers before they dive in, even if you don’t give the reader a name, everyone who doesn’t fit that mould is going to feel tricked and overlooked when they’re 5 paragraphs in and suddenly they’re being told that they’re a petite, white, 18 year old, girly-girl.
Does that mean you can’t write your reader that way? No. But you should be forthcoming about it. That means specify in your description, tags, or somewhere before the story, what the reader character is like, so people can make an informed decision about whether they’re going to read your fic or not.
Moreover, a lot of the people who will complain that your fics don't adhere to what they want are coming from a place of entitlement. You don't have to curb your writing to please anyone. If a person wants to see more of the things they like/want in the fandom, it is up to them to find ways to create it (by requesting/commissioning people or by making it themselves—not bullying other people to satisfy their desires).
Sometimes I write my reader characters very self-indulgently, sometimes I write them as blank slates, but more often than not, they’re somewhere in the middle.
All of that said, here are some personal rules I’ve formed over my time writing reader inserts, that I try to adhere to when I want to write a blank-slate reader that might help: [There is a tldr at the end.]
No name.
Stephanie is an OC. Jack is an OC. Rose, Aiesha, AJ, these are all OCs. Most people reading reader inserts want to see themselves inserted into the story you’re making. The moment the other characters start referring to them by a name that isn’t their own, they’re no longer immersed. They’re turned off and unlikely to want to keep reading.
There are maybe two exceptions to this rule:
1. ‘Reader’ is related to an existing character in the universe. But only give them a surname, not a first name, and make sure you specify this information.
2. ‘Reader’ has an alias, usually pertaining to being a superhero/villain/etc. Again, specify this. [e.g. Write ‘Reader is a speedster character known as Dash' in your summary or warnings section.] But even then, use the alias sparingly; this isn’t a loophole to sneak a name in.
The pink controversy.
Not everyone turns pink/red when they blush. If your reader is embarrassed or giddy, try expressing that in another way. [Your face burned or darkened. You couldn’t make eye contact. You wanted the floor to open up and swallow you. You couldn’t help but giggle under his gaze]
Bright pink lipstick and glittery gloss doesn’t suit everyone; hell, not everyone wears make-up in the first place. Realistically, is a scene where your reader looks in the mirror to top up their baby-pink blush and check out their silvery-blue eyeshadow driving the plot of your story? Sure, sometimes it does, but in that case, is it necessary to be so specific about the colour and style?
Not everyone has pink nipples. Not everyone has a pink pussy or cockhead. Again, you don’t need to be that specific. Find other ways to describe these areas. [Are their nipples hard from the cold or being touched? Is their cunt wet? Are they overly sensitive, maybe sore from repeated fucking?]
Further, not everyone has fleshy, pink-toned, milky skin. We know this for a fact, yet so many people use these descriptions and proceed to act clueless when they get called out for it.
You don’t have to write a POC!Reader if you don’t want to, you don’t even have to write a reader whose race is ambiguous, but if you don’t state that your reader character is very obviously white as a sheet and characterised by western social norms, don’t act surprised when non-white people don’t find the character relatable.
Don’t touch my fucking hair.
I do tend to write a fair bit of hair-pulling because I’m into it, but I always tag it.
But if you’re aiming for peak relatability from as many people as possible, then you might be excluding the following people who don’t want to suspend their disbelief;
People with very short or no hair.
People who wear wigs or extensions.
People with hair textures or styles that are not easy to pull in the way described.
People who don’t like having their hair pulled.
Additionally, if you do choose to include things like this, which you absolutely can, remember that saying ‘he threaded his fingers in your 24-inch pin-straight blonde hair and yanked it back until you saw stars’ is way less inclusive than just saying ‘he threaded his fingers in your hair and yanked it back until you saw stars’.
The former of those two is going to break the immersion of anyone who doesn’t have 24-inch pin-straight blonde hair.
Is this relevant?
Basically, the pink make-up point again.
Is it necessary to be so specific? Just step back and think critically about what you’re describing.
For example, which is better: ‘You’re in a shitty mood after your long day flipping burgers at the Krusty Krab’
or ‘You’re in a shitty mood after a long day at work’?
