#reader characters

[latent-thoughts]

Writer Rant incoming...

'Reader' characters in fics are not supposed to be clones of the actual readers reading the fics. It's a feat that's impossible to achieve, we can't please everyone. Stop harassing writers to cater to your needs or whims, stop demanding that the reader character be similar to you--some rando on the internet that the writer doesn't even know, stop expecting the reader character to behave or respond exactly like you.

A reader character is, at the end of the day, a character. Writers have to create them, give them personality, likes and dislikes, sexuality, kinks, etc. They're not like anyone else out there. Expecting them to be like you is just...stupid.

The purpose of Reader inserts is not to expect the reader character to fit your personality/looks, it is to insert yourself into the fictional world of that story through that reader character. Use your imagination FFS.

So unless a writer is writing something request based, don't pressure them into writing the reader characters in a specific way. Respect their choices in the story. Don't like, don't read. Move on.

[sofreddie]

Constructive Criticism: Ask

Constructive Criticism Exercise

For the constructive criticism exercise: nothing will make me stop reading a fic faster if I feel like I’m not physically included in the readers description. I’m not a fan of seeing white reader faces in aesthetics/headers when xReader fics are intended to be diverse and inclusive (if writers use white women as reader faces, those works should be tagged as white!reader). The same goes for describing hair textures, skin tones, etc.

I know that this can be a very sensitive topic for a lot of people. But I’m going to start by saying I appreciate this Ask.

I identify as a white female. When I write, I try to make my Reader character vague in their description so that it is more inclusive. But I am reading posts, examining my writing, and trying to find ways to improve.

Please feel free to offer ways of improvement in these areas. (Constructive Criticism 😉)

Furthermore, as a white female, I have a couple questions regarding your Ask. I hope it will help to educate myself and others:

Is it appropriate for me (and others) to write POC fics or fics outside of our own ‘identifying group’?

What are good/appropriate descriptive words to describe different POCs?

What are ways that fic writers like myself can write fics to support/include other groups of people?

What types of ‘Reader’ Characters do you wish you saw more of?

I think the only dumb questions are the ones we don’t ask. It’s important to know and admit when you don’t know something. And it’s important to know that you are allowed to ask. But ALWAYS be respectful. And be open to learning, to being educated.

[sentientcave]

11 and 12 for the ask game? Specifically, about your reader characters!

-Dragon

Hi @dragonnarrative-writes - Thanks for asking! This is a fun one

11: Which character do you have the most in common with?

I'd probably have to say Ripper (Rugby!)- He's definitely more confident than me, but he's a bit of a wish-fulfillment character, like what if I had figured my shit out earlier (Like in grade 10 when I dressed up as a lumberjack for halloween, beard and all, and had the best time because everyone had to do a double take to recognize me. Very gender affirming, but I didn't really know what that was at the time) and not been so afraid of being myself about it kind of guy. We have the same tendency to deflect when we're unsure, and a fixation on like, not ruining the current good for potential better (especially when it comes to important friendships). Ripper's like, me but more. He's also more athletic than me, but I have scoliosis so I feel that's a valid excuse lmao.

12: Which character do you have the least in common with?

Probably Sweetpea (Heavy Weighs the Crown) or Doll (From Retirement Party)! I would have lost my temper about either of their situations like 6 times already. Would have been causing scenes left and right. I definitely do have things in common with them still (I don't think any of my readers are like, totally divorced from me) but I'm just like, way more volatile than either of them and much more likely to get silly with it. Sweetpea, for one, is like, defined by her patience and ability to play her cards close to her chest (two things I struggle with). I'm also just getting to know Doll though so we might find we have more in common once she's not terrified for her life every single second. I do know we share some hobbies, at the very least!

[wardenparker]

All of your reader characters are delightful! If you’re comfortable answering, do you think there’s one that turned out most like you?

There is some of me in every single reader character in every single story that @absurdthirst and I write, but I really think that the two most like me are Sweetheart from Killer Writing and Frankie's girl from The Alewife. Somewhere between those two readers is the real me, I think.

Although, that being said, it's little Nora in You're So Vain that got saddled with my chronic illness. Crohn's Disease has reshaped my life in terrible and unshakable ways, and it was so important to me to show a chronically ill character living a true life with the support around them that so many of us have to go without.

Thank you so much for reading!