hello! so new writer here, I'm just starting out with writing x readers, but I'm having a bit of trouble. I saw in a previous post that when you are reading a fic marked x reader, you want it to actually be an x reader, and (as much as possible) not be an oc from the writer. And I agreed with that and want to try to make my reader self-insertable for everyone. the only problem is that I'm not sure how much I can have set opinions for them and have things up in the air. You've written a lot, so I was hoping you'd have some advice? If not that's totally fine. I appreciate you and your writing 🫶 hope you're having a good day!!
hmm well what i Specifically meant by that was when you have someone who has a fic that is written in the first person or third person with a named character who has a physical description, but they've tagged it as "reader-insert". to me, that's not a reader insert. that's an oc, and your fic is incorrectly tagged.
to me, a reader-insert fic is very specifically a fic in the second person without a name or physical description as much as possible. which isn't to say that oc fics are bad!! i write them myself in other fandoms. i just... don't really like reading oc fics for fandoms where my brain has decided This Is A Reader-Insert Fandom. Nod Nod.
so there is a delicate art to writing second-person fics with the intent of having it function as a reader-insert. the balance between giving enough flavor to have it be compelling vs so much that a reader can't comfortably put themselves in an insert-chan's shoes is actually a real passion of mine!! it's one that is kind of... something that you eventually get a Feel for after writing them for a while.
that said, here are some little tricks and whatnot so hopefully you can shortcut things a little. also, obvious warning since you're asking desceros dot com for writing advice, but this is a long post:
first, embrace the fact that you're going to exclude some people. no matter how bland and empty you make an insert-chan, you're going to exclude someone. and that's okay! if you try to cast Too wide a net, you're going to have a boring, bland insert-chan, and that's not going to make Anyone happy. still, there are a few things that i keep in mind since i want to appeal a broader audience:
1. try to be mindful of race coding, and avoid it. very specifically, describing hair (length, texture, care, etc.) and blushing or general discoloration of skin besides bruising are both something i avoid. i don't describe someone's night routine beyond, say, taking a shower, putting on lotion, and brushing teeth. this allows for black readers to more easily read your fics, which is something i'm particularly passionate about since i've had friends who feel excluded from the reader-insert community because they're black and that really makes me sad.
2. avoid describing favorite things, clothing, etc. little things that don't matter don't need to be described. does the reader need to know that your character is wearing a green sequin dress? or does it matter that they're wearing a pretty dress? 99 times out of 100, the latter suits the writing just fine and allows for a reader to picture what THEY think is a pretty dress. hell, unless i'm writing something that involves removing clothing, 9 times out of 10 i won't even mention what a reader is wearing, because it doesn't matter, and describing it gets in the way of someone's imagination. same thing with favorite foods, what someone is eating for breakfast. in symphony, viola-chan is famous for a baking cookies--but i don't specify what kind, and i won't. because my favorite cookie is different from someone else's, and the specifics don't matter. what matters is that they taste comforting, and everyone else likes them a lot, too.
3. avoid physical descriptions where possible. as i said before, i typically don't mention hair at all. instead of having someone run their hands through your hair, i have them stroke your nape. same basic touch, but one allows for short-haired readers or curly-haired readers to insert easily, one doesn't. i don't mention an insert-chan's size or height, other than a relative "you're shorter than donnie" or "leo's bicep is so much bigger than yours." i try to avoid weight-coding as much as possible so that fat readers can feel just as welcome as very skinny readers. that stuff just doesn't matter, and so cutting it out broadens how many people can read and feel represented.
4. keep unimportant details vague. for example, in a lot of my fics, the insert-chan has a family, but communication with them isn't mentioned. the status of the family or its makeup isn't important. a lot of writers will tell you to kill them off for convenience sake (which i do sometimes write inserts with dead families), but to me this is just lazy. you can have an insert-chan with a family. but instead of showing their relationship with the family, show how that relationship has shaped the insert-chan's personality. for example, in the latest fic i wrote, infinite singularity, the insert-chan's family is alive and well, but they're distant. not only does this mean, yay, i don't have to define what that family is--but it also allows me to show that piercing-chan avoids pain, emotional as well as physical. now i don't have to say you don't like pain. i can show it. and that always makes for more powerful writing.
so that's how you keep things broad. but there's a flip side to this, which is "how do i make an insert-chan compelling without any details?!" and the answer here is, well, add details!! which, hey, didn't we just say to eliminate details? to which i'd say, yes, Except for the Ones You Need.
