I’ve been noticing this for a while now. I’m the type who likes to insert myself into the main character, or in case of multiple POVs, the character I can relate to the most. For those of you who can’t imagine what it’s like, I basically become that character and experience what they experience and feel what they feel. I literally live in the story.
But I’ve also realized that not every reader reads this way.
The other type is more of an observer or spectator. These readers are viewing the story and the characters from the outside perspective (even if the story is written in a limited POV). They don’t exactly feel what the character feels. If the character is in trouble, they might worry about them (as they would when someone they care about gets into trouble), while those who self-insert will literally feel the tension same as the character does.
This is also the reason why some people like wish-fulfillment stuff while others don’t get it. Readers who like wish-fulfillment like it because they are the ones experiencing it. Who doesn’t like that, right? But for someone looking from the outside, if you don’t like said character to begin with, you’ll become annoyed and call it quits.
That said, have you noticed this as well? And which type are you?
by Ok_Meeting_2184