r/AO3 • u/Icy-Specific986 • 1d ago
Discussion (Non-question) /reader fics
Not sure how to start this post, so I guess some context might be the way to go.
I like some really niche, small fandoms. Unfortunately that means that my options, especially when it comes to pairings and just overall romance, are often very limited. Because of that, I usually give everything a try, even fics that usually wouldn’t appeal to me.
But one thing I could never really get into are /reader fics (I’m I writing this right? Is there another name for it?). The whole “you did x” and “you held y’s hand” kind of thing never sort of clicked with me, because it feels like I’m being personally and directly addressed by the author and… that’s just sorta weird?
But like I said, by my own sins (aka liking tiny fandoms) I’m running out of reading material. So I’m just wondering if maybe I’m reading and/or interpreting /reader fics wrong? Like, is there some sort of “mentality” or “view” that you have to have to properly enjoy them?
And just to be clear, I’m not complaining about /reader fics or anything like that. I genuinely want to try to read them, but I never quite manage to because of the reasons above, and want to change that.
Sorry if this post doesn’t make any sense, I could barely make it make sense to myself in my head, much less trying to explain to other people.
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u/Semiramis738 Proudly Problematic 23h ago
I totally get x-reader not being your favorite thing. If I'm into a character, I'll read explicit fics about him with absolutely anyone, including x-reader. But I really prefer canon/OC, where the love interest is better described and is allowed to have a more unique personality. (Especially for villain characters, where the typical reader insert tends to be too nicey-nice.) I never actually imagine myself as the reader, so they usually just seem like a blander, less interesting OC to me.
Like I said, I'll still read them...but I find it sad how much territory they seem to have taken over from OCs. I blame the old stigma against OCs as "Mary Sues." Hopefully this will continue to fade away, and as authors feel freer to write whatever they want, the OCs will come back to reclaim some of their territory.