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ADHD:  A chronic condition characterized by difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. ADHD is a common childhood disorder that can last into adulthood. It may contribute to low self-esteem, strained relationships, and academic or occupational difficulties.

 

Angst:  A term often used in fandom to characterize things that are intended to provoke a feeling of unrest and uncertainty in readers.

Angst in Characters: When an author puts the character through emotional, mental, or even physical ordeals.  

Angst in the Story:  In a story, the protagonist may be sick, dying, or surrounded by death. They could be having romantic or familial problems, which often provoke sympathy from readers.

 

Anime: Anime is a Japanese style of hand-drawn and computer-generated animation. It is distinguished by brightly colored graphics depicting vibrant characters in action-packed plots, which frequently have fantastic or futuristic themes.

 

            Examples:

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Neon Genesis Evangelion: a Japanese animation series that explores the story of human-made machines, known as Evangelions, who battle beings known as Angels to decide the fate of humanity.

 

Archive of our own/AO3: A non-profit free collection of fanfiction and other fan works submitted by users.

 

Aro–Ace: Someone who is asexual or sex-repulsed; Aro lies within the umbrella term for those who do not experience romantic attraction.

 

Alternative Universe/AU: A setting for a fan fiction work that deviates from the canon of the fictional universe on which the fan work is based.

 

BIPOC: Stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. This is a term unique to the United States, intended to highlight the experiences of Black and Indigenous communities and demonstrate solidarity among communities of color.

 

Bisexual: A romantic or sexual attraction to both males and females or to more than one gender.

 

Canon: Refers to aspects of a story or fictional "world" or "universe" that are considered "official"—that is, they have been confirmed within the story or in another way.

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Cosplay/ Cosplayers: Is someone who dresses up in elaborate costumes from their favorite  books, movies and TV shows

 

Duology: A book series comprises of two parts, particularly in genre fiction

 

Fan Art: Fan-created artwork based on popular works of fiction (such as books, movies, and so on).

 

Fanon: Elements introduced by fans that are not in a fictional world's official canon but are widely believed to be, or treated as if they are.

 

Fan Fiction: Fan-written fictional stories involving popular fictional characters.

Fan Fiction.net/ FF. net: A website containing a collection of fanfictions. It's one of the oldest and largest fanfiction archives and forums, attracting writers and readers from all over the world.

 

Fandom: A group of people who all admire or support a particular aspect of a subculture.

Fluff: A term frequently used to describe any pleasant, feel-good work. Fluff illustrates the affection between two or more characters, whether romantic or not.

 

Genderbending: A term for someone who actively breaks down, or "bends,” gender roles.

 

Grisha: are humans in Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone series who can manipulate the “Small Science”. They are traditionally classified as Corporalki: manipulating the living or dead; Etherealki: summoners of elemental sciences; Materialki; manipulation of materials.

 

“Grisha-verse” fandom: The glamorous fantasy world where science and magic collide. The Grishaverse is home to fan-favorite characters from Ravka, Ketterdam, and more. It was established in Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone Trilogy and expanded in the Six of Crows duology.

 

Suli: a nomadic people who primarily live in Ravka. Suli people generally have bronze or brown skin, black hair, and dark eye. Zoya Nayalensky, Jade Deo’s favorite character is half-suli

           

Head-Canon: Refers to fan theories that are not explicitly supported by the original material.

 

Lesbian/Gay: Refers to a woman or man who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation toward the same sex.

 

Manga: A style of comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. 

 

Example:

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Naruto: An amine produced by Pierrot Co. based on a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. It tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who aspires to be the Hokage, or village leader. 

 

 

Non-Binary: An umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn't fit within either 'man' or 'woman.' 

 

Not Safe for Work/ NSFW: Used to warn someone that a website or fan material is not suitable for viewing in most workplaces.

 

Original Character/ OC: A fictional character created by an author or artist, usually from fanwork not included in the official canon.

 

One True Pairing/ OTP: The couple that a fan or group of fans prefers over all other 'ships (relationships).

Own Voice Authors: Books written by underrepresented and marginalized writers.

 

Queer: A word that describes sexual and gender identities other than straight and cisgender. 

 

Queer-coded: When a character's sexual orientation is implied rather than explicitly stated, allowing the audience to identify with the character as queer.

 

Queerbaiting: A fiction and entertainment marketing technique where authors allude to same-sex relationships or other LGBTQ+ representation but fail to include it in their works.

 

Shipping: Derived from the word relationship: It is the act of wanting or supporting a specific romantic or platonic relationship between real-life celebrities or fictional characters.

 

Smut: Fan material that is explicit and erotic, focusing on sexual activity without regard for context or plot.

 

Young Adult genre: A subgenre of fiction written for readers aged 12 to 18. Despite the fact that the genre is primarily aimed at adolescents, almost half of YA readers are adults.

 

Wattpad: A free online platform that allows people to read and publish original stories beyond that of fan fiction