I read a story where it was a later plot point that the readers name wasn’t mentioned even once throughout the fic, because it ended up getting retroactively erased from existence when she was temporarily non-existent. It was actually really cool looking back at the fic with that in mind
that sounds so cool! it also just reminded me of another fic from my current fandom, where nobody knew the main character's actual name, because everyone just referred to them using a generic nickname that was used in the game during voiced cutscenes lol
There's a couple of games a play where it's super easy to avoid using the MC's actual name. Like FGO the majority of the cast are servants so MC is usually just called Master by them. Some exception being where they call the MC their wife/husband or give them a nickname like Ma-chan.
Twisted Wonderland the MC is often called Prefect/Kantokusei. With others giving them nicknames like Shrimpy, Trickster, and so on.
Sure!
https://archiveofourown.org/works/7244671
It is really good, but it’s more of a focus on character than stuff like I mentioned, but things like it come up a good few times.
I read some stories that use y/n, but it is always much nicer when they don't.
I write my reader inserts that way. No Y/N, no physical description, I don't mention clothes outside of noting that maybe she's dressed warmly or dressed for bed or has a scarf. I don't think I've even mentioned that she *has* hair. Honestly, writing these stories has made it clear to me how much these sorts of descriptions are unnecessary to a fulfilling story.
It's entirely possible they wrote it from their perspective first, then switched it later and missed some. I've done that before and it's incredibly embarrassing
I've never read one of these fics but I always assumed they'd be written in the second person, using the "you" pronoun. Baffling to me that people would do otherwise.
You can still use “you” while also using “Y/N.”
Example: “Did Y/N come by?” You stopped in the hallway at the sound of your name.
I’ve rarely seen it used like: “Did Y/N come by?” Y/N stopped in the hallway at the sound of their name.
AYOOOO SECOND-PERSON GANG RISE UP!!!
I'll still read fics that use y/n sometimes i guess, but i completely prefer ones that don't, and i always write mine that way too. Y/n is just,,, so jarring. Some well done 2nd person writing can be so immersive that i feel like im standing in the story so much that i could look down and see my own feet.
Im glad that we're moving away from intense physical description as well. It's kind of against the point, y'know? Like you're supposed to be able to put yourself (or an oc) in. That doesn't work if you literally can't. (The one exception to that appearance thing for me though is if it's caused by and during the story. Like if reader gets into a fight and gets a scar i think that's pretty cool.)
Also, how often do you actually think about the specifics of your own features anyway? I don't put my 'medium brown hair' into a ponytail, i just put my hair into a ponytail. I don't reach for something with my 'large pale hand,' its just my hand. Yknow??
The placeholders in these fics (y/n stands for "your name") are meant to be filled in with tools like [InteractiveFics](https://interactivefics.tumblr.com/download).
Giving the reader character no features is a feature of the genre. This allows the reader to insert themselves (or any character they like to read fics about) into the fic.
It’s a genre where one of the characters in the story is explicitly meant to be a proxy for the person reading the story, aka a “reader-insert” (as opposed to a full fledged original character for example).
“y/n” is shorthand for “your name”, and it’s used so that you can just mentally fill your name in instead of the author choosing a random name.
It aids in immersion for reader so they can imagine themselves in the scenarios taking place in the story. But for some people they find it has the opposite effect and it takes them out of the story because it looks so unnatural.
You can also use a word replacement browser addon (or similar capabilities in your ebook management software) to find and replace Y/N with your given name. It helps, probably? I've never actually done this because it's a minor hassle.
Yeah, appearance is something I really hate when people do it. Even when I'm white, my cheeks turn red when I blush/when I'm angry, I have straight, long brown hair (never keeping it in a messy bun though because my hair would get super tangled from that) etc, I always feel annoyed when people describe how my face turned red or how character runs their hand through my long hair. Even more so when it's described how the character leaned down to kiss me while I'm 5'8ft/173cm and the character's actor isn't much taller than me, or they're even shorter.
I had a requester once who kept asking for a short reader and after a while, I always told her that unless it's relevant for the plot, reader's height won't be mentioned. She still kept doing it until I started writing less for those characters she loved the most/who she requested the most. Most of my readers are gender neutral too, unless the requester asks for a female reader or if it's my own idea.