If any part of the plot hinges on the reader working at the Krusty Krab, then probably the first.
If this fact hasn’t been mentioned before and will never come up ever again, maybe the second is more appropriate, and won’t put off anyone who doesn’t work in fast food.
AFAB or AMAB might not mean what you think they do.
This is a mistake I’ve made, and one that I still see a lot of writers getting caught out with.
If your reader character is a fem-presenting, cis woman who gets fucked in the vagina by someone, say that they’re fem-presenting and that they have a vagina.
Because just saying ‘AFAB!Reader’ isn’t inaccurate. Burly, masc-presenting men can be AFAB, and they might not mind reading about a fem-presenting reader, but in all honesty, that’s probably not what they’re looking for.
Is this relevant? 2: Electric boogaloo, personality edition:
As mentioned in your ask, if the reader character has any background or personality that isn't directly plot-relevant, are they still a reader character?
This is another you can’t always make everyone happy moment.
Sometimes you wanna throw in traits and exposition just for the whimsy of it. Maybe your character working at the Krusty Krab isn’t relevant, but it is fun, and why shouldn’t YOU include some whimsy in YOUR story?
Plus, removing any and all personality from your reader character that doesn’t further the plot can sometimes leave you with a really dull, empty character.
In my opinion, yes, so long as the personality and history of the character don’t put them in a rigid box that excludes your entire audience, they can still be a reader insert, they just might not be a blank-slate character. You have to be okay with that, and depending on the nature of the personality or background you've given them, you have to be open about it.
It’s your story and your call to make at the end of the day.
Overall, though, there’s a lot of nuances; most of these shouldn’t be hard rules. You’ll never make everyone happy, and honestly, you won’t enjoy writing if you try to put too many constraints on yourself and your creativity.
TLDR: Write what makes you happy, and be transparent with your potential readers.
It makes me very happy to think that you trust me, and my writing, but realistically, I am not the decider of what makes a 'true' reader insert; nobody is.
So take from this what works for you, but if I can impart the very bare-bone basics of what I think constitutes a true 'reader insert' as opposed to an OC, by most people's standards:
Absolutely NO: Name, hair, or eye colour.
Avoid, OR inform your audiences about prior: Height, weight, race, ethnicity, gender identity, and other things of that ilk.
Hope this helps, now go forth and write whatever makes your heart happy! 💖💖💖
I've heard people say it's not a proper Reader Character story if you write in first person (like I usually do). I disagree, I personally am not a fan of second person writing because it often feels like someone else is telling me about things that supposedly happened to me that I don't remember. First person lets me just slide into position as the POV character much more readily. 🤷♀️
I'm gonna say this, and it's gonna spark a defensive reaction within some of you, but I need you to listen to me and let it sit for a moment before I explain further. It is not a personal stain against your morality.
From both my experience reading works by white writers, and my experience running this blog, I have come to the conclusion that many white writers are too used to relying on Whiteness being understood as the default experience of both your characters and your readers, and it makes you weaker writers with weaker technique overall.
One thought I find myself having often is "well, what do you do for your white characters?" I've grown to understand... Many of you don't 😅 you don't actually understand or apply character design techniques because it is Assumed™ that the reader understands- that the reader has the white gaze. It doesn't need to be Said that your character is white, and will do familiar white things. It is Assumed™ that white characters fall under the Magicking It Away rules automatically, while Black characters have to have reality applied to them first. You don't actually have to... Well, write.
The brilliant Toni Morrison explained this in an interview of hers (here's another; watch her doc!!!) that there's this assumption that one's readers are white. So when she would purposefully- and there's a difference!- write stories for the Black gaze, that certain things didn't have to be explained because we Understood, it would get frustrating for white readers. They felt left out, unappealed to, hurt.
And yet, that's standard fare- and everyone's not writing such specific stories like Toni! To be "fair", we did understand y'all. We had to. But those same techniques, both in writing and in media consumption, I believe are atrophied from white viewers ("I don't watch this because I don't relate!" Or projection of ones own identity into Black characters to be "relatable") because it's not Socially Required for you to apply them.
