Featured: Fan Fiction Terminology

Much like the rest of literature, fan fiction has a lot of terminology and key words used to describe its various different parts. Some of the terms are beneficial to your understanding of fan fiction, but others only appear on occasion. Regardless of the frequency they are found, knowing these terms will make you seem like a fan fiction guru.

Fan Fiction - written media created by fans.

Slash - fan fiction dealing with homosexual relationships, usually between men.

Femmeslash - fanfiction dealing with homosexual relationships, always between females.

Canon - an established truth in a fandom or world.

Head Canon - canon that is created by a fan (may have textual evidence, but is not necessarily true).

Pairing - two or more characters in a romantic or sexual relationship.

OTP - (one true pairing) a relationship that is held above all other relationships by the individual.

OOC - (out of character) a moment when a fandom defined character acts differently from the way they are usually perceived.

Ship - an accepted relationship whether by an entire fandom or a few individuals.

Abandoned - a fan fiction that the author is no longer working on and has no intention of finishing.

Hiatus - the temporary postponing of a particular story.

AU - (alternate universe) a universe in which the characters, setting or plot deviates from what the original universe states.

Crossover - the combining of two or more fandoms in a story.

Special thanks to silent hearts. and nearly witches. for editing.