1. give your insert-chan something they like to Do. whether this is a hobby or a career, this one has several functions in your story. one, it gives you something on which you can hinge characterization. for example, in my fic electromigration, that insert-chan likes camping. now i can have conversations about it, have an excuse for you to know how to do things camping-related, etc. it propels the plot forward. and two, it gives your insert-chan something interesting, which is the secret to a good character. you don't want to go too overboard on this, since again we don't want to overload the insert-chan with things that aren't helpful, but one, maybe two hobbies, or a job, makes them rounder and makes the fic more enjoyable to read.
2. give your insert-chan a personality dot dot dot carefully. now this one sounds weird. "don't i want to have a blank canvas onto which people can put themselves?" well, kind of, but really, no. that's how you get a bland character that's so boring no one wants to read your fics. and it doesn't even have to be a mild personality! in my fic goldilocks, that insert-chan has a Very strong personaity, such that i've even gotten requests for a chef-chan/reader fic. but because i've stripped away all of the other identifying things, it can still read as an insert-character without being an oc. that said, this is a tricky one. the more personality you give, the more people you alienate. but also, the less personality you give, the less interesting the fic. it's a delicate balance, and one you'll figure out eventually as you write more and read more.
3. give your insert-chan a story. this one is one that is more relevant for longer fics, but is still helpful to keep in mind for shorter fics. what i mean is, okay. you're writing a reader-insert. but for a moment, treat it like an oc. where did they come from? how did they get to new york? what personality arc do you want them to have over your plot? are they going to change, and if so, how? for this, let's look at my fic amaranthine. the history is vague enough that it doesn't impede a reader's imagination, but there are enough details that you Feel like there is a story that was happening before, and you've dropped in at this point to ride along with these people before you leave them to go on their way again. things like being best friends with raph after he found you drunkenly crying on the sidewalk. things like leo having known you and donnie were gonna be a mess when you got together. things like splinter always loving to drink tea with you. these are small details that make the world feel rich, but not so much that it's impossible for a reader to build their own narrative around it.
anyway, these are just some broad tips, and i hope you found them useful!! my main, tldr thing i'd say is just to write. it's going to take practice. writing in general is hard, writing something new is Really hard, writing something new and being picky about how you want it to come out is REALLY REALLY hard. so be kind to yourself, and remember that this is supposed to be fun. don't fret, don't get stressed, just take it cool. maybe write a few that you don't publish, just so you can get the voice under your fingers and take some of the pressure of Oh God People Are Going To Read This off your shoulders. i always do that when i enter a new fandom, and it's soooo helpful.
good luck, and let me know if you have any specific questions! :D
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List of 400+ Kinks & Tropes
Below is an alphabetized and roughly categorized list every major kink, trope, and sex act used in fiction that I can think of (and I can think of quite a few). It certainly doesn’t have everything, but I’ve never found a more comprehensive list.
This list came about because I wanted to create a survey for my friend group so we could figure out exactly what we each like and dislike in our fiction for the purpose of gift fics, exchanges, and reccing. Is it normal to ask your friends how they feel about felching and mpreg and cannibalism? Probably not, but it sure is fun learning new things about each other and it’s good information to have if you want to write a fic for someone!
To make the list easier to navigate I've broken it down into the following sections (note many kinks and tropes could fit in multiple categories but I did my best to group them where I thought they made the most sense):
general sex acts
general sex types and locations
bodily fluids and excretions
body and body modification
clothing
BDSM
pain, torture, and horror
dub-con, non-con, and unhealthy dynamics
alternate universes
misc kinks
misc tropes and genres
Feel free to use this list to create your own surveys or as a reference for writing challenges, drawing inspiration, or whatever you want!