It's why I'm always telling y'all to study Black creations about Black people. Writing is a craft, and a craft has to be honed!! You have to practice!! I had a whole lesson on this and I feel like everyone glossed over it lmao. I promise it'll make your writing of EVERY character better overall. 🙏🏾
I received an ARC of The Deadliest Game, by Daniela A. Mera, this review reflects my honest opinions.
I actually shouted when I realized I was at the end of this book, and am (impatiently) waiting for the next. The plot is moving faster than in the first book, and the stakes are higher and more real! Where in the first book we had the possibility of consequences the Deadliest Game follows through, and Carmen's response to those consequences has made her a more compelling main character. There are some plot points that I wish had been explored a little more thoroughly, but over all I'm greatly enjoying this series!
I received an ARC of The Gilded Survivor by Daniela A. Mera in exchange for an honest review, and I really enjoyed it! I love the characters, particularly Magda - Carmen's best friend, and I cannot wait to learn more about how the blood magic works alongside Carmen. I loved the use of Spanish alongside English through the book; I felt more immersed in the culture than I think I would have otherwise!
I will say, there are certain elements of the plot that felt a bit predictable to me, but that's not uncommon for me, and even with the predictable elements I found it really enjoyable!
Reviewing Back in a Spell: The Witches of Thistle Grove 3
I became obsessed with the Witches of Thistle Grove when I found From Bad to Cursed at my local library. Lana Harper’s style adapts beautifully to the voice of the main character of each book, and I quickly became enamored with the Avramovs, followed shortly by the Harlows and the Thorns. And what do these witch families have in common? None of them are particularly fond of the Blackmoores. And to understand why, you just have to hear their family motto; “by wit or by might, we take what is ours”, which might have worked in ancient times, or if you have any amount of respect for your fellows. But the Blackmoore family has been taking more and more, at the expense of the other magical families, since the town of Thistle Grove was founded. So when I discovered that Back in a Spell followed Nina Blackmoore, the family lawyer, I was hesitant. Could I fall in love with her story as I had with Emmy Harlow and Isidora Avramov?
My hesitance was short lived however, and I was instantly transported back to Thistle Grove. Nina’s genuine love of her hometown mirrored that of other characters I have come to love, and it was obvious she was not the villain we’ve come to expect of Blackmoores. With the support of her best friend, her older brother, and the most unlikely potential partner ever, she explores her personal power, her emotions, and the lines between her duty to herself, her family, and the town. This latest installment of The Witches of Thistle Grove explores breaking generational curses, processing trauma, and taking charge of your life.
The Sunbearer Trials has been described as Percy Jackson meets Hunger Games. While this is true, the plot can be compared to the two, that description does not do Aiden Thomas' writing justice. As the first book in a duology, The Sunbearer Trials is expected to introduce us to a brand new world; we do not yet know its characters, its civilizations, its myths. There's a lot of pressure on a first book to make us feel things; if it fails, there will be no second book, and the story will go untold. In one page I was captivated by Teo, a Jade semidiós. In a chapter I was transported to his world. And when I closed the book on the final chapter, I was truly annoyed to be returned to my own.
One of the marks of a great writer is the suspension of disbelief; a reader should wholeheartedly believe that, in the context of the story, what they are reading is possible. Thomas' success in this regard is nothing short of awe inspiring. Reading this book, I felt as though I could take one step in our world and the next into Reino del Sol. The story takes you from one side of their nation to the other, describing each city the semidioses visit in such exquisite detail. Everything about their culture, from the natural and manmade landscapes, to the people themselves are a technicolor masterpiece in my mind's eye!
Thomas brings light to underrepresented communities, drawing the reader into a beautiful, vibrant world. Their characters are complex; even those who have been preparing for the trials their whole lives are still children. They're fighting for their lives when they should be home in their parents arms, and they know it too. The world building is solid, the mythology is captivating and believable, and I am left aching for the sequel.
Go to https://www.aiden-thomas.com/the-sunbearer-trials to meet the competitors! Those trading cards are stunning!
