This post is a huge PSA for anyone writing X Reader content
You may not think this post applies to you, but it does.
There is a massive issue with inclusivity and assuming the audience. I have seen and personally experienced, time and time again, that me and many others feel as if we have no place in fandom. This specific part of it has to do with the majority of "x reader" content out there. It is all written for a cisgender (mostly heterosexual) white woman audience.
Now, cis white women getting content made for them is OBVIOUSLY not the issue here. People write for their personal interests, and there is nothing wrong with that. We all know this, and we all enjoy a fun story with our favorite characters centering around us.
The main issue here is the mentioned women not tagging their content properly, refusing to tag their content properly, straight up lying in the tags or not tagging things at all.
Trans men, nonbinary people, trans women, gay men, disabled people, fat people, intersex people and many people of color or non-american readers are constantly left out of fandom space and forgotten entirely. I've seen hundreds of complaints about it, and it needs to be spoken about more. While I'm on specifically talking about the fanfiction part of it, it is a VISIBLE issue in every fandom space you could possibly partake in. I don't even need to explain to you the rampant racism and transphobia in the cosplay community.
And the fix is extremely easy! TAG YOUR THINGS PROPERLY. It is the easiest, simplest form of allyship one could do for the community, and it goes miles. However, a lot of you seem to not understand how to, even if your heart is in the right place.
How to tag your fanfiction for the general audience:
- Specify the gender of the reader. This goes MUCH farther than just what pronouns are used. I've read WAY too many fanfics that tell me it is gender neutral, only to be hit with nicknames like "princess", or to be told the intended reader loves dresses and wears a bra.
- In tags or a prior description, mention every nickname used for the reader and every possibly gendered descriptor. It's really not difficult, and doesn't take too long.
- If necessary, mention what style of clothes the reader is specified to wear. And if this applies as well, specify any highlighted personality traits you gave the reader.
- Specify the body of the reader. This also goes much farther than gender. "Afab" and "amab" don't exactly cut it. Many people are triggered by certain words connected to genitals, so specify what words are used for those as well! Also, if you are trying to write a gender neutral body, PLEASE specify whether it is entirely gender neutral or something is implied. Many say it is gender neutral, and then explain how the reader's body self lubricates, or even has a clitoris. Please do better than that.
- For the love of God, do not automatically feminize the "GN afab" reader you wrote without a warning, and PLEASE MENTION if breasts are even spoken of, let alone used for smut reasons. And do NOT refer to someone's body as having "fem" or "male" genitalia. just say vagina or penis, please.
- Specify what body type you had in mind. Many fat or even slightly chubby individuals need to look for fanfiction that specifically caters to them, because "neutral body reader" writers, tend to not make it neutral. If you have any specifics on whatever you have written for the body mentioned, do tag it!
- Specify what sort of skin tone or hair texture is mentioned, if at all. Many POC complain that they read neutral fiction just to find straight hair, pale skin, light eyes, and blushing faces to be mentioned. If any color of the body is mentioned at all, or anything is implied, do say so! This also can go for specific things you may not think about, like how long it takes hair to dry, how easy it is to brush, hairstyles and other things of the sort.
It may seem like a bit of a list, but this is really the LEAST you can do for your community. We are consistently forgotten and ignored anywhere we go, and the simple things like this truly mean a lot.
- If there is an implied location, or anything to imply a place of origin, it's best to be on the safe side and mention that if it feels important.
- Please tag if you put the reader through, or mention a past traumatic event. Casually putting the reader character through things like an abusive ex, abusive parents, bad home or work life, or something like a car accident can be highly triggering. tag your scenes thoroughly! This also applies to putting the reader insert through something like sexist comments, unwanted touching of any kind, and similarly negative situations.
I cannot tell you the amount of times I've turned to fanfiction as an outlet and an escape, as many others have, just to be jumpscared by my favorite characters misgendering me. It's truly a miserable experience knowing no place is actually welcoming to me, or in the very least accommodating for people who aren't like them. This post is NOT meant to shame or send harassment to those who are forgetful, but ignorance is never a good thing to uphold. No one is asking you to write for an audience you don't want to, we just want to KNOW who you are writing for. Assuming an entire space is all one demographic is never, ever a good thing.
If you need help writing for a demographic you don't fully understand, just ask people who are a part of it how they would! Look at how other writers write and tag their content, and listen to anyone if they have necessary critiques. I wish you all happy writing! :]
Reblogs are highly appreciated, as this message needs to be spread as far as possible!
I dunno who needs to hear this. But because of his tics. Toby canonically bites. And HARD. It's why he wears the muzzle. Do whatever with that information. Just felt it was important to share.
Anyone else hate when there's like aesthetic photos on a fic meant to be "girly" and it just gives age play...like the stuffed animals, little nightgowns, like I understand adults wear and own stuff like that, but just like...maybe pick different photos where the person in the pictures actually looks like an adult...or is at least dressed like one.
