Fan Fiction Terms and Common Abbreviations
*Currently under construction and revision!

AU - Alternate Universe - A fic that takes place in a reality different from the cannon reality that usually has nothing in common with the cannon other than characters.  For example: The characters of the WWE owning/working at a bar or the characters of Sailor Moon with no powers/evil beings to fight.

Cannon - The book, show, movie, ect., being written about.

Fandom - The fan base of a genre.

Fanon - The "facts" created and commonly used in the fic world.

Fluff - Pure romantic and happy goodness.

Mary Sue (MS) - A self-insertion of the author's perfected self into a fic.  See also OC vs MS.

One Shot - A fic that is completed in one part.  See also One-Shot vs Song Fic.

Original Character (OC) - A character created by an author that is not from the cannon.  See also OC vs MS.

PoV - Point of View - Seeing the fic through a character's eyes.

PWP - Plot Without Point - A fic that has no real point, purpose, or meaning.

Ship - A pairing of two cannon characters.

Shipper - A person who is an avid supporter of a given ship.

Slash - A non-heterosexual pairing.

Song Fic - A fic (usually a one-shot) in which song lyrics are placed throughout the fic for some emotional emphasis, to add meaning to, or to tie the whole fic together.  See also One-Shot vs Song Fic.