#this is fun to answer

[theriverbeyond]

packing for a trip is like ok i need 30 pairs of underwear. my entire medicine cabinet. T shirt?

[fuckyeahgoodomens]

From the Neil Gaiman: Dream Dangerously 🥺❤ (you can watch it here in US or with US vpn :) <3) (or just this bit on youtube here :))

Neil Gaiman: I miss him most when I get stuck. You know, I'll just be working on something and I'll go, "Oh, this isn't quite it," and all I want to do is just call Terry, tell him what's going on and have him say, "Ah, grasshopper, the answer is there in the question." And I'd go, "Oh, for fuck's sake, Terry, just tell me."

[Terry Pratchett laughing]

[miso-sopas]

Hello 👀 Consider this ask a bit of market data research, because I'm also writing a Ninjago fic because I always wanted to read something hyper specific before realizing "yeah...I'm just going to have to write something instead of messing around with scenarios to songs." Thing is, I love my OC 😅 but those fics are even less popular than X Reader ones, and when you spend ages plotting, planning, researching, and doing the pre-write for various chapters, going unnoticed feels like a buzz kill. So I was wondering if it would be better to just remove the OC aspect entirely and just restructure it as an X Reader? They're basically OC fics anyways with the author deciding the backstory and powers, it's really just a matter of POV and fill-in-brackets tossed in.

Hello! Wow I feel flustered for being asked about this because I exactly went through this. I've been a fanfic reader for so long that sometimes there's an itch that you couldn't just find or it's been discontinued that you want to write it. I'm answering this as best I can, I still see myself as an amateur writer and written like seven fanfics in ao3 so I am not an expert. Anyway, I'll help you the best of I can and thank you for asking me about this.

Sorry for the grammar ahead, my English skills is still not squeaky perfect!

Personally, I started writing fanfics because the audience I want to gather is me. Sounds weird but one thing I learned about the fanfic community- especially to readers and OC fics is that if the writer themselves are having fun and enjoying the process then guaranteed their product is also fun and engaging for the readers.

I know, its a bummer that the "popular" ones are reader-inserts. But let me ask this for you, who are you writing for?

To be honest with you, the one thing I always remind myself is to write for yourself first then for the audience that will take interest in next. I haven't learned much about the algorithm or whatnot but one thing I learned as someone who is posting art online is it gets competitive for your personal interests. The core of writing fanfics like these is it's a personal hobby (even reading them) and it's purely driven on how the writer is engaged with both content and the publicity it gets in the platform.

If you love your OC that's lovely! If you feel that their description and the scenarios you'll write is vague enough as a reader-insert then go ahead! The challenge is that in the latter you really need to be vague and open for the character to be a blank state with few details to make them a character. I think this is the core of reader-inserts, that it should suit any reader- no matter their gender, ethnicity, beliefs, physical appearances, and I've seen disgruntled comments pointing out to one thing; they don't want to feel excluded because the MC was an OC all along. I think this is in the matter of labelling your fic if its an OC or a reader-insert, so the next one is whose audience are you reeling in for your fic?

It really depends on your writing techniques on how you can build that character, if your writing is really honed in specific details and really centered to the OC then I'll go with focusing on that.

And I get your fear, that you put so much effort for your OC then it doesn't get noticed, and for that if you really want then you can make it a reader-insert. Fun fact, most of my stories are really OCs. I instead focused on their characterizations and stories than their specific descriptions so that everyone can enjoy. Only in fanarts that I get to draw their appearances and whatnot but writing wise, if both my writing style and my heart can take my MCs be vague and to be interpretated for anyone to put themselves or their OCs into then that's fine with me! But you should really write for your own comfort and interest, if you really think that your OC should be in the spotlight of your story then by all means write away!

These are the key notes I noticed and learned when writing about MCs;

OC centered fics are specific and character focused in terms of how you mold their background and personality into the canon universe.