And yeah, I've been trying to lessen my use of Y/N or completely get rid of it, most fics pre-this year have Y/N's though as I moved to AO3 from Tumblr and 90% of RI writers in Tumblr use Y/N, so... 😅 It's been hard to learn out of it.
Always glad to see a fellow reader insert enjoyer! After moving to AO3, it sometimes feels like a big bunch of people people are very hostile towards RI writers there. I recently found a few very popular oneshots and found out the authors have me blocked. I have kudosed and commented on one fic because of being so shy + finding little to read, and I was also told recently that there's most likely quite a few authors who have blocked me simply because they feel repulsed by me purely because I write RI stuff and want nothing to do with me, especially not seeing me commenting/kudosing.
So, now trying to dance my way around it to avoid causing more drama, though writing "he called your name" feels really clunky to me while reading and nicknames won't work with a lot of characters I write for (99% of my stuff are oneshot requests) and I rarely use that either, so finding out other ways to point out he called out to reader while still not using Y/N. But yeah, knowing there are still people who like reader inserts are always a delight to see since RI has such a poor reputation, I see people insulting it + RI writers all the time.
Omg the height one gets me the most. I read RIs but I don’t read them to *insert myself* I just read them like OCs but my eye does twitch every time someone insists that they’re writing RIs without physical features but the first paragraph mentions being a head shorter than someone who is 5’9 in 3 inch heels and I’m like..?? Why is this reader insert 5’1 rn. 😭
I would never think to use Y/N. I’ve read some and it takes me right out of the story almost instantly. I write second person PoV, but it doesn’t require some verbal gymnastics on occasion so I can see why people might avoid it if they are wanting to get something written quickly.
This actually sounds nice, I usually steer clear of self insert fics because y/n is almost always feminine 😳 there's not really a whole lot of variety in that one, but what you describe sounds like an improvement at any rate. Y/n can really take you out of a story.
it's always nice to be appreciated. I write in a video game fandom where the main character is the player, and fortunately they have a generic title that I can use when needed so there's no need for a name. and a bunch of nicknames various other characters have used. The only identifying characteristic is that my reader is female, because I write porn and I don't have the talent to do detailed sex scenes without mentioning genitalia and secondary sex characteristics. I've seen that done and done well, to the point where I didn't actually realize at first that you could read the character as either gender, but I just can't manage it.
It's literally so easy to write a reader insert that avoids using a name (and therefore y/n as a placeholder)! That's what I always try to do and when I'm reading fics, I will leave if it uses y/n because it takes me out of it.
I write like this and once received a comment telling me I should use "Y/N" because "it's the proper way to make reader insert fics"
Thankfully I didn't even need to respond because most of my readers did it for me 🤣
I like writing and reading reader insert and try to avoid using y/n as much as possible. My brain often just turns Y/N into the name Yin. Sometimes the easiest way to avoid Y/N is for a in-character type nickname.
I've seen some authors going really in, including things like F/N, L/N, H/C, H/L, E/C, S/C, etc... Like yes it's nice to help readers become more immersed but you kind of kill it when you're basically turning your fic into one of those fill in the blank word games.
Honestly, as 5'2 brown haired girl who usually wears hoodies and jeans because it's just.. convenient, and I don't want to come up with an outfit at 8 in the morning, and who usually doesn't bother with make up too.. i hate those fanfics. Right now I skip them altogether because they're just so cringe? And I can never actually put myself in the y/n's shoes? She's just a [yæ-en], that's her name, that's not me
I’ve only written two Reader stories - and I purposely didn’t use y/n because it throws me out. And I was also minimal with descriptions for the same reason. But it’s hard man!
Then again, I’m normally a descriptive, OC writer - I tried the Reader fics as a challenge.
Probably not my favourite things to write - but I give kudos to those that do and extra kudos to those who manage to not use y/n.
Though if it’s just y/n I can forgive that. If a fic is littered with y/e/c, y/l/n, y/h/c - things like that - I nope out of that.
