Hey I have a question since you write reader fic so well.
Where is the line between what you would consider an OC and a reader insert? I feel like I have a hard time writing reader fic (I actually write a lot better never post it because I can't tell if what I'm doing is a reader fic with backstory or if it crosses the line between reader and OC, and people get super upset - but understandably so - but it's hard to tag things if I don't know.) because that line can seem kind of blurry.
From your perspective, what's the difference? Is it more in how a fic is written, putting the actions on the reader, or does just giving the reader character a nick name and some backstory count? It's hard to tell the kind is crossed between a reader and OC fic for me, as long as the immersion is good and we get to see some thought process of the reader and their POV to jump into.
I hope this explains it well, I'm genuinely not sure of where the boundary is and it seems to be wildly different for everyone without any kind of consistent or clear cut answer. I wrote a one shot reader fic at one point, never mentioned a name or anything beyond some backstory that had to happen to give context (basically type of training reader had, some knowledge of surroundings characters, very basic) and got some pretty bad flames (old fandom term, yes I know) for it, of people claiming the reader was an OC even though I was trying to be very careful of making it a reader fic.
It kinda seems like anyone can claim a reader fic is an OC fic? Especially if you write a reader that is good at something or is more than just the blank slate Mary or Gary Stu. It's so frustrating. I genuinely love both OC and reader fic, but I feel like the only thing that really differentiates them is the 'you did this, experienced this' vs 'she or he did this, experienced this' in a lot of cases. But couldn't you also claim the opposite? That a reader fic is an OC fic, because you are having to give a reader some story and character and background, even if it is a reader fic, you still have to build the reader as some one.
Anyway, I know this is long, but if you have time to maybe give me some clarification or answers I sure would appreciate the hell out of it. Your reader fics are very good and I've really enjoyed them. My favorite is Bread but I think that might be a lot of of people's favorite.
Much love and have a good day!
A. Anon I’m sorry you went through that. If people are straight up actually coming into your fic to comment they need to be gracious as fuck if they’re going to attempt to correct you or make a criticism of any sort. And-
B. I’M SO GLAD YOU ASKED HOMIE.
Real talk : you can make the claim that, since you’re putting words in the reader’s mouth and actions in their hands, that they’re OCs of a sort. This is especially true of longer form fics where you’re going to wind up giving the reader a bit of a personality despite your best efforts, because they’ll develop one over the course of you writing them. There’s really no avoiding this. When it comes to readers with a stated appearance and/or backstory, the lines get even more muddy. It’s a bit of wiggly line to begin with, and sadly as the years have passed the terms “Reader insert”, “self insert”, “Author insert” and “OC” have only gotten all the more ubiquitous.
That said : The biggest indicator of a work being a reader fic verses the other three choices, is the POV it’s written from.
With few exceptions, reader-inserts are going to be written in the 2nd person POV. That means using “you/yours” instead of “They/theirs” or “I/Mine” when you’re speaking to your audience. You are directly addressing your audience from your side of the screen.
Now, changing the POV occasionally does happen, and I’ve seen a handful of Reader fics written from 1st or third person pov, (not my thing at all, I still just feel like someone’s bragging to me in person about fucking my blobro but w/e) but since those fics DID NOT give the reader a name, stated appearance or backstory, they still eked by under the definition of reader insert.
Make no mistake, if your reader has a name, backstory, and stated appearance, and is written in ANY TENSE OTHER THAN 2ND PERSON (you/yours) then it is no longer a reader-insert. You have left no room for the reader to actually insert themselves. By definition, that is an OC or author/self insert, regardless of your intent.
A good analogy for this is to think about the fic a little bit like a game with a character creation function in it, like Skyrim. A huge part of the fun of that game is being able to make your character look any way you want them to. That’s not the whole point of the game per say, but enough that if you removed it, it simply wouldn’t be the same anymore. There’s a big difference between playing through with your character, and playing through with the default character the game handed you.
The beauty part of reader-insert fics is that they’re kind of like all-access playgrounds. You, the person writing it, get to enjoy it the same as your audience does. You and your audience have the option to directly place yourselves in the drivers seat, put your OC there, or even some arbitrary fictional character from another series(cough Twilight Sparkle cough who said that). ANYONE is invited to play in the reader-insert playground.
By contrast, an OC or author/self-insert’s playground is designed for their character, and their character alone. You, the person reading it, are not allowed on the playground. You have to watch them play with your blorbo from the bench with the other sad moms getting crunked off of box chardonnay in a brown paper bag at 3 PM
tl;dr Reader-inserts are a cake you bring to share with everyone. OC and author/self inserts are a cake you baked for yourself that some people might watch you eat through a window sometimes.
EDIT : forgot to mention. Ladies, gentlemen and enbysmen: If a fic is labeled reader insert, is written in the 2nd person POV, and you don't agree with the actions/words of the reader insert, feel like the author put too much personality in, or otherwise feel as though you cannot project onto them - That's not the author's fault. And that doesn't mean it's not a reader insert. That just means you're not able to project onto this reader character specifically.
Just because you personally cannot use the reader as intended doesn't make it an OC or Author/self insert. Not all of them are going to hit the mark for you. These people are out here making this shit for free. Click the back button and move on.