An "action beat" is a simple description used in writing to illustrate what a character is doing. An action beat is typically used in place of a dialogue tag to indicate who is speaking (or who is about to speak). For example: Emma stood up from her desk. "You're probably wondering why I asked you here today." 

Grammatical construction in which a sentence's subject initiates the action of the verb. For example: "The singer sang the song" vs. "The song was sung by the singer." The latter is an example of "passive voice," the opposite of "active voice." Using passive voice is usually considered to be not a great idea.

A sum of money typically offered to an author by a traditional publisher in advance of publication of a book. In general, an advance is charged against future royalties earned by the published book. A huge advance delivered before you even write a book has long been the mythical Holy Grail for success-minded authors.

A significant character who gets in the way of the protagonist and sets up obstacles that they have to surmount. Not every story has a literal antagonist (although most stories set some sort of obstacles in front of the protagonist).

A protagonist who doesn't have the admirable qualities of a traditional hero. An antihero may be morally grey, lack courage, or have an abrasive personality. If an author writes an antihero well, the reader will engage with the character despite not necessarily liking them.

Short for "Advance Reader Copy." It's a copy of an unpublished book offered free of charge to a reader, often in exchange for feedback or a review. For authors, ARCs are a great way to get valuable insight into readers' reactions to the book before it's on the market. For readers, ARCs are a treasure trove of undiscovered new stories.

A secondary plot that runs concurrently with the main plot of a story. The B-plot may involve secondary characters, or it may involve a secondary situation concerning the main characters. Often, especially in television writing, the B-plot remains separate from the main plot and doesn't significantly impact the main story.

Part of a story that takes place before the present story actually begins. The backstory can include what happened to your characters before we, the readers, meet them. It can also include important events that shaped the world leading up to the present story. Effectively revealing backstory is one of the trickiest skills for a storyteller to master.

A "beat" is a plot point that changes the direction of the story in some way; it's also often called a "story beat." Many story formulas rely on "hitting" specfic beats at specific points in a story. The idea of "beats" is commonly used in screenwriting, but it is also often applied to literature. Storytellers must exercise caution when using formulas that rely on beats to avoid cliches and predictable plots.

Refers to a measure of female character development in fiction. The Bechdel test asks whether two or more female characters in the story ever have a conversation with one another about a topic other than men. The test is named for cartoonist Alison Bechdel.

A way to identify and change habits to achieve your goals and improve your personal wellbeing. Behavior change methods may be helpful for writers who struggle to achieve their writing goals.

A reader enlisted to read a book before publication and give feedback to the author. Beta readers read ARCs.

A genre of literary fiction in which the protagonist grows from a young, inexperienced character into adulthood. The character typically experiences loss, conflict, and moral transformation along the way. The Catcher in the Rye and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are examples. 

The version of a story and its events that are considered to be "true" and official. The issue of whether or not some part of the story is canon doesn't really come up when the story or story franchise is created by a single author. But when the story's universe expands to include bigger creative teams and more works—or when the story begins to spawn fan fiction—the canon/not-canon distinction becomes more important.

A character's transformation over the course of a story. A "redemption arc" is a popular example of a character arc in which a character gradually understands and makes amends for their early bad behavior.

Constructing a character so that they have a backstory, an inner life, and understandable motivations throughout a story. Good character development is essential for engaging readers, since it creates interesting and believable characters.

Another name for an LLM. Chatbots are often used to edit or even write stories, a practice that we at Blue Room Works think is a really, really bad idea.

A fantasy story trope often combined with the "Hero's Journey" story structure. In this trope, the protagonist discovers that the fate of the world depends on them. Their role in the Universe has very often been foretold by prophecy.

The ending of a story in a story series that leaves the reader in a state of tension until the beginning of the next story in the series.

The high point of the action in a story, often involving a significant turning point. In some stories, the climax is the ultimate culmination of everything leading up to it, and the story comes to a resolution soon after. In other stories, the climax is a just a pivotal moment that changes everything and sets the rest of the story on a different path.

This is a term used in the romance genre to indicate the level of explicit—ahem—intimacy in the story. "Closed door" intimacy means that the really spicy stuff takes place off the page and is largely left to the reader's imagination.

A warning that a book or story contains themes or other content that may be disturbing or otherwise objectionable to some readers. A "content warning" usually refers to a broad theme, topic, or plot event that is widely considered to be disturbing. This makes it different from a "trigger warning," which usually refers to more specific content that might be problematic for individual readers. May be abbreviated as "CW."

