diff --git a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
index 026d62d8c..86da64ef2 100644
--- a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
+++ b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
@@ -2768,14 +2768,16 @@ API int ncplane_qrcode(struct ncplane* n, int maxversion, const void* data, size
 API struct ncvisual* ncvisual_from_plane(struct ncplane* n);
 
 // ncreaders provide freeform input in a (possibly multiline) region,
-// supporting readline keybindings.
-API struct ncreader* ncreader_create(struct ncplane* n);
+// supporting readline keybindings. 'rows' and 'cols' both must be negative.
+// there are no restrictions on 'y' or 'x'. creates its own plane.
+API struct ncreader* ncreader_create(int rows, int cols, int y, int x);
 
 // empty the ncreader of any user input, and home the cursor.
 API int ncreader_clear(struct ncreader* n);
 
 API struct ncplane* ncreader_plane(struct ncreader* n);
 
+// destroy the reader and its bound plane.
 API void ncreader_destroy(struct ncreader* n);
 
 #undef API
diff --git a/src/lib/reader.c b/src/lib/reader.c
index b0cc089c4..7ccc33542 100644
--- a/src/lib/reader.c
+++ b/src/lib/reader.c
@@ -1,14 +1,21 @@
 #include "internal.h"
 
-ncreader* ncreader_create(ncplane* n){
+ncreader* ncreader_create(int rows, int cols, int y, int x){
+  // FIXME
 }
 
 // empty the ncreader of any user input, and home the cursor.
 int ncreader_clear(ncreader* n){
+  // FIXME
 }
 
 ncplane* ncreader_plane(ncreader* n){
+  return n->ncp;
 }
 
 void ncreader_destroy(ncreader* n){
+  if(n){
+    ncplane_destroy(n->ncp);
+    free(n);
+  }
 }