This month, I'm taste testing the Fall Faves box from David'sTea! The flavors are Apple Cider, Blueberry Pancake, Cardamom French Toast, English Toffee, Maple Syrup Oolong, Mocha Chai, Peanut Butter Cup, Pumpkin Chai, Pumpkin Creme Brulee, Salted Caramel Oolong, Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait, and Sweet Potato Pie.
So far, I've had:
Apple Cider - exactly what you'd want from hot apple cider, without being cloyingly sweet.
English Toffee - tasty, once sweetened, but not my favorite.
Peanut Butter Cup - disappointing; extremely mild, little fragrance, and sugar did very little to help it. Don't know if I did something wrong when making it, but I can't imagine what it could be.
Salted Caramel Oolong - absolutely amazing! Rich and sweet!
I'm having a great time trying them; it's so nice to have more teas in my life, and you can watch the taste tests on tiktok, @ givemeanexcuseblog!
Check out my content on Instagram @ givemeanexcuse and tiktok @ givemeanexcuseblog (for readability, that’s give me an excuse and give me an excuse blog).
The world insists that you cannot judge a book by its cover. I strongly disagree. The gold swirling pattern and grim skull on the purple cover called to me from halfway across the library, and without even looking at the title I knew I would be adding it to my book club polling list. As I picked it up, the quote on the front; "Let me be clear, I never intended to raise my brother from his grave..." ensured that I would read it whether anyone else in my club wanted to or not. I just knew that cover had to be protecting something beautiful and gritty and possibly even painful in all the right ways. And opening the book to discover a beautiful map of the world nearly elicited a scream of joy from me - all fantasy books should include a map! The first book of The Bone Witch trilogy left me aching for the instant the library would reopen in the morning so I could continue the story. I must know what happens to Tea in a mere two years to cause her to make such a drastic decision...
After discovering her unusually powerful necromancy skills, Tea is confronted with two options; leave her home to be trained at the Willows, or be sought by the terrorist organization known as the Faceless. Rin Chupeco's The Bone Witch alternates between segments from the perspective of a bard who has sought the exiled bone witch at the end of the world, and chapters of Tea telling her story. Her chapters chronicle her journey from idealistic, powerless young girl to a young woman discovering unprecedented power that would one day leave her on a gray beach with the bones of ancient monsters as her only company. Tea's training at the Willows is harsh and varied - she is expected to have working knowledge of all eight kingdoms, to develop her musical and dancing talents, and to fight. Through this training and her experiences with other asha, she is quickly confronted by the mortality of her profession. Over the years she watches her mentor, Lady Mykaela, work herself to the point of illness as the only dark asha left. Tea and her sister asha face threats from all sides. Under particular threat are the Dark asha whose rare talents are instrumental to everyone's safety, but are feared by most. The eight kingdoms are on the precipice of a war that could destroy everyone she cares for, and Tea knows she cannot sit idly by and watch her new family sacrifice themselves needlessly.
Rin Chupeco artfully drew me into her world with the seventeen year old Tea, who's darkness and cynicism are a stark juxtaposition beside the chapters depicting her more hopeful youth. The balancing act of presenting information in two periods of a character's life is a precarious one, but it is a skill Chupeco has mastered, allowing details and twists to develop throughout the story. As someone who's become familiar with the usual twists and tropes, I still found myself pleasantly surprised even on the last page! While the story could stand on its own, it was clearly well planned to be part of a series, and I lamented the fact that I finished reading it at 4 am and could not go straight to the library for the second and third books. If you pick up The Bone Witch, do yourself a favor and preemptively grab the whole series.
To be blunt, my brain is broken. It fights against things it knows I’ll like just as hard as it fights against things I hate. I’ve lost all my hobbies and interests to the demons in my brain, but I think I’ve found a way around that. For some reason, if I can convince myself that someone expects something of me, I can make my brain let me do it. Enter, social media. If I want to do something, but I can’t convince myself to do it, I’ll just make it be content.
So what can you, the strangers theoretically reading this, expect to see from me? I’m not 100% sure. Taste tests, book reviews, fashion posts, life updates, maybe even some diys and crafts!