Late-stage editing to correct problems in grammar, spelling, punctuation, usage, or style. Copy editing deals with readability, tone, and style. Unlike developmental editing, copy editing doesn't get into deep issues like themes, plot, or character development.

Short for "Current Read," this term refers to the book a reader is currently in the middle of. It's the reader version of WIP.

A fantasy subgenre involving parallel worlds between which characters travel in their adventures. The Chronicles of Narnia, His Dark Materials, The Wizard of Oz, and Alice in Wonderland are all examples.

This is a fantasy subgenre that straddles the line between fantasy and horror. Dark fantasy might include monsters or ghosts, but its intent is usually to evoke emotions such as awe or dread, rather than fear or revulsion. The work of H.P. Lovecraft is an example.

Early-stage editing that's concerned with big-picture issues such as plot arcs, character development, and themes. Developmental editing is much less concerned with the nuts and bolts of writing and more with the foundational obstacles of building a story.

A dialect is a unique version of a language that's spoken by a distinct group of people. Dialects are often associated with particular regions or specific socio-economic classes. Using dialects in writing can help identify who a character is or where they're from, but overuse of dialect can be off-putting to readers. Use with caution.

Technically, dialogue is simply a conversation or exchange of words between two or more people. In fiction writing, the term is often used to indicate any verbal expression by the characters in our stories.

A word (or words) used in writing to indicate who is speaking and, in some cases, how they are speaking. "Said" is the most basic dialogue tag, but more descriptive words such as "muttered" or "shouted" can also be used. Sometimes a writer will not use dialogue tags, relying on context to indicate to the reader who is speaking. The consensus among writers and editors is that, in general, simple diaglogue tags are better.

Short for "Did Not Finish." A book that a reader started but didn't finish reading. Sometimes a DNF happens because a book turns out not to a be a reader's cup of tea. But more often, DNFs are a product of too much to read and too little time.

A popular fiction structure where the point of view (POV) switches back and forth between two different characters.

A kind of story set in a bleak world in which the characters lead difficult lives. Totalitarian or authoritarian regimes, environmental catastrophes, widespread illness, or supernatural perils are common backdrops for dystopian stories.

An editorial assessment is a report prepared by a professional editor that evaluates an early-stage manuscript for big-picture issues, such as plot, character development, and themes. An assessment like this can be a relatively affordable way for a writer to begin the process of editing their project. An editorial assessment may also be called an editorial evaluation, editorial letter, or manuscript evaluation.

A common trope in romance stories. In this trope, two characters start out in conflict, but they eventually give in to their mutual attraction. Pride and Prejudice makes good use of this trope. Sometimes abbreviated as "E2L."

In this fantasy subgenre, the author builds an entirely imagined world, usually with complex mythologies, politics, history, systems of magic, and menageries of fantastical creatures. In many cases, the worlds fill out lengthy novel series. The Lord of the Rings, Song of Ice and Fire, Mistborn, and The Broken Earth are all examples.

Derivative works based on popular stories or characters, usually written with non-professional intent by fans of the original story or stories. The Fifty Shades of Grey stories began as Twilight fan fiction.

A genre of fiction in which magic and/or supernatural beings are real.

Filter words are words that "filter" events in a story through a character instead of letting the reader experience the events directly. For example: "Timmy heard the birds singing outside" vs. "The birds sang outside." In the first sentence, the word heard "filters" the sound of the birds through Timmy. Some editors focus on filter words and try to eliminate them entirely, but that's not always the right approach.

A point of view (POV) in which the story is told from the perspective of a character within the story. "I went to the store" is an example of a first-person sentence. The first-person POV is the subject of debate among readers; some love it, and some hate it.

A type of character arc in which the character doesn't change significantly over the course of the story. Instead, the story focuses on the character's impact on the world around them. Thrillers and mysteries commonly use this type of arc.

Short for "female main character." Refers to the female protagonist of a story. FMC could be used to refer to any kind of story, but the term is most often used in the romance genre.

A romance story trope. Love grows between two characters who are forced, by some circumstance or another, to spend time together. Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing makes use of this trope. Sometimes abbreviated as "FP."

A romance trope that's the flip side of "enemies to lovers." This time, two characters begin the story as pals, but their relationship grows into something more. Jane Austen handles this trope in Emma. Sometimes abbreviated as "F2L."

A pre-publication copy of a manuscript provided to an author by a publisher for review before publication. A galley proof is traditionally the first printed copy of a manuscript, to be followed later by "revised" proofs and a "final" proof. Sometimes called simply a "galley" or "proof."

A broad category of stories (e.g., fantasy, science fiction, mystery, thriller, or romance).

