Definitions

LITERARY TERMS:

Characterization: the author's expression of a character's personality through the use of action, dialogue, thought, or commentary by the author or another character.

Conflict: the struggle within the story. Character divided against self, character against character, character against society, character against nature, character against God. Without conflict, there is no story.

Dialogue: vocal exchange between two or more characters. One of the ways in which plot, character, action, etc. are developed.

Imagery: the collection of images within a literary work. Used to evoke atmosphere, mood, tension. For example, images of crowded, steaming sidewalks flanking streets choked with lines of shimmering, smoking cars suggests oppressive heat and all the psychological tensions that go with it.

Point of View: the vantage point from which the author presents action of the story. Who is telling the story? An all-knowing author? A voice limited to the views of one character? The voice and thoughts of one character? Does the author change point of view in the story? Why? Point of view is often considered the technical aspect of fiction which leads the critic most readily into the problems and meanings of the story.

Symbol: related to imagery. It is something which is itself yet stands for or means something else. It tends to be more singular, a bit more fixed than imagery. It can be clothing, an object, an idea or value.

Tone: suggests an attitude toward the subject which is communicated by the words the author chooses. Part of the range of tone includes playful, somber, serious, casual, formal, ironic. Important because it designates the mood and effect of a work.

GENRES:

Fan fiction – fiction written by fans about characters created by someone else.

Slash – fiction involving intimate sexual relationships between same sex couples (male)

Fem slash – fiction involving intimate sexual between same sex couples (female)

Het – fiction involving intimate sexual relationships between opposite sex couples

Gen – fiction that focuses more on plot than on relationships between couples

Canon – that which is sanctioned as being part of the storyline by the original creators

AU – fiction that departs from canon at some point

PWP (“Plot? What Plot?” or “Porn without plot”) – fiction that focuses more on sex than plot

GLOSSARY OF FAN FICTION TERMS
by Ellen Druda

Before you dip your big toe into the world of fan fiction, take a look at this brief glossary:

A/U: Alternate Universe. These stories feature the characters from the tv series, but place them in a different time zone, or different locale, or even give them alternative personal characteristics. Napoleon is a vampire or Illya is a unicorn are some of possibilities.

adult: Stories that might be rated "R" in the movies, they can feature violence or sex or strong language.

cross-over: These are U.NC.L.E. stories that involve other fandoms; Solo and Kuryakin meet Muldar and Scully or Mr. Waverly brings in the team from Hawaii Five-0.

fanzine: Usually a small press magazine with a very limited run, written by amatuer writers for the amusement of other fans. Quality and prices vary. Some are novellas, some are anthologies, some are series unto themselves.

gen: Stories suitable for all audiences, probably most reflective of the series itself.

h/c: Stands for hurt/comfort. These types of stories focus on one partner or the other (usually Kuryakin) suffering some sort of abuse and being helped by his friend and ally (usually Solo.) The reason behind the appeal of these stories is something even its most voracious readers can't quite fathom, but the popularity of the genre is enormous.

loc (or an eloc): Letter Of Comment or an emailed Letter of Comment. Writers and publishers love feedback.

multi-fandom or multi-universe: Anthology zines that include stories from lots of fandoms, not just The Man From U.N.C.L.E. You might might find one U.NC.L.E. story mixed in with stories about Starsky and Hutch, Wild Wild West, or The Professionals, for example.

PWP: "Plot What Plot" - stories that are concerned almost exclusively with the relationship between the two main characters, leaving little room for plot. Usually they are slash.

slash: Stories that assume a homosexual relationship between Solo and Kuryakin. An age statement is usually required when purchasing this type of fanzine. The term slash came about when the first Kirk and Spock stories appeared, they were shortened to K/S, with the "slash" in the middle of the two initials.

zine: Short for fanzine.