Reader-insert centered fics are vague and character focused in terms of personality and decisions that anyone can relate into. Its hard to explain as writing wise, this is the hardest thing you'll do because as I mention at its core you want to cater to anyone regardless of their identity or their OC who'll they put into.

So sorry for the long answer! Hope this helps your decision, and I feel you for debating whether or not you'll write your OC as your MC but as I said do what you want for yourself so that your writing journey is enjoyable for you.

Feel free to comment about anything I said or if there's some confusing statements I made. Most of these are the things I observed in the fanfic community as both reader and writer, and also solely in the OC and reader-insert community.

Also, would like to share these tips from different reader-insert writers here at tumblr, they helped me understand and shape my writing ✌️

A Guide to Writing Inclusive Reader-Inserts by user two-gays-in-a-trenchcoat

The Guide to Writing Reader-Insert Fanfiction by user kalmoart

[hinamie]

I'll rip in hands and teeth and take a bite

[hellspawnmotel]

whatever *tezuka-styles your deltarune cast*

[marsipain]

Norwegian Mikus :)

Left is Miku as a russ and right is Miku in a bunad!

[callisteios]

Would you like to find out what you would be the god of? Take my new uqiz to find out

[akanemnon]

We didn't even get an answer, and we never will (at least it's not determination)

FIRST - PREVIOUS - NEXT

MASTERPOST (for the full series / FAQ / reference sheets)

[chloesimaginationthings]

FNAF Cassidy knows how to “help” Michael Afton

[obsessedwithstarwars]

Okay you can’t tell me that Vlad doesn’t have an organ somewhere in his mansion. Upon learning of this, Danny would teach himself how to play the Haunted Mansion theme on the organ and play it at 2am.

Vlad Masters is away on business in Gotham, and the Fentons are coincidentally there for a symposium on ecto-activity. So it’s perfect! Except he goes to the wrong house, er mansion.

Honestly, Danny thought it was one of Vlad’s many mansions. Scaring the old man is his favorite activity after all. There’s a higher amount of ectoplasm here, so it has to be Vlad’s place right?

When Bruce comes out (on one of his few nights off) and sees his carbon copy playing the organ, all thoughts fly out of his head. Danny finally looks up and also blue screens. They stare at each other for what feels like an eternity until Danny’s cell phone rings (the ghostbusters theme??) and he panics. He jumps up and makes a break for the other door rushing through apologies “SorryWronghousegottagobye!” And runs out of the room. “Wait! Who are you?”Bruce exclaims as he rushes after him. They’re on the second story in one of the rooms he rarely uses. How did he know where the organ was? No matter. He’ll catch the kid on the stairs.

Except the kid is already almost at the bottom. How did he get down so effortlessly? The kid practically floated down the stairs.

Bruce gets to the foyer just in time to see the kid realize the door was dead-bolted in multiple spots. He won’t be able to undo them all before Bruce catches up to him.

He slows down and stands behind a pillar, assessing his next move. He needs to be careful here. This is a child after all, no need to spook him any more than he already has. He needs to slowly approach, and ask his questions.

But then the kid does the unexpected. After looking around frantically, he takes a deep breath. Two rings form around his middle and travel up and down his body. His black hair turns ghostly white. He looks back, almost directly at Bruce. His eyes widen as if he realizes he’s being watched. He whispers, barely loud enough to hear, “I’m so sorry, please don’t follow me.” Then, he backs through the locked door and vanishes.

[sangthael]

progression of events

[astrmastr]

based on a dream i had some nights ago

it was a pretty fun experience this was me after

[nidbaesenpai]

Dare you say this love could just save you

[hinamie]

realizing how much i like drawing him a million years too late :<

[sisaloofafump]

I think about this quote everyday. You're right Arthur, they ARE best friends and it IS kind of adorable

[linkedin-offficial]

me when i get the opportunity to think about speculative biology and non-existent game mechanics in media i like

⠀