Thoughts about Author inserts

[JayMark]

I don't understand what you mean.

Cause you're not thinking creatively!

 

[Azamukul]

I sometimes fear my characters in "Eldritch" inserted me into their story. The main issue is, I still don't know the conclusion, since as of yet nothing happened.

On a slightly unrelated note, I'd say all of my characters base on a trait of mine that I can understand. I simply use that feature and have that aligned to their character

MFW Famous Person I look up to is interacting with me

 

[Dieter]

I've seen it done well in postmodern novels, usually for discursive purposes. Don't do it in a narrative-driven story though.

 

[Alski]

My characters all have parts of myself placed into them

 

[expentio]

MFW Famous Person I look up to is interacting with me

Oh wow, I seriously didn't consider myself as such. Thanks, I guess.

Just saying, regarding my self-insert, just look at the last line in the latest chapter of Eldritch and tell me I worry over nothing... Please?

But really, I'm nothing special, just a completely average writer.
->Proceeds getting dragged into a suddenly opening eldritch portal.

 

[Arch9CivilReactor]

If it’s compelling I’d read it. If it’s morally bankrupt I’d question what I read. If it’s forgettable then… Anyway, a repeat of this comment.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

f it’s morally bankrupt I’d question what I read.

But if it's Maura Lee Karupt you've wandered onto Danny the Street...

 

[corruption]

There are two types of author insertion.
1) basically a power trip
2) the author seems to be trapped there and mostly forced to follow the rules of the world, dealing with issues.

Number 1 is very common with the MC just being a self-insert for the Author and the story being wish fulfilment.

Number 2 can be fun. (and that is SOOO easily taken out of context) In it the author does not have a character stand in for them, and they are effectively another character acting as the author would

 

[Rezcore]

I had the idea, for in the near future of my story, .y character actually meeting me. After a mild existential crisis, we sit and talk.

 

[Navillus]

Hmm… I don’t mind as long as it is interesting-nya~

 

[Azamukul]

Hmm… I don’t mind as long as it is interesting-nya~

The cargurl has spoken

 

[ZanderDander]

I like it when authors get pulled into their stories as characters themselves (Separate from the person who is actually writing the story). I am also biased since I am writing this exact thing myself.

 

[SternenklarenRitter]

Maybe we should clarify "self-insert." The phrase has one meaning as "me but awesome," a device the author uses to vicariously live out their fantasy. Novels with self insert protagonists are usually tailored hyper-specifically to the author's taste, and have little appeal to most audiences. A self-insert protagonist in this sense is also one of several meanings of "Mary Sue." In this case the author typically will not use their own name, but someone who knows them personally might be able to identify a self insert easily. Self inserts are a great way to start writing, and most any author has written a self insert story somewhere early in their writing history.
A similar concept is the "author avatar," where the author inserts themself into the story, usually in a position where they have little to do with the plot overall. For example, author Paytoechip portrays himself as the god of chaos who governs the barriers between realms for all of his stories. I happen to quite like this kind of character.