Keep Reading

.

Hmmmmmmm....

Hmmmmmmmmm....

*more thinking noises*

Ngl, I kinda wanna interact with my twstsona with a couple blogs' ocs but I feel so shy just entering their inboxes 🧎‍♀️. The day I do is one I will ascend to the heavens so uh if you see a random birb in your inbox hiding on anon, it me. Probably

Have a doodle of past Mira for now

GOD GAVE ME A GIFT AND I BLEW IT BECAUSE OF SHYNESS, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

more old stuff

I want to keep bullying him..

Shishishi~ Long time no see, nya~

*incoherent bird simp noises*

A Guide to Writing Inclusive Reader-Inserts

I’ve been really fired up about what @renniecirque has been posting about recently, and I want to do everything in my power to help promote inclusivity in the TWST fandom, as well as every other fandom that people write for. So below, I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of literary elements I use in my writing that make writing for characters of all backgrounds, sexualities, genders, races, and appearances much easier and much, much simpler.

1. Second Person Perspective

Alright guys, this is a big one, and the quickest way to make a big immediate change in your reader inserts. In my opinion, this should be the standard for all reader insert writing, and I’m surprised by how little I see it. I acknowledge that people may use first and/or third person for preferential or stylistic reasons, and that’s okay. But if that doesn’t matter as much to you, then I highly recommend switching to second person in all your works.

How to use:

Address the reader with you/yours pronouns when writing the narrative. It’s genderless, easy to stick to, and most importantly, it creates a genuine connection between the real-life reader and the person they’re acting out in the story! In my experience, all of the best reader inserts are written in second person.

Even if it’s an explicitly stated reader insert, hearing the word “I” used when referring to the reader can create this sense that you’re reading someone else’s experience. And that’s not the point! You want to enable your reader to immerse themselves fully into the story and without feeling awkward or like they’re intruding. I know it may be hard to get away from writing in first-person if that’s what you’re used to, but I can promise that even with a little bit of effort, it can be easily fixed. It’s also a helpful exercise for writing in different perspectives!

This also makes it unnecessary to use pronouns for the reader at all (except when they’re being referred to in dialogue—but you can easily work around it by avoiding pronouns altogether when referring to the reader, and when it’s necessary to make that distinction, call them by name). You’ll find this will be a lot easier to differentiate the reader’s actions versus the characters’ actions. And it also makes it unnecessary for you to use placeholders for names like (y/n), MC, Yuu, etc in every other paragraph, so the writing overall looks more cohesive and professional.

This is also done in mainstream visual novels such as Obey Me!, The Arcana, and Twisted Wonderland. The player hardly ever gets referred to by specific pronouns in favor of the characters calling them by name, and even with specific pronouns, the default is they/them. Personally, I always use gender neutral terms in my writing, as sparse as it may be. Because the great thing about it is that it can apply to anyone and everyone, since it’s neutral!

Overall, this is the quickest and easiest way to make your writing more inclusive!

2. Forgo Descriptions of the Reader

I am a huge advocate for a person’s appearance, gender, and inherent personality traits not having any impact on whether or not it’s possible for them to be loved, especially in a reader insert fic. But descriptions are everywhere—how can you get away from the age-old sea-blue eyes, the ivory skin, the voracious curves that have become the cornerstone of all your reader insert stories? Well, I can promise that it is indeed possible.

How to use:

I get it, you’re used to describing the immediate features of a character you’re introducing, which is expected, and what you should be doing! But it can be off-putting to a potential reader to read that the person they’re supposed to be has traits that they don’t have. However, the use of second person perspective as described previously does a good job of getting rid of that need for you! The reader already knows what they look like, how they act, you don’t need to tell them. By all means, keep descriptions of other characters—they’re necessary for development and visualization. But by using second person, you implicitly establish that everyone already knows what you look like, act like, etc; and even if they don’t, it’s not told from their perspective!

But say you still want your reader to have certain features—an attractive face, a timid demeanor, a charismatic presence—as it has an impact on the plot. There are ways to do that without stating those exact things specifically. Show, don’t tell! I know you’ve probably heard this from English teachers, journalists, and writing advice articles, but in practice, it can make or break your story. Don’t say that they’re pretty, show people in the halls pausing to take a second glance at them as they pass. Don’t say they’re shy, show their reluctance to speak up in class. Don’t say they’re charismatic, show the way their friends’ faces light up when they enter a room, the way their peers stare in rapt attention when they speak. This not only makes it easier for the reader to better imagine themselves in the scenario, but it strengthens your writing overall.