General Sex Acts
anal fingering
anal fisting
anal sex
blowjobs
cunnilingus
deep throating
double penetration
face fucking
face sitting
facials
handjobs
intercrural sex
masturbation
pegging
rimming
scissoring
threesome/multi-partner
toys - dildos
toys - plugs
toys - vibrators
vaginal fingering
vaginal fisting
vaginal sex
69ing
General Sex Types & Locations
angry sex/hatefucking
car sex
casual sex/fuck buddies
distant/distracted sex
drunk sex
gentle sex
mirror sex
phone sex
pool/bathtub sex
public sex
rough sex
safe sex
sex against a wall
sexting
shower sex
sleepy sex
Bodily Fluids & Excretions
bladder desperation
blood
bukkake
creampie
cum play
diapers
drool/drooling
lactation - female
lactation - male
felching
flatulence
menstrual blood
scat
snot/mucus
snowballing (cum swapping)
spit as lube
spitting in mouth
sweat
swallowing blood
swallowing cum
swallowing urine
tears/crying
vomit/vomiting
watersports
Body & Body Modification
anal gaping
anal prolapse
armpits
ass worship
belly/throat bulge
body hair
body worship
breast worship
cock worship
enemas
feeding/stuffing
fingers in mouth
feet
footjob
hair brushing/braiding
hair cutting
hair pulling
hickies
inflation
mpreg
nipple play
piercings - body
piercings - facial
piercings - genital
pregnancy
scars
shaving
tattoos
titty fucking
weight gain
Clothing
boot aesthetics
boot licking
boot stepping
clothed sex
corsets
costumes
crossdressing
formal wear
gloves
high heels
jewelry
latex
leather
lingerie
makeup
military uniforms
slutty clothes
underwear/panties
BDSM
aftercare
anal hooks
bathroom permission
begging
blindfolds
bondage - heavy
bondage - light
brat taming
breathplay
cages
chastity devices
cock rings
cockwarming
collar - dog
collar - choke
collar - prong
collar - shock
collaring - private
collaring - public
consensual non-consent (CNC)
daddy kink
discipline
dom female
dom male
edging
electric stimulation
forced orgasms
free use
fucking machine
gag - ball/bit
gag - medical/dental
gag - ring/spider
gag - phallic
gag - tape
hand feeding
handcuffs
harem
harnesses
hoods
human furniture
humiliation - private
humiliation - public
kink negotiations
kneeling
leashes
master/slave
masks/muzzles
orgasm denial
pet play
punishment
roleplay - adult baby
roleplay - ageplay
roleplay - animal
roleplay - hunter/prey
roleplay - medical
roleplay - teacher/student
role reversal
sadism/masochism
safewords
sensation play
sensory deprivation
shibari/rope art
slave/pet training
sounding
spreader bar
straightjackets
submissive female
submissive male
suspension
temperature play
tickling
traffic light system
Pain, Torture & Horror
amputation
beating
biting
blood as lube
blood loss
bloodplay
body horror
branding
broken bones
bruises
burns
caning
cannibalism
choking
cock & ball torture (CBT)
dislocation
electrocution
eye trauma
fear
figging
fingernail removal
fire play
flaying/skinning
fuckpotato (quad amputee)
genital mutilation
gore
head injury
interrogation
knife play
medical experimentation
mental torture
mouth sewn shut
necrophilia
needles
nipple clamps
nullification/castration
pain - extreme
pain - moderate
pain play
painful sex
poisoning
riding crops
scratching - deep
scratching - light
self-asphyxiation
self-cutting
self-mutilation
slapping - face
slapping - genitals
snuff/murder kink
spanking
starvation
suffocation/asphyxiation
suicidal thoughts
suicide
teeth pulling
tongue trauma/removal
tsumification
vore
waterboarding
waxplay
whipping
wounds - major
wounds - minor
woundfucking
Dub-Con, Non-Con & Unhealthy Dynamics
abuse - child
abuse - emotional
abuse - physical
abuse - verbal
brainwashing
codependency
coercion/blackmail
conditioning
dehumanization
domestic violence
drugging
forced crossdressing
forced enema
forced feeding
forced infantilism
forced masturbation
forced pregnancy
forced servitude
forced verbal feminization
fuck or die
gang rape
gaslighting
grooming/manipulation
hypnotism
issues - addiction
issues - body image
issues - food
issues - mental health
issues - self-esteem
kidnapping/abduction
lima syndrome
mind break
mind control
mutual non-con
non-con bondage
non-con hair cutting
non-con piercing
non-con tattoos
non-con touching
non-con somnophilia
power imbalance
rape with an object
rape victim female
rape victim male
rapist female
rapist male
sex pollen
stockholm syndrome
stuck & fucked/kabeshiri
Alternate Universes
alpha/beta/omega
animal-human hybrids
coffee shop
college
crossover/fusion
dystopian
fantasy/supernatural
gender swap
high school
historical
modern
no powers
pornstar/camstar
prison
royalty
sex worker/hooker
trans character
Misc Kinks
age difference
aphrodisiacs
barebacking
bestiality
breeding/impregnation
claiming/marking
cock milking
competence kink
coming in pants
coming on command
coming untouched
consensual somnophilia
cuddling
degradation
dirty talk
drug use
erotic dancing
exhaustion
fighting/wrestling
first time with partner
food play
frottage/grinding
furry
glory hole
guns/weapons
gunplay
incest
infidelity/cheating
jealousy
lapdances
licking
massages
micro/macrophilia
monsterfucking
multiple orgasms
mummification
object insertion
objectification - female
objectification - male
olfactophilia (scent kink)
open relationships
oral fixation
overstimulation
oviposition
pet names
praise kink
promiscuity
prostitution
public groping
sex tapes
sexual inexperience
shotgunning (sharing smoke)
size difference
size kink
sleep deprivation
sloppy seconds
smoking
spitroasting
stripping
sugar daddy
teasing
tentacles
underage - children
underage - teens
virginity
voyeurism
watching porn
wet dreams
wet & messy fetish
xenophilia
Misc Tropes & Genres
alcoholism
almost getting caught
amnesia
arranged/forced marriage
bad dirty talk
bad sex
bathing/washing
body swap
canon divergence
crack fic
de-aged character
domestic fluff
established relationship
enemies to friends to lovers
enemies with benefits
friends to lovers
friends with benefits
fake/pretend relationships
gender identity fic
getting caught
ghosts/paranormal
hanahaki disease
happy ending
healthy relationships
homophobic language
hurt/comfort
kid/baby fic
knotting
love triangles
magical healing cock
major character death
merpeople
miscommunication
mistaken identity
multiverse
only one bed
pairing - F/F
pairing - M/F
pairing - M/M
pairing - poly
pining - mutual
pining - unrequited
possessive
POV 1st person
POV 2nd person
PTSD
reader insert fic
real person fic (RPF)
religion fic
selfcest
sick fic
slice of life fic
soulmate identifying marks
soulmates
telepathic/empathic bonds
time travel
trapped together
unreliable narrator
unresolved sexual tension
vampires
werewolves
wing fic
zombies
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I do sometimes find it really annoying that most of the things I do right now are At Least tangentially related to a trauma I lived through.
I am living in a university dorm right now, it's a very typical thing to do, but most people return to their family home during the weekends and only really stay in the dorms because they have classes in the week and having to go from their home to the classes, especially the 9 am classes, can be heavy if they live somewhat further away. I stay in my dorm the entire week. For Reasons I don't want to go back to my old home for longer than half a day to drop my laundry and leave with clean clothes, some food and a chat with my mother. I wouldn't feel good doing so anymore, but mentioning that is weird because most people (except internationals because going to a full on other country just for the weekend, every weekend, would be a bit dumb) return to their home (My dorm feels more like home to me right now than my old house did btw).
When I say I stay in my dorm people are somewhat confused, as it on its own already implies that something must not be that good at the familial home for me to not go there for the weekends. By the simple fact I don't go back it's already implied there is something wrong, and it's true, there Is something wrong, but I can't just start explaining the whole thing, it's not really appropriate for most conversations, and I simply don't want to open up about this part of my traumas. So I just have to quickly and very blatantly brush off that fact and the unpleasant implications to continue the conversation without making it awkward and it's so annoying.
Most of my weird trauma responses at least have the added thing that if I don't verbalize them nobody will really notice. I am good at hiding them, I kinda had to, but this dorm situation is such a blatant sign of something Weird (and not the good kind) that I cannot hide since my actions on their own imply a situation already.
I am somewhat good at dealing with all of these issues, brushing off The Problems is a typical part of normal conversations, but it does get frustrating sometimes when I get severely affected by something traumatic, and it's The Only reason that my problem happened, but I cannot talk about it in casual conversations because of how heavy and intense it is. I have to vaguely mention The Horrors (They Are Complex) and move on before I make my conversation partner uncomfortable. It happened when I had to miss a class because of a severe relapse in my mental health, it happens every time I mention I stay in my dorm the weekends, it happens whenever I get too jittery and weird because of stress (I don't even always know Why I am stressed) and I just cannot explain anything about the cause because it's too heavy for most people to hear. (I do understand that fact, it makes sense you're not going to tell classmates casually about the horrific stuff you went through in your personal life, but it fucking gets annoying when it is fully related to a situation and I have to Shut The Fuck Up anyway.)
It's just frustrating to me that I have to deal with all these Weird Things because of trauma, and everyone sees them, but I cannot explain where they come from truthfully because of how much they are. It's in this weird middle state where people See I am weird hurt, but they don't Know why. I do things differently for reasons they can assume are unpleasant, but I cannot ever truly explain everything to them.
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