Useful definitions for fanfiction classification and genres with links to relevant wiki sites. Please note that there are some cultural differences in some definitions, particularly with Japanese terms. The definitions here are to clarify things for English speakers and links are provided for all terms where possible for further research.

Please leave a comment to request any other defintions you feel are pertinent or to draw attention to any errors.

~A~

A/N – [Acronym] Author’s Note -  usually in commentary before and/or after a part of a fan fiction explaining a particular point or definition which might be unclear otherwise.

Alternate Timeline/History - [Genre] -speculative  story exploring events after a selected point in the original Canon where the outcome of a key event has been changed (aka: AT/AH)

Alternate Universe/Reality - [Genre] – Story whose settings or characterization in the universe being explored or written about are deliberately changed from the Canon (aka: AU/AR)

Apocrypha [Term] – fictional stories that are NOT canon, but relate closely to the Canon universe.

~C~

Canon [Term] – events or situations that actually happened within the original work created, can be directly referenced.

~D~

Disclaimer [Term] Short Paragraph preceding the start of a story stating which of the characters and settings used belong to the author and which do not.

Drabble [Term] -an extremely short work of fiction exactly one hundred words in length, although the term is often used to indicate a short story of fewer than 1000 words.

~E~

Expanded/Extended Universe [Genre] - extension of a pre-defined universe or media franchise to include new characters, mythology etc. Expanded universes are not accepted as Canon.

~F~

Fan-fiction – [Genre] Stories written by fans of an original work or show about the characters or settings created by the original, professional author or creator.

Fictional Universe [Term] A self-consistent fictional setting with elements which differ from the real world. (also: fictional realm, imaginary realm, fictional world, imaginary world, or imaginary universe)

Flash fiction A work of fewer than 2,000 words (1,000 by some definitions) (around 5 pages)

~H~

Hiatus [term] - used by authors who are unable to update due to other commitments, or have lost interest in a story, and won’t be continuing it for a while or possibly at all.

~L~

Lemon [Genre] -A story with strong and explicit heterosexual sexual themes and scenes.

Lime [Genre] – A story with heterosexual sexual themes but no explicit descriptions.

~N~

Novelette A work of at least 7,500 words but under 17,500 words (25-60 pages)

Novella A work of at least 17,500 words but under 50,000 words (60-170 pages)

Novel A work of 50,000 words or more (about 170+ pages).

~O~

One-Shot - A short story of one ‘chapter’ or ‘episode’

OTP – Stands for One True Pairing and is used in relations to Shipping (fandom)

OT3 – Stands for One True 3-some and is used in relations to Shipping (fandom).

OTVB – Stands for One True Village Bicycle and is used in relations to Shipping (fandom)

~P~

Point Of Divergence [Term]  point at which the original canon is changed in a fic exploring an alternate timeline

POV – Point of View  -  refers to the perspective in which the story is written or meant to be viewed. It is sometimes also spelled with a lower case o (i.e. PoV)

~S~

Shipping [Genre] -derived from the word “relationship”, the stories are romanticised versions of relationships seen in popular media, variety shows or those fandom wishes were real.

Shonen-ai - [Genre] Yaoi without explicit sexual scenes focusing on the relationship betyween two men.

Shojo-ai - [Genre] Yuri without explicit sexual scenes focusing on the relationship betyween two women

Short story A work of at least 2,000 words but under 7,500 words (5-25 pages)

Slash Fiction – [Genre] Fan-fiction devoted to the homo-erotic or romantic pairing of characters from various popular shows and films usually from the West.

Smooshing [Term] This  refers to the combining the names of two characters/groups being paired romantically, creating a new term to indicate that specific pairing.

Smutfic -[Genre] (PWP – Plot? What Plot?) – Lemon fic that is purely about the sexual scenes and nothing else

~Y~

Yaoi ~[Genre] Homo-erotic fiction usually written by women for women that focuses on the carnal aspect of a relationship between two men. (Also known as BL, shonen-ai)

Yuri ~[Genre] Homo-erotic fiction that focuses on the carnal aspect of a relationship between two women. (Also known as GL, shojo-ai)