Are you a new writer, floundering in this secret language seemingly wiser authors use? Here is a list of (sometimes) commonly used acronyms and terms to help you decode!* I also included a list of major genres, because I’m not the only one who loses track.**
The literary world is ever-evolving, so if there is a term/acronym/genre that is missing from this list, comment below and I’ll be sure to add it!
*Special thanks to all my fellow authors who helped me put this list together!
**Keep in mind, this is list of major genres. Every genre has a whole list of subgenera that I didn’t have time to get into. Let me know if you want a more detailed list of genres.
Acronyms and Terms
1PP, 2PP, 3PP: First, Second, Third Plot Point
Alpha Reader: The first test reader a writer gives a manuscript to for feedback
AMS: Amazon Marketing Services
ANT: Antagonist - The adversary
ARC: Advanced Reader/Review Copy - An early copy of the finished book, before it is printed for mass distribution (often given to people in the hopes they will read and give reviews when the book goes public)
AU: Alternate Universe
Back Story: History or background of the story
BB: BookBub - A newsletter that helps writers reach new readers
Beta Reader: Test reader who gives feedback on the unfinished manuscript
Character Arc: The transformation of a character
CP: Critique Partner - A fellow writer who provides feedback
D2D: Draft to Digital - Formatting wizardry
Draft: A preliminary version of writing
ENT: Ereaders News Today - An email chain that sends a tailored list of free and bargain ebook deals
FBP: Floating Body Part
FL: Female Lead
FMC: Female Main Character
Genre: A style or category
GR: Goodreads - A social platform for book lovers (excellent resource for both readers and writers)
HC: Hard Cover - A physical book with a hard cover
HEA: Happily Ever After
HFN: Happy For Now
Hook: An element unique to a story
Indie: An independent writer, not associated with a major publisher
KDP: Kindle Direct Publishing - One of Amazon’s publishing platforms
KU: Kindle Unlimited - Amazon’s library
LI: Love Interest
Logline: A brief summary that presents the main conflict or storyline (often one sentence)
LOI: Letter of Introduction
Mary Sue: Stereotypical perfect female character
MC: Main Character
ML: Male Lead
MMC: Main Male Character
MRU: Motivation-Reaction Unit - The actions and reactions that make up a character’s story (Tony stubbed his toe and shouted in pain)
MS/MSS: Manuscript
OP: Out of Print
Pantser: Someone who writes “by the seat of their pants” (they don’t bother with an outline)
PB: Paperback
PH: Plot hole
PIO: Personifying Inanimate Objects - Assigning human traits to non-living things (A talking toaster, or a dancing candlestick)
Pitch: A description of a story, and why it should matter to an agent, editor, publisher, or reader
Plantser: A plotter/pantser hybrid (they will prepare a rudimentary outline before writing)
PLI: Primary Love Interest
Plotter: Someone who creates detailed plans/outlines before starting the first draft
POD: Print On Demand - Physical books don’t get printed until an order comes in, allowing single or small quantities of prints
POP: Pay On Publication
POV: Point Of View - The narrator’s position in the description of events. (There are four major point of views: First person point of view. First person is when “I” am telling the story. The character is in the story, relating his or her experiences directly. Second person point of view. The story is told to “you.” Mostly used in non-fiction. Third person point of view, limited. The story is about “he” or “she.” You only know what the current character knows. Third person point of view, omniscient. The story is still about “he” or “she,” but the narrator has full access to the thoughts and experiences of all characters in the story)
PRO: Protagonist - Lead Character
QNID: Question Not In Dialogue
Query: A formal email/letter from writer to prospective publishers
R&R: Revise and Resubmit
RI: Romantic Interest
RRP: Recommended Retail Price
RUE: Resist the Urge to Explain
SC: Secondary/Supporting Character
SDT: Show, Don’t Tell
Self-Publish: A writer who publishes their works personally, not through a publishing company
Ship: Short for ‘Relationship.’ When you favor a certain coupling in the story
Slush Pile: Unsolicited manuscripts received by publishers/editors
Synopsis: Brief summary of a story (usually only a couple paragraphs long)
Tone: The attitude of a writer toward a subject or audience (generally conveyed through words)
Trad-Pub: Traditionally Published
WC: Word Count
WIP: Work In Progress - Their current project
XO: Crossover - Work that can appeal/relate to multiple genres/age groups
Genres
Adult: MC’s age is usually above 20, characters tend to be more mature, themes can be written more explicitly than in genres meant for younger audiences
Adventure: The MCgoes on a journey, either personally or geographically
Biography: The life story of a subject
Children’s Literature: Written to inform and entertain children
Comedy: Amusing and satirical in tone
Contemporary (Cont): Fictional, but realistic events that could happen today
Dystopia: Explores social and political structures in a dark world (society is often in poverty, squalor or oppression)
Epic: Very long (WC will often be within the 100,000’s), usually full of heroic people and deeds
Fantasy (F): Contains elements that do not exist in the real world (often set in a fictional universe)
Fiction: Imaginary events and people
Flash Fiction (FF): Very short fiction (usually less than 1,000 words)
Graphic Novel: A combination of graphic panels and text
Horror (HR): Intended to frighten, scare, disgust, or startle
Memoir: Factual stories about someone’s life
Musical: A work intended for theatrical performance that includes song and dance
Mystery: Often a mysterious death or crime to be solved
New Adult (NA): A hybrid of adult and young adult, MC usually between 18-30
Non-Fiction (NF): Informative or factual
Play: A work intended for theatrical performance
Poetry: Follows a meter and rhythm (often rhymes)
Romance (RO): Focus on romantic love and relationship between people (usually has a satisfying ending)
Satire: Where vices, follies, abuses and shortcomings are made fun of
Science Fiction (SF/Sci-Fi): Includes imaginative and futuristic concepts of science
Speculative Fiction (SP): Contains elements that do not exist in the real world
Thriller (TH): Suspense, excitement, surprise, anticipation and anxiety
Tragedy: Includes the sorrowful downfall of a protagonist in a serious manner
Western: Set in the latter half of the 19th century, in the American Old West
Young Adult (YA): Themes include coming-of-age and self-discovery, MC tends to be in their late teens
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