Stories that adhere to the traditions and established forms of particular literary genres. "Genre fiction" is often used as a derogatory term referring to stories perceived as less "serious" than literary fiction. Make no mistake, we at Blue Room Works love genre fiction and think that some genre works are among the best stories ever written.

In a ghostwritten work, the actual writing is done by an uncredited writer, but the author credit goes to someone else. Ghostwriting is often used when an individual with a writing idea (a celebrity, business figure, or other well-known personality) has marketing value in their name but doesn't have the experience necessary to do the writing themselves. A skilled ghostwriter can effectively emulate their client's voice, tone, etc.

A subgenre of fantasy fiction with themes and subject matter that lean heavily toward the dystopian. The stories are often violent, the characters amoral, and the tone bleak.

A narrative structure popularized by Joseph Campbell in the 20th century. Often used in fantasy stories, the structure revolves around a protagonist who is called away from their ordinary life to gain a fantastic new power.

Short for "Happily Ever After." The ending of a romance story in which the protagonists have committed to a long-term relationship. Differs from HFN ("Happy for Now"), in which the characters are in a good place at the end of the story, but their romantic future is not guaranteed.

Short for "Happy for Now." The ending of a romance story in which the protagonists have settled into a romantic relationship, but their future is, in some way, yet-to-be-determined. Differs from HEA ("Happy Ever After"), in which all is rosily sorted out at the end.

A fiction genre whose stories are set in the real-world past. The stories may depict fictionalized versions of real characters and events, or they may follow fictional characters and stories set in the context of broadly real history. Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon are examples (although the latter also fits into the fantasy genre).

A fiction genre that intends to scare, disturb, disgust, or discomfit its readers. The genre can include a wide range of story types, including ghost stories, monster tales, crime, or supernatural terror.

A publishing company that makes its money from both book sales and author fees for publishing services (such editing, design, or marketing). Hybrid publishers may share the cost of editing and publishing a book with the author, which makes them different from traditional publishers and subsidy publishers.

Point-of-view (POV) style in which the narrator has knowledge of only one character's thoughts, experiences, and inner life. The narrator (and, hence, the reader) aren't able to know anything that this character doesn't know.

Later-stage editing at the sentence level for concerns such as voice, tone, and style. Line editing is more precise than developmental editing and less mechanical than copy editing.

A literary agent works on behalf of an author to sell a book or other writing project to a publisher. Being represented by an agent is, in general, the only way that an author (especially a new author) can gain access to many traditional publishers.

This type of writing is typically more character-driven than popular fiction, which tends to emphasize plot instead. Literary fiction is considered by some to be more "serious" and "artistic" than popular or genre fiction. At Blue Room Works, we consider literary fiction to be just another category of writing, not an inherently superior one.

Short for "Literary Role-Playing Game." It's a fantasy subgenre that uses elements of computer or table-top role-playing games as part of the story. Characters in the story are participants in the fictional game, and the plot is controlled by the game's mechanics. The Dungeon Crawler Carl series of novels is a popular recent example.

Short for "Large Language Model." An LLM is a form of "artificial intelligence" that creates the illusion of human language by predicting which word is most likely to come after the preceding word in an exchange with a human. It's important to undestand that LLMs are not truly capable of understanding, reasoning, or reflection.

A classic romance trope. In this formula, two characters compete for the affection of a third character. Think of Bella, Edward, and Jacob in Twilight.

This is a fantasy subgenre in which isolated magical or surreal elements are placed within an otherwise ordinary fictional world. Magical realism is one of the few places where fantastical elements have been accepted in the realm of literary fiction. One Hundred Years of Solitude is a prime example.

A character type, usually a young woman, whose primary function in a story is to motivate the male main character. MPDGs are often quirky and energetic.

A pre-publication version of a written work. The term can refer to any kind of work, including books, stories, and articles. Usually, we use the term "manuscript" for a work that's intended for publication, but that doesn't have to be the case.

A character type who is unreasonably skilled in every endeavor they undertake. A "Mary Sue" is often a newcomer who has virtually unlimited talent, as well as knowledge and abilities well beyond what their experience would suggest. "Mary Sue" is usually used as a derogatory term.

A category of fiction aimed primarily at pre-teen readers. May be abbreviated as "MG."

Short for "male main character." Refers to the male protagonist in a story. MMC could be used for any type of story, but it is most often used in the romance genre.

A feature of some characters (often an anihero) in which the character can't be counted on to make morally admirable decisions or take a positive course of action.

A fiction genre in which detectives, amateur sleuths, or other determined characters work to solve puzzles or track down the perpetrators of crