AH: (All Human) – Canonical non-human characters are depicted as human. The characters may or may not retain their canon characteristics/personality.
AU: (Alternate Universe) – This means the world (universe) is different than in the canon original work. Non-human canon characters retain those traits (i.e. vampire, werewolf), but almost nothing else is canon, often involving a completely different setting/plot.
AU-NM: (Alternate Universe-New Moon) – This means the story picks up after Twilight, replacing New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. Characters may retain canon characteristics or be OOC.
AU-EC: (Alternate Universe-Eclipse) – This means the story picks up after New Moon, replacing Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. Characters may retain canon characteristics or be OOC.
AU-BD: (Alternate Universe-Breaking Dawn) – This means the story picks up after Eclipse, replacing New Moon. Characters may retain canon characteristics or be OOC.
A/N: Abbreviation for Author’s Note, used when the author wants to create an aside to explain something.
Angst: Indicates that the story has some depressing themes and characters suffer emotionally in some way. Relationship break-ups, character death, and hurt/comfort are all forms of angst stories.
Canon: In the context of fan fiction, canon is both the accepted “official” material itself and a concept or detail promoted by the original work and/or in accepted official material. In Twi-Fic, canon refers to the character traits, laws, and details contained in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series.
Crack-Fic: Named after the drug to imply that the story can only be the product of a deranged mind. Crack fic is identified by its absurd, surprising, or ridiculous premise.
Dark: This term refers to plots which introduce “dark” elements such as death, rape, or violence.
Lemon and lime: Lemon features explicit sex stories that depict the sexual act graphically. The term lime denotes a story that has sexual themes but is not necessarily explicit.
Non-Canon Pairing: Any romantic pairing that is contrary to what is in the Twilight series, .i.e. Bella is with Jasper instead of Edward.
OOC: Abbreviation for Out Of Character which refers to stories in which the personality or actions of a character does not conform with that established in canon.
POV: Abbreviation for Point Of View.
Rec: A rec is an abbreviation of “recommendation.” If you rec a story, you recommend it.
RPF: Abbreviation for Real Person Fiction is written about real people such as actors, politicians, athletes and musicians. Due to the nature of the stories—being about real people as opposed to fictional characters—there are some people who disagree on whether or not RPF is genuine fan fiction because it doesn’t involve any canon elements.
Ship: A ship (short for relationship) is a romantic pairing. A fan fiction story may feature one or more “ships.” Many fans may consistently favor a particular character pairing (or more than one), and such a fan is referred to as a “shipper.”
Slash: Slash fiction is fan fiction which exclusively deals in homosexual relationships. For example, a common pairing is Edward and Jasper.
UST: Abbreviation for “Unresolved Sexual Tension” and refers to the lack of full or sometimes even partial resolution of sexual tension elements within a story.
STORY RATINGS
Twilighted.net and Fanfiction.net have two different rating systems. Please note that Fanfiction.net does not allow graphic sexual content (MA rating). However, many authors post such stories under the M rating when in fact the content is deserving of the NC-17 or MA rating. Sometimes these stories are flagged and pulled from the site. Often the author will then move the story to Twilighted.net which allows explicit content.
Fan-Fic Reviews will use the rating assigned by the author from whichever site the story is posted.
Fanfiction.net Rating Guidelines
K+ (9+): Suitable for more mature childen, 9 years and older, with minor action violence without serious injury. May contain mild coarse language. Should not contain any adult themes.
T (13+): Suitable for teens, 13 years and older, with some violence, minor coarse language, and minor suggestive adult themes.
M (16+): Not suitable for children or teens below the age of 16 with possible strong but non-explicit adult themes, references to violence, and strong coarse language.
Twilighted.net Rating Guidelines
G: General audience, appropriate for all ages.
What is not allowed under this rating:- Language beyond polite conversation.
- Violence.
- Nudity or any sensual/sexual activity.
- Drug and/or alcohol use.
PG: Parental guidance is suggested for readers age 12 and under. Stories in this category may contain very mild language, limited concepts of violence.
What is not allowed under this rating:- Graphic or excessive bad language.
- Advanced themes of violence.
- Nudity or any sensual/sexual activity.
- Drug and/or alcohol use.
PG-13: Parental guidance is advised for readers age 12 and under. Stories in this category may contain moderate language and more advanced themes of violence, themes of sensuality or sexuality, and other similar content including brief or implied nudity of a non-sexual nature, and drug/alcohol use by adults.
What is not allowed under this rating:- Excessive bad language or any profanity of a sexual nature.
- Excessive violence.
- Explicit or implied nudity of a sexual nature.
- Explicit or strongly implied sexual activity.
- Drug and/or alcohol use by underage characters.
R: Parental warning of adult themes and content. Stories in this category may contain strong language including some profanity of a sexual nature, advanced themes of violence, advanced sensual or sexual situations, implied sexual activity, drug and/or alcohol use or abuse by adults, and other similar content.
What is not allowed under this rating:- Excessive profanity of a sexual nature. Characters cannot routinely use the “F” word or similar language in conversation.
- Drug and/or alcohol use by underage characters.
- Explicit, graphic nudity of a sexual nature. Genitalia may not be described in detail or heavily implied.
- Explicit, graphic sexual activity. No sexual acts may be described in detail or heavily implied. This includes, but is not limited to, fellatio or other forms of stimulation. No description of the presence or exchange of body fluids.