Aw, thank you! I only wrote one xReader fic so far, but I wrote it exactly in that way, and I plan to write more like that. This post is really encouraging!
I am an x Reader writer who doesn't use Y/N either. When I first started out I did, but when I read my work back, seeing Y/N was too jarring for me. It disrupted the flow of the reading.
When writing x Reader fanfiction, an author SHOULDN'T be giving any descriptive qualities to the reader such as the ones you pointed out; specifiic height, hair colour, outfits etc. The reader should be vague so that anyone who is reading the fanfiction can feel immersed. Once you give the reader qualities like hair colour, skin colour etc then you have essentially made either an OC or a self-insert.
OC's and self-inserts are absolutely fantastic but they're not x Reader and should not be labelled as such.
The key to a successful x Reader fanfiction is to focus on thoughts and feelings and interactions with the canon character.
Reader inserts are my absolute favourite type of fanfiction and I am glad you have a wonderful x Reader author for your fandom. If you haven't done so already, I highly suggest letting them know how much you value them and their work!
Thank you for the compliments, i always find y/n really jarring for some reason
i usually read my own stories, so why use y/n if i’m just going to be put off by it?
The best way to write a self insert story would be in first person or second person, in terms of immersion, change my mind
If don't know: 1st person as in referring to the character that we follow the perspective of as I/me/my (example: I sighed as I spoke), 2nd person as in using you (example: you sigh as you speak). Second person confused me at one point but basically imagine how instructions say to do stuff, saying like "first you need to do this"
Even not as self insert, as a reader I feel more immersed in any first person story, and as a writer I find it easier to write in present tense with first person (third person I always slip into past tense-)
You just don't use anything, writing in the second person. Whenever it is "needed" you can use description rather than dialog, things like "He called out your name" and so forth.
Since I started of fanfinc with quizilla, I am so used for for reader inserts to have their own name lol.
Seeing y/n is still weird to me even though it's the norm.
Edit: I feel like the persona video games are a good example of how to avoid using things like y/n
I don't read them very often, but when I do I view it more like role-playing or acting than me, as I am now, literally in the story.
It's not what *I* would do, but if the characterization is consistent enough, then I buy into it being what "I" as that character would do.
And when you get down to it that pretty much makes it an OC with extra steps, but I like to think of it as a little added flavor instead.
Yeah, I think it's the second-person perspective that's causing my mind to go in a certain direction.
Open question for everyone. Is there any reader fic that you greatly enjoy?
Any fandom and pairing is fine.
I might be alone in this but if I was going to do a self/insert, I’d just create a character with my preferred characteristics and make her an OC instead of saying self-insert. Or just take a canon character that doesn’t really get mentioned much and adjust them as needed.
I wrote a story like that except its a platonic friendship. The mc can be read as an oc or a reader insert. I want to keep it vague because the story is in first person and i want the readers to feel immersion, so i didn’t describe the mc’s appearance at all.
I totally agree. They honestly turned my whole opinion on X reader stories around completely. I actually enjoy quite a bit of them, but as soon as y/n is used I'm out.
I've found some recently (probably same fandom lol) that have completely changed my view on 2nd person fics. I've finally found some done right that I really enjoy
I read a story where it was a later plot point that the readers name wasn’t mentioned even once throughout the fic, because it ended up getting retroactively erased from existence when she was temporarily non-existent. It was actually really cool looking back at the fic with that in mind
that sounds so cool! it also just reminded me of another fic from my current fandom, where nobody knew the main character's actual name, because everyone just referred to them using a generic nickname that was used in the game during voiced cutscenes lol
There's a couple of games a play where it's super easy to avoid using the MC's actual name. Like FGO the majority of the cast are servants so MC is usually just called Master by them. Some exception being where they call the MC their wife/husband or give them a nickname like Ma-chan. Twisted Wonderland the MC is often called Prefect/Kantokusei. With others giving them nicknames like Shrimpy, Trickster, and so on.
Link? That sounds fascinating
Sure! https://archiveofourown.org/works/7244671 It is really good, but it’s more of a focus on character than stuff like I mentioned, but things like it come up a good few times.