3. Labels and Tags!

While I may be a huge advocate for gender neutral defaults and ambiguous descriptions, I’m also a huge advocate for writing whatever the fuck you want. You wanna write for a reader with specific characteristics? Do it! A certain scenario that only applies to a niche group of people? Have at it, my dude! And if a person doesn’t like it, it’s not your problem; they can keep scrolling. But guys, I genuinely cannot express the importance of telling your readers what they’re getting into before they start. This is the internet, and anyone can post anything—trigger warnings and SFW/NSFW tags exist for this very reason. Once something is read, it cannot be unread. But labels and tags aren’t just important for explicit scenes or abusive relationships in a story; the little things matter, too.

How to use:

Include gender of the reader, even if it’s just implied, in the title or description. This kind of goes without saying—if it’s a male reader, tell people it’s a male reader. If it’s a female reader, tell people it’s a female reader. If the reader is gender neutral or gender is not mentioned, tell people it’s gender neutral! And yet, all too often I see people posting fics centered around an explicitly stated female reader without tagging it as such. It really is a simple thing to add, and I promise, it won’t effect the views and popularity of your posts; if a person doesn’t like it to begin with, they’re going to keep scrolling. More than anything, this saves the reader from having to start a fic only to be put off by the wrong pronouns, and (if used with the previous two devices) it saves the writer from having to add in gender-based terms. You could also skip specific labels and just include the pronouns used when referring to the reader.

Include if there are explicitly stated features. If you’re writing specifically for a certain group of people with specific traits, tag it as such! And if the specific trait doesn’t have an impact on what happens on the story, I promise you, it does not need to be included at all.

I’m sure there are plenty of other things that people can do to promote inclusivity, but I’ve found these three principles to be the most effective while also being the easiest to remember. And even if you’re not used to writing in second person perspective or without explicit descriptions of the reader, there’s no harm in trying it out! If you decide you don’t like it or it’s too difficult, you can simply stop. In the long run, it will only make you a better writer.

I would apologize for this being such a long post, but I’m really not sorry; I could talk rhetorical analysis and literary devices all day. And if you scrolled this far, I can only assume you do, too. I’m afraid that Roy Peter Clark (a renowned journalist and the author of Reading Critically and Writing Well, which I highly recommend) has entered my bloodstream directly, and I simply cannot shut up about this kind of stuff. I may not be a professional, but writing has been a passion of mine for years, and these things are just my take on ways to improve your writing.

I’d love for this post to be reblogged as many times as possible, especially if your platform is heavy on fanfiction writers. Inclusivity will never not be important.

Feel free to comment your own advice or ask questions!

Twst Fandom, You really need a wake up call

I really do not like putting my nose into “drama” or happenings around the OC fandom, frankly due to what I’ve already experienced here.  However, seeing more and more fellow artists and content creators receive homophobic and racist responses in their inbox has prompted me to speak up- as I’ve been a victim too of such messages. [ Homophobic side ] A male/masculine OC is NOT a threat to your yume ship. A POC/Black OC is just as deserving to be with the Twst boys as your White OC. You have NO RIGHT to send such hateful messages to a person just existing and enjoying their time within the fanbase, drawing things that make them happy. Them existing in the same place does not invalidate the content you wish to make, and if you’re that insecure about “sharing” or whatever nonsense I have seen about characters that already do not belong to you, the lovely block button exists for a reason.  Curate your experience, but do NOT use your homophobia and racism to act aggressive towards fellow people who deserve and have every right to share the OC space as you do. I have been told countless times that my nonbinary OC is “wrong” to be shipped with Lilia just for not being a cis girl. That I’m making them feel “oppressed” by simply staying in my lane and being gay. That male ocs are driving yume fans away, when all we want is the same respect they get and consideration to be included in content.  Stooping so low to send racist asks to someone because you are uncomfortable someone is shipping their OC with your oshi? Grow UP. You’re the people making Twst a miserable place to make content for. You’re going to chase away every writer, artist, and contributor you “respect” away keeping this up. I’m sick of sitting around and watching this issue fester.

Some kind of old, but still recent Mira drawings

if may i ask, what are your thoughts on adults writing for twst? romantically i mean. just out of genuine curiosity is all.

- idia anon

ps. no i am not interrogating on my first day what do you mean?

... I've been hearing things about the content creators of twst getting unwarranted hate from this question alone, and it leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth every time. I'm a bit hesitant to answer this to be honest, but I am prepared to face the consequences of stating my honest opinion in regards to this topic.

I think it's fine for adults to write romance and smut fanfictions for twst because:

FICTION =/= REALITY.

Why should age matter? We're consumers, and twst is a product that is aimed towards us. The characters are designed to be appealing and come on they are just pixelated, jpeg/png files. They are not real people and the fan content we produce do not reflect us. It's all purely imagination.

There's a fine line that should be drawn between fiction and reality.