The OP, MC, and AU walk into a bar…

I’ll be honest, which is notable enough on the internet. When I first wandered into the writing world over a decade ago (eesh, it really has been that long), I couldn’t even understand half the help articles and videos out there. The writer terminology was too much.

I was Googling things like, “what does MC mean in writing” and “what is AU in writing” just to piece together what it all meant so I could then understand the article about writing. It was exhausting, to say the least.

So if you’re new to this world, I’m sending a big fat welcome and I’m sorry your way. Truly, both are necessary. Because for some reasons, writers like to give advice but can’t, for the life of them, write out a simple word like “main character,” instead choosing to use MC as if everyone under the sun knows what that means.

(I think this has part to do with feeling like we’re in this club and if you don’t know, then you’re not in it and the superiority of it all is just very writer of us.)

But enough slandering the good name of those trying to help. Because I’m one of them!

This writing terminology dictionary should help you understand both the articles on this site, and others across the web.

If you’re looking for a very specific term and don’t want to read through everything. Do a “Command and F” for Macs and “Control and F” to display a text search bar and locate what you’re after.

Writer Terminology Abbreviations

General Writing Abbreviations

• WIP – Work in Progress (a project a writer is currently working on)
• MS – Manuscript (the draft of a book or writing project)
• MC – Main Character
• OC – Original Character (a character created by the writer, not based on existing work)
• POV – Point of View (the perspective from which a story is told)
• TBR – To Be Read (books a person plans to read)
• DNF – Did Not Finish (when a reader stops reading a book before completion)
• ARC – Advanced Reader Copy (a pre-release copy of a book for reviews)
• SFF – Science Fiction & Fantasy (often used in book discussions)
• YA – Young Adult (a genre aimed at teen readers)
• NA – New Adult (a genre targeting readers in their late teens to mid-20s)
• MG – Middle Grade (books intended for readers aged 8-12)
• HEA – Happily Ever After (a satisfying ending, common in romance novels)
• HFN – Happy For Now (a somewhat happy ending but not necessarily permanent)
• TSTL – Too Stupid To Live (a term used for characters who make poor decisions)

Fiction Writing & Story Structure

• BBEG – Big Bad Evil Guy (refers to the main villain in a story)
• TPT – The Protagonist (the main character of a story)
• LIs – Love Interests (characters who are romantic partners for the protagonist)
• MFM / MMF / MM / FF – Various romance pairings (e.g., Male-Female-Male, Male-Male-Female, Male-Male, Female-Female)
• OTP – One True Pairing (a favorite romantic couple in a story)
• OOC – Out of Character (when a character behaves in a way that doesn’t match their established personality)
• AU – Alternate Universe (a version of a story or character set in a different setting)
• PTSD – Plot Twist, Sudden Death (used when a major unexpected event happens in a story)
• SAD – Sudden Author Death (when a character is unexpectedly killed off)
• DNE – Do Not Engage (used in writing communities to avoid heated debates)
• BAMF – Bad-Ass Mother… (used to describe strong, powerful characters)

Point of View & Narration

• 1POV – First-Person Point of View (narrated using “I” or “we”)
• 3POV – Third-Person Point of View (narrated using “he,” “she,” or “they”)
• 3LPOV – Third-Person Limited (narration focused on one character’s thoughts)
• 3OPOV – Third-Person Omniscient (narration that knows the thoughts of all characters)
• 2POV – Second-Person Point of View (narration using “you”)

Editing & Revision

• CP – Critique Partner (someone who provides feedback on a manuscript)
• BR – Beta Reader (a test reader who gives feedback before publication)
• WC – Word Count (the total number of words in a document)
• SASE – Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (used in traditional publishing for responses)
• F/F – Friends and Family (used for personal reading lists or early feedback)
• SIC – Spelling Is Correct (used to indicate a word is intentionally written a certain way)
• STET – Let It Stand (used by editors to keep a change or mistake in place)
• RC – Revision Copy (a draft with edits made)
• NTR – Needs Thorough Revision (a manuscript that requires major changes)

Publishing & Industry Terms

• TRAD PUB – Traditional Publishing (publishing through an established company)
• INDIE PUB – Independent Publishing (self-publishing or small-press publishing)
• KDP – Kindle Direct Publishing (Amazon’s self-publishing platform)
• ISBN – International Standard Book Number (a book’s unique identifier)
• LOI – Letter of Intent (a document expressing interest in publishing)
• R&R – Revise and Resubmit (a request from an agent or publisher to make changes and try again)
• SS – Short Story (a brief work of fiction)
• NF – Nonfiction (writing based on real events or facts)
• FIC – Fiction (a work that is invented by the author)
• MSWL – Manuscript Wish List (a list of genres and topics agents and publishers want)
• TBRI – To Be Read Immediately (a high-priority book on a reading list)
• NYTBS – New York Times Bestseller (a book that ranks on the New York Times Best Seller list)

Social Media & Fan Writing Terms

• AO3 – Archive of Our Own (a fanfiction website)
• FFN – FanFiction.Net (a fanfiction-hosting site)
• WATTPAD – A popular online writing platform
• RL – Real Life (used in writing communities to distinguish between fiction and reality)
• F4F – Follow for Follow (used on social media for mutual follows)
• TL;DR – Too Long; Didn’t Read (a brief summary of a long post)
• OP – Original Poster (the person who started a discussion or thread)

Marketing & Promotion

• BLURB – A short description of a book for marketing purposes
• KPI – Key Performance Indicator (used in book marketing to measure success)
• ARC TEAM – A group of early readers who receive Advanced Reader Copies for reviews
• DRM – Digital Rights Management (technology used to prevent piracy)
• BETA LAUNCH – A soft launch of a book before the official release
• PPC – Pay-Per-Click (advertising used in book promotions)

General Writer Terminology

• Author – A person who writes books, articles, or other works, especially as a profession.
• Writer – A general term for someone who writes, whether fiction, nonfiction, poetry, scripts, or other works.
• Manuscript (MS) – The original version of a written work before it is published.
• Draft – A preliminary version of a written work.
• Revisions – The process of editing and improving a written work.
• Editing – The process of correcting, condensing, or modifying a manuscript for clarity, coherence, and grammatical correctness.
• Proofreading – The final step in editing, focusing on spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting.
• Beta Reader – A non-professional reader who provides feedback on a manuscript before publication.
• Critique Partner – A fellow writer who provides constructive criticism on a manuscript.
• Ghostwriter – A writer who writes content credited to someone else.
• Pseudonym/Pen Name – A fictitious name an author uses instead of their real name.

