I am an avid reader and fanfiction enthusiast. Over time, I have come across some fantastic self-insert stories that were unfortunately marred by the use of 'Y/N L/N'. This method abruptly pulls me out of the immersive world, forcing me to fill in those blanks and re-read sections. It's a disruptive experience that could easily be avoided with more descriptive writing or simply using 'You'.

The beauty of fanfiction lies in its ability to allow readers to immerse themselves into their favorite fictional universes. However, this immersion is often broken when authors use placeholders like 'Y/N L/N' instead of addressing the reader directly as 'You'. Not only does it interrupt the flow of reading, but it also places unnecessary cognitive load on readers who must constantly substitute these placeholders with their own names.

Moreover, there are other ways for authors to describe characters without resorting to such tactics. For instance, they can include general features in descriptions or tags like curvy!reader. This approach allows for a smoother reading experience while still maintaining a level of personalization.

It's time we elevate our standards for self-insert fanfiction and prioritize reader immersion above all else. Let us encourage authors to adopt more inclusive writing techniques that do not rely on disruptive placeholders.

Please sign this petition if you believe in improving the quality and inclusivity of self-insert fanfiction by mandating the use of 'You' instead of ‘Y/N’. Together we can make our voices heard and bring about this much-needed change.