I doodle sometimes

Next, I look for what the MC themselves say and think about the experience.

This tells me more about the interaction than a general CW, as all situations are different depending on the story. 

I pay close attention to the MC’s internal and spoken dialogue, and how the experience is affecting her.

Is the MC frightened? Is the MC conflicted? Is the MC interested in the LI’s sexual advances in general, but not in this particular situation? Does the MC even consider what is happening to be a sexual advance or straight up an attack on her person? etc.

I’m looking for what words (if any) she says or thinks.

Some examples:

“I wanted him to touch/kiss me,” “it felt good when,” “I liked,” or actions such as pulling the LI in rather than pushing him away, keeping the LI close to their person during the dubcon instead of defending herself and running for the hills, etc. 

How the MC is responding internally, verbally, and physically during the dubcon, that’s what I’m interested in beyond just: there’s dubcon on my screen and I feel xyz about it (which is fine, just not what I do).

Again I ask myself these questions (and others) because not all dubcon situations are the same.

For example, Alfons and Darius are two different characters with two different outlooks, experiences, and motivations behind the dubcon they perpetuate in their routes. 

Trying to view Darius through the view of Alfons’ dubcon actions wouldn’t make sense, and vice versa. What Darius does may not bother you, but you might have a problem with what Alfons does, and vice versa. 

What I’m looking for is why is this character in this specific story is doing these actions. 

Then I go back and do the same internal and spoken analysis for the LI. 

I do this because it’s important FOR ME to understand the intent of the whole picture.

Then, I read the scene again, normally. 

If you’re just starting out with reading analytically, this may seem dumb and time consuming. 

Again, you do not have to do any of this at all.

Once you learn (or continue to grow) how to analyze what you’re reading, it becomes second nature and you’ll start by do it automatically.

Also, please keep in mind that there are many other techniques, and this is not an exhaustive list for how to read analytically. Just some of the things I do, for myself, to achieve a deeper understanding.

Interacting with what you read in this manner can help you understand the intent behind what is going on in a story beyond what the words on the screen say.

Think of it as the text version of how you interact with people in real life:

There’s what someone says, what someone does, and the intent/motivation behind the connection (or disconnection) to both of those things.

Your brain processes these things and your intuition kicks in to help guide your actions, emotions, and decisions surrounding such interactions with other people.

Analytical reading does the same thing, just on paper or a screen.

Finally, for the nine millionth time, this approach is how I was trained to read from a young age and as such I’ve found it extemely helpful to me regardless of whether or not I was reading fiction or non-fiction (to exclude, of course, strictly scientific or medical research, etc.)

I share this technique in the hopes that it may help even one person who is unsure of how to interact with reading sensitive topics or someone interested in learning more about characters beyond what the words on the screen say.

There are the words in the screen, and there are the motivations, thoughts, and feelings in-between those lines that are so easy to miss (even outside of sensitive topics) when one simply takes the story for being only in the text.

As always, be kind to yourself first, and remember to extend that to others as often as you can. 

Keep first and foremost in your mind that these characters are not real, the situations are not real, and that you owe it to yourself to scrape off your plate as much crap as you can.

If playing otome helps you decompress, but something you’re reading is stressing you out— bail. 

NO you don’t need to finish that sentence, that chapter, or that route.

YES you can just press Skip from start to finish.

NO that does not mean that you’re not a “true” fan.