Fiction Writing Terms

• Plot – The sequence of events in a story.
• Subplot – A secondary storyline that runs parallel to the main plot.
• Character Arc – The transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story.
• Protagonist – The main character in a story.
• Antagonist – The character or force that opposes the protagonist.
• Foil – A character who contrasts with the protagonist to highlight certain traits.
• Flat Character – A character with little depth or development.
• Round Character – A fully developed character with depth, emotions, and change.
• Static Character – A character who does not undergo significant change.
• Dynamic Character – A character who undergoes significant internal change.
• Setting – The time and place in which a story occurs.
• Exposition – The introduction of background information such as characters, setting, and conflict.
• Conflict – The struggle between opposing forces in a story (e.g., man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. self).
• Climax – The most intense or dramatic moment in a story, usually a turning point.
• Resolution/Denouement – The conclusion of a story where conflicts are resolved.
• Foreshadowing – Hints or clues about events that will happen later in the story.
• Flashback – A scene that takes place before the main timeline of the story.
• Deus ex Machina – A sudden, unexpected resolution to a problem, often seen as contrived.
• MacGuffin – An object or goal that drives the plot but may have little actual relevance.
• Red Herring – A misleading clue meant to distract the reader from the truth.
• Chekhov’s Gun – The principle that every element in a story should be necessary and relevant.
• Suspense – The tension or uncertainty about what will happen next.
• Pacing – The speed at which a story unfolds.
• Worldbuilding – The process of creating an imaginary world, often used in fantasy and science fiction.

Literary Devices & Techniques

• Metaphor – A figure of speech that directly compares two unrelated things.
• Simile – A comparison using “like” or “as.”
• Allegory – A story that operates on two levels: a literal one and a symbolic one.
• Alliteration – The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
• Personification – Giving human characteristics to non-human objects or ideas.
• Hyperbole – Extreme exaggeration for effect.
• Onomatopoeia – Words that imitate natural sounds (e.g., “buzz,” “sizzle”).
• Irony – A contrast between expectation and reality.
• Dramatic Irony – When the audience knows something a character does not.
• Situational Irony – When the outcome is opposite of what is expected.
• Verbal Irony – When someone says the opposite of what they mean.
• Motif – A recurring symbol, theme, or element in a story.
• Theme – The central idea or message of a story.
• Tone – The author’s attitude toward the subject or audience.
• Mood – The atmosphere or emotional setting of a story.
• Imagery – Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.
• Symbolism – The use of objects, characters, or events to represent larger ideas.

Genre & Writing Styles

• Genre – A category of writing (e.g., fantasy, mystery, thriller, romance).
• Subgenre – A more specific division within a genre (e.g., paranormal romance, cyberpunk).
• Speculative Fiction – Fiction that includes elements of fantasy, science fiction, or supernatural themes.
• Literary Fiction – Fiction focused on deep themes and character development rather than plot.
• Commercial Fiction – Fiction written to appeal to a broad audience and sell well.
• Hard Science Fiction – Sci-fi with strict adherence to scientific principles.
• Soft Science Fiction – Sci-fi that prioritizes storytelling over scientific accuracy.
• High Fantasy – Fantasy set in an entirely different world with its own rules and lore.
• Low Fantasy – Fantasy set in the real world with magical elements.
• Urban Fantasy – Fantasy set in a modern city, often featuring magical creatures.
• Dystopian – A genre depicting a dark or oppressive future society.
• Magical Realism – A genre where magical elements exist within a realistic setting.

Publishing & Industry Terms

• Traditional Publishing – Publishing through established companies that handle editing, marketing, and distribution.
• Self-Publishing – Publishing a book independently, without a traditional publisher.
• Hybrid Publishing – A mix between traditional and self-publishing where authors pay for some services.
• Query Letter – A letter sent to literary agents or publishers pitching a book.
• Synopsis – A summary of a book’s plot, characters, and key events.
• Blurb – A short promotional description of a book, often on the back cover.
• Advance – Money paid to an author before a book is published.
• Royalties – The percentage of sales an author earns from book sales.
• Rights (Publishing Rights) – Legal permissions regarding how a book can be published and distributed.
• ISBN (International Standard Book Number) – A unique identifier for books.
• Copyright – Legal protection of an author’s work from unauthorized use.
• Public Domain – Works no longer under copyright and free for public use.
• Literary Agent – A professional who represents authors and negotiates book deals.
• Beta Readers – Test readers who provide feedback before publication.
• Slush Pile – The collection of unsolicited manuscripts sent to publishers.

Marketing & Promotion

• Book Launch – The official release of a book.
• Platform – An author’s public presence, including social media, website, and blog.
• ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) – A pre-publication copy sent to reviewers.
• Book Tour – A series of events where an author promotes their book.
• Reviews – Feedback from readers, bloggers, or critics about a book.
• Bestseller List – A ranking of top-selling books, such as The New York Times Best Sellers.