#(extremely positive)

I’ve thought to myself how every time I come up with an idea for a self-insert character they always physically resemble me. In the past I agonized over this because I famously Hate Myself and my appearance

But a while ago I put a lot of thought into making an Arcana MC character (because when playing popular dating sim adventure The Arcana one must!) She was basically an old D&D character of mine I repurposed, but I was dismayed when I first tried to illustrate her and it was pointed out to me that she has my hairstyle and height and hobbies and *insert defining physical trait of mine here*

I don’t have this issue with my regular OCs because they’re their own person to me! Characters that live in my head (Owen/Ad, Aleda, Laz, Dani, Mela, Brigid— the list goes on!) they all exist within their own universes, or in the ones my friends share with me!

But when it comes to self-inserts I feel like Ace Dick in Problem Sleuth (it’s just you in a wig! You can’t believe how shitty your imagination is!) because a lot of people get really creative with self-inserts, and make them look cool and interesting and NOTHING like themselves! And I always thought that’s how it was supposed to be! But here I am, using my own name and my plain brown hair and freckles and green eyes and short height and *grumble*

But maybe… (my third eye flutters) that’s kind of the point of self-insert OCs?

In all respects, self-insert OCs resemble the truest, most genuine form of self - what’s in your heart, your soul, how you see and perceive yourself in a certain universe. You paint yourself in all the features you find beautiful - maybe ones you wish you had - but it’s still you at the end of the day. A glimmer of you. And that’s so cool!

And in my case, having self-inserts OC that resemble me in appearance and interests… maybe that just means I’m already my most genuine self no matter what universe I put myself into?

And by extension… maybe I don’t hate myself as much as I say I do?