I also just hate those photos in general but only when they have people in them, especially when they're white. And I'm saying that as a white girl, I can't imagine how annoyed it can make a person of color feel, especially since it's not even an issue for me and still bothers me. It just seems tasteless honestly. Like I know and will acknowledge it's not that big of a deal, it is just a personal pick for me, but only in those 2 scenarios, I don't mind when it's a person of color cuz that means it's most likely made for them to read so I just go and find another fic.
I just hate physical descriptions in fics in general unless the AN or whatever says it's for POC specifically so it will have specific details, because again I'll just find something else, but I also HATE when y/n just acts like a fucking baby. "You pout" no. I get annoyed, but I don't pout like a baby, tf. It's such a common thing and recently I watched John wick so naturally I went to read some fics and it's so prominent there. Like John wick is this big protective daddy and y/n is this fragile petite BABY. And they make John call her pet names that you would in fact call a child along with treat her like a child...the low-key age play in nauseating wether it's intentional or not. Grow a backbone like honestly.
I'm not saying y/n needs to be rough and tough or an assassin (cuz honestly I don't think John wick would get with an assassin) BUT make her a normal human being please. Stop with the age play, stop with the misogynistic trope or stereotype that if you're with a strong man you gotta act like a little porcelain doll. ALSO STOP SAYING PETITE ITS ACTUALLY FUCKING ANNOYING. SAYING AS A SKINNY GIRL. "your petite hand" I'll reach through the screen and rip your hair out so you have to get a hair implant, be so fucking for real. If it's not for everyone then be specific or make an OC.
Wanna know my leas favorite thing about fanfictions? When a universe is based around a time where behavior in the modern day era would OBVIOUSLY not cut it during their time. Hear me out. I understand having the YN or MC, fight for their power right? Or even hey you want to add your own flair to it? I understand that full heartedly. But having it to where they could just speak to anyone in the same way they would in the modern day era? At least make their be "consequences" because not everyone agreed for certain behaviors. Or even stop making the MC or Y/N modern in general, they way they behave. How they act. Because it throws it off when you realize that wait, this doesn't match up with the other characters.
For example: I was reading a mononoke fic right? The MC who is a woman, walked out in the middle of the night and waved to a drunk man to leave her alone.
Okay, I'm not mad you made the man leave her alone. I'm dissatisfied you let her walk out at night. T^T Mononoke takes place around 1603–1867 and 1868–1912...
Mmm yeah.... Just with the times alone, it's not only extremely dangerous for a woman to walk out around at night, but just for them in general. A time where brothel's were extremely popular and men were looking to marry a woman for any given reason.
Okay, there are some exceptions like maybe she's a konoich, or maybe she's a demon? But niope. Just a regular towns girl.
Hiii!!! Paan here to tell you guys that Route Locked: You's first part is offically posted!
Please, make sure to read the devlogs as it warns you as to why the game is so short so far! Have fun and if you're interested in it further, why not add it to your collection? Or even support the patreon or join the discord? Ciao!~
Game Link:
Have you ever wanted to see through the eyes of your yandere?
Let's see what direction this goes in when I post my visual novel idea!
Game Description:
Route Locked: You reimagines the idea of obsessive love by shifting the perspective. Instead of following the story from the viewpoint of the love interest, the player steps directly into the mind of the yandere—the one who watches, plans, and decides what “love” should look like.
Unlike traditional dating sims where players choose between multiple romantic routes, this story focuses on a single love interest. There are no alternatives, no branching romances—only one person who matters. The twist is that this outcome isn’t natural; it’s something the player actively enforces. Through a series of choices, the player shapes how the relationship unfolds, deciding how far they are willing to go to ensure that this person ends up with them.
Disclaimer: My name is Percy, I am an artist as well as a story writer. I plan on creating my own upcoming project that will either become a webtoom comic or a visual novel. I am not the best at coding but I am going to try regardless of what I am not and am good at. Currently I have no money and I am hoping this will be one way of spreading my vision throughout others. One day I hope to hire others to help with this project that way I can pay for help. But, in the meantime. If you are willing to help for free that would be amazing! But I don't expect anyone too!
If you are willing to help without pay or for a portfolio:
1. Looking for coders (specifically those who are familiar with using the program Ren'Py)
2. Animators. I'm sloppy with them myself, a lot of the programs are unfamiliar to me. If you are willing to animate frames for art pieces in return that would be amazing!
3. Background artists. I plan for this project to be huge. Now, that being said, I am not the best at backgrounds. My backgrounds include; solid colors or real pictures. If you know how to make backgrounds. That would be awesome!
4. I don't care if you're a beginner artist!!! I would LOOOOVE to place your oc's in the game as side characters or even background characters!! Gosh I would LOVE TO DO THAT!
izzy806
germansingergirl
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