I like how fanfiction culture decided to drop all pretense about self-insert oc characters hooking up with canon characters and just leaned into “character x reader” stories. These were just non-existent in my early FF days, we’re talking 15+ years ago, and they’re everywhere now. I appreciate it, chase your bliss dears
GOD I WISH I HAD THAT SPINE OF STEEL
WHY DID YOU LEAVE OUT THE BEST PART, THIS IS A LEGEND
Of course the monster-/robotfuckers are the pioneers of this trend.😉
But seriously, why does fandom look down on self insert fics? I’ve seen fan fiction treated like the ultimate sacred form of (female) self expression but as soon as a fic is narrated in second person it’s like no, we don’t do THAT because THAT is a disgrace to all serious fic writers.
I think it’s the purest and most honest form of fiction because yes, of course I want to be the one who has adventures and love interests and special powers. I can admit that, can YOU? YOU don’t even need to be a Mary Sue to want that.
Aren’t fictional characters (often) supposed to be identified with? If YOU’re already identifying why not take the last step and imagine (a version) of YOURSELF interacting with the characters YOU love?
I think the disdain for self insert fics stems either from limiting and restricting YOURSELF or from a strange kind of jealousy. After all it must be hard to read one half of YOUR OTP paired with *reader*. THAT can’t be right!!!! They aren’t supposed to be with YOU. But in all seriousness, YOU already know what’s that called. That’s right: good old hypocrisy.
A second person narration works fine in most cases. A skilled writer can shape YOU into a unique and distinct character. It’s like role playing but only in your mind.
That said second person narration is definitely not my favourite point of view but I prefer it to a first person narrator which is, let’s be honest, just another technique to enable YOU to insert YOURSELF into a story. First person is used most often in YA. It takes skill to write in first person and at the same time creating an interesting character in whose head YOU feel comfortable. Unfortunately more often than not YOU will end up within the confining mind of a boring, self-absorbed teen drama queen (or any other shitty character depending on genre). No, thanks.
I’ll take the freedom of a self-indulgent YOU any time over failed attempts of making the feelings of a lifeless character more immediate by forcing me, the reader, into a too small mind via first person narrative.
I’m gonna self insert myself now into one of my headcannons about some OCs that live in my mind. 😉
Pain mingled with dizziness as you slowly rose from the depths of
unconsciousness. You heard voices, but couldn’t make out any words
at first. It was all a confusing mixture of sounds and smells – like
fire and ash. Your head was still spinning as you opened your eyes
and tried to remember what happened. The last thing you saw was a
dark hole opening in mid-air right before you, that started pulling
you into it, as you desperately tried to stay on the ground, or hold
onto anything, with not much success.
With a grunt you lifted your head and the voices around you fell
silent. There were trees, bushes, so you were in a forest, and… At
first you thought you were dreaming, as your eyes felt on the
creatures above you. They seemed to be quite shocked, and all of them
took a step back when they noticed you were awake and trying to get
up. There was a tall creature with pointy ears and dark gray skin,
black hair and black eyes, a smaller one that resembled a goblin,
with a hooked nose. Two men that you could swear were dwarves, with
long, braided beards and in armors, and in front of them, with a book
in his hands, was the biggest of them – all muscles and green skin,
not to mention the impressive tusks.
They didn’t move as you tried to stand up on shaking legs.
“W-where am I…?” it was the only thing you could think of to
say.
The German clothing company Naketano usually has quite creative names for each item of the casual wear they sell.
This hoodie’s name translates to Monsterfucker (f).
If you want to wear something that really suits your personality….
Monsters and Villains 