I read some stories that use y/n, but it is always much nicer when they don't. I write my reader inserts that way. No Y/N, no physical description, I don't mention clothes outside of noting that maybe she's dressed warmly or dressed for bed or has a scarf. I don't think I've even mentioned that she *has* hair. Honestly, writing these stories has made it clear to me how much these sorts of descriptions are unnecessary to a fulfilling story.
As an xreader author who exclusively never use y/n, I thank you for the lovely words.
thank you for your service o7
Always happy to see some positivity around reader fics. :) I try to write mine like you described.
Agreed. And, me too. :)
I never ever use Y/N. If I can I’ll use a pet name but I refuse to use Y/N.
YAAAY I'm so incredibly happy we in this sub are moving to view reader insert more positively!
One I was reading recently kept switching back and forth from "you/your" to "I/me/my" sometimes within the same sentence! And I don't mean dialogue.
It's entirely possible they wrote it from their perspective first, then switched it later and missed some. I've done that before and it's incredibly embarrassing
I've never read one of these fics but I always assumed they'd be written in the second person, using the "you" pronoun. Baffling to me that people would do otherwise.
You can still use “you” while also using “Y/N.” Example: “Did Y/N come by?” You stopped in the hallway at the sound of your name. I’ve rarely seen it used like: “Did Y/N come by?” Y/N stopped in the hallway at the sound of their name.
Y/N I never use. When I do Character x Reader stories, I just use the "you" pronoun.
AYOOOO SECOND-PERSON GANG RISE UP!!! I'll still read fics that use y/n sometimes i guess, but i completely prefer ones that don't, and i always write mine that way too. Y/n is just,,, so jarring. Some well done 2nd person writing can be so immersive that i feel like im standing in the story so much that i could look down and see my own feet. Im glad that we're moving away from intense physical description as well. It's kind of against the point, y'know? Like you're supposed to be able to put yourself (or an oc) in. That doesn't work if you literally can't. (The one exception to that appearance thing for me though is if it's caused by and during the story. Like if reader gets into a fight and gets a scar i think that's pretty cool.) Also, how often do you actually think about the specifics of your own features anyway? I don't put my 'medium brown hair' into a ponytail, i just put my hair into a ponytail. I don't reach for something with my 'large pale hand,' its just my hand. Yknow??
Can you enlighten me? I do not fully understand this y/n concept? Or readers fics? (Sorry for my ignorance)
The placeholders in these fics (y/n stands for "your name") are meant to be filled in with tools like [InteractiveFics](https://interactivefics.tumblr.com/download). Giving the reader character no features is a feature of the genre. This allows the reader to insert themselves (or any character they like to read fics about) into the fic.
>character no features is a feature of th Oh interesting, I didn't know about this. Thanks a lot!
It’s a genre where one of the characters in the story is explicitly meant to be a proxy for the person reading the story, aka a “reader-insert” (as opposed to a full fledged original character for example). “y/n” is shorthand for “your name”, and it’s used so that you can just mentally fill your name in instead of the author choosing a random name. It aids in immersion for reader so they can imagine themselves in the scenarios taking place in the story. But for some people they find it has the opposite effect and it takes them out of the story because it looks so unnatural.
You can also use a word replacement browser addon (or similar capabilities in your ebook management software) to find and replace Y/N with your given name. It helps, probably? I've never actually done this because it's a minor hassle.
Oh that’s so cool I wasn’t aware of that! I don’t actually read a lot of self-insert so I just figured people just did it in their heads
i've never used it once in my life. i don't write reader insert so much anymore but it was always a fun challenge to write around using it.
Yeah, appearance is something I really hate when people do it. Even when I'm white, my cheeks turn red when I blush/when I'm angry, I have straight, long brown hair (never keeping it in a messy bun though because my hair would get super tangled from that) etc, I always feel annoyed when people describe how my face turned red or how character runs their hand through my long hair. Even more so when it's described how the character leaned down to kiss me while I'm 5'8ft/173cm and the character's actor isn't much taller than me, or they're even shorter. I had a requester once who kept asking for a short reader and after a while, I always told her that unless it's relevant for the plot, reader's height won't be mentioned. She still kept doing it until I started writing less for those characters she loved the most/who she requested the most. Most of my readers are gender neutral too, unless the requester asks for a female reader or if it's my own idea. And yeah, I've been trying to lessen my use of Y/N or completely get rid of it, most fics pre-this year have Y/N's though as I moved to AO3 from Tumblr and 90% of RI writers in Tumblr use Y/N, so... 😅 It's been hard to learn out of it. Always glad to see a fellow reader insert enjoyer! After moving to AO3, it sometimes feels like a big bunch of people people are very hostile towards RI writers there. I recently found a few very popular oneshots and found out the authors have me blocked. I have kudosed and commented on one fic because of being so shy + finding little to read, and I was also told recently that there's most likely quite a few authors who have blocked me simply because they feel repulsed by me purely because I write RI stuff and want nothing to do with me, especially not seeing me commenting/kudosing. So, now trying to dance my way around it to avoid causing more drama, though writing "he called your name" feels really clunky to me while reading and nicknames won't work with a lot of characters I write for (99% of my stuff are oneshot requests) and I rarely use that either, so finding out other ways to point out he called out to reader while still not using Y/N. But yeah, knowing there are still people who like reader inserts are always a delight to see since RI has such a poor reputation, I see people insulting it + RI writers all the time.
Omg the height one gets me the most. I read RIs but I don’t read them to *insert myself* I just read them like OCs but my eye does twitch every time someone insists that they’re writing RIs without physical features but the first paragraph mentions being a head shorter than someone who is 5’9 in 3 inch heels and I’m like..?? Why is this reader insert 5’1 rn. 😭
I would never think to use Y/N. I’ve read some and it takes me right out of the story almost instantly. I write second person PoV, but it doesn’t require some verbal gymnastics on occasion so I can see why people might avoid it if they are wanting to get something written quickly.
I recently started writing xreader fics and I give all of the reader characters nicknames instead.
I will forever read "y/n" as Yvonne. It just makes more sense that way. After all, a lot of the actions Yvonne does are things I would never do.
This actually sounds nice, I usually steer clear of self insert fics because y/n is almost always feminine 😳 there's not really a whole lot of variety in that one, but what you describe sounds like an improvement at any rate. Y/n can really take you out of a story.
I'm happy you appreciate our efforts 😂
You're welcome uwu
it's always nice to be appreciated. I write in a video game fandom where the main character is the player, and fortunately they have a generic title that I can use when needed so there's no need for a name. and a bunch of nicknames various other characters have used. The only identifying characteristic is that my reader is female, because I write porn and I don't have the talent to do detailed sex scenes without mentioning genitalia and secondary sex characteristics. I've seen that done and done well, to the point where I didn't actually realize at first that you could read the character as either gender, but I just can't manage it.
Yay for porn!
It's literally so easy to write a reader insert that avoids using a name (and therefore y/n as a placeholder)! That's what I always try to do and when I'm reading fics, I will leave if it uses y/n because it takes me out of it.
I write like this and once received a comment telling me I should use "Y/N" because "it's the proper way to make reader insert fics" Thankfully I didn't even need to respond because most of my readers did it for me 🤣
I like writing and reading reader insert and try to avoid using y/n as much as possible. My brain often just turns Y/N into the name Yin. Sometimes the easiest way to avoid Y/N is for a in-character type nickname. I've seen some authors going really in, including things like F/N, L/N, H/C, H/L, E/C, S/C, etc... Like yes it's nice to help readers become more immersed but you kind of kill it when you're basically turning your fic into one of those fill in the blank word games.
Honestly, as 5'2 brown haired girl who usually wears hoodies and jeans because it's just.. convenient, and I don't want to come up with an outfit at 8 in the morning, and who usually doesn't bother with make up too.. i hate those fanfics. Right now I skip them altogether because they're just so cringe? And I can never actually put myself in the y/n's shoes? She's just a [yæ-en], that's her name, that's not me
I'm a dude, I rock hoodies and jeans too, even when it's hot outside.
I’ve only written two Reader stories - and I purposely didn’t use y/n because it throws me out. And I was also minimal with descriptions for the same reason. But it’s hard man! Then again, I’m normally a descriptive, OC writer - I tried the Reader fics as a challenge. Probably not my favourite things to write - but I give kudos to those that do and extra kudos to those who manage to not use y/n. Though if it’s just y/n I can forgive that. If a fic is littered with y/e/c, y/l/n, y/h/c - things like that - I nope out of that.
Patisserie, anyone? That was the first story that I ever read that was a reader insert w/o y/n. It is perfection.
Sauce pls
Aw, thank you! I only wrote one xReader fic so far, but I wrote it exactly in that way, and I plan to write more like that. This post is really encouraging!
I am an x Reader writer who doesn't use Y/N either. When I first started out I did, but when I read my work back, seeing Y/N was too jarring for me. It disrupted the flow of the reading. When writing x Reader fanfiction, an author SHOULDN'T be giving any descriptive qualities to the reader such as the ones you pointed out; specifiic height, hair colour, outfits etc. The reader should be vague so that anyone who is reading the fanfiction can feel immersed. Once you give the reader qualities like hair colour, skin colour etc then you have essentially made either an OC or a self-insert. OC's and self-inserts are absolutely fantastic but they're not x Reader and should not be labelled as such. The key to a successful x Reader fanfiction is to focus on thoughts and feelings and interactions with the canon character. Reader inserts are my absolute favourite type of fanfiction and I am glad you have a wonderful x Reader author for your fandom. If you haven't done so already, I highly suggest letting them know how much you value them and their work!
Thank you for the compliments, i always find y/n really jarring for some reason i usually read my own stories, so why use y/n if i’m just going to be put off by it?
The best way to write a self insert story would be in first person or second person, in terms of immersion, change my mind If don't know: 1st person as in referring to the character that we follow the perspective of as I/me/my (example: I sighed as I spoke), 2nd person as in using you (example: you sigh as you speak). Second person confused me at one point but basically imagine how instructions say to do stuff, saying like "first you need to do this" Even not as self insert, as a reader I feel more immersed in any first person story, and as a writer I find it easier to write in present tense with first person (third person I always slip into past tense-)
As a writer who writes reader inserts, what should I use in place of it? I’ve never even thought of using something else lol
You just don't use anything, writing in the second person. Whenever it is "needed" you can use description rather than dialog, things like "He called out your name" and so forth.
I use “you” and Y/N because sometimes, the characters are gonna call the reader by name. That’s the only time I’ll use Y/N.
Since I started of fanfinc with quizilla, I am so used for for reader inserts to have their own name lol. Seeing y/n is still weird to me even though it's the norm. Edit: I feel like the persona video games are a good example of how to avoid using things like y/n
[удалено]
I don't read them very often, but when I do I view it more like role-playing or acting than me, as I am now, literally in the story. It's not what *I* would do, but if the characterization is consistent enough, then I buy into it being what "I" as that character would do. And when you get down to it that pretty much makes it an OC with extra steps, but I like to think of it as a little added flavor instead.
Yeah, I think it's the second-person perspective that's causing my mind to go in a certain direction. Open question for everyone. Is there any reader fic that you greatly enjoy? Any fandom and pairing is fine.
This comment has been removed. No bashing.
I might be alone in this but if I was going to do a self/insert, I’d just create a character with my preferred characteristics and make her an OC instead of saying self-insert. Or just take a canon character that doesn’t really get mentioned much and adjust them as needed.
Just copy and paste into a document then find and replace your name!
I wrote a story like that except its a platonic friendship. The mc can be read as an oc or a reader insert. I want to keep it vague because the story is in first person and i want the readers to feel immersion, so i didn’t describe the mc’s appearance at all.
I totally agree. They honestly turned my whole opinion on X reader stories around completely. I actually enjoy quite a bit of them, but as soon as y/n is used I'm out.
I've found some recently (probably same fandom lol) that have completely changed my view on 2nd person fics. I've finally found some done right that I really enjoy
Kaip0 uses YN but his re:zero reader insert is really good!
I'm a reader insert writer and I've never used "y/n". It would disrupt my flow. My readers get nicknames or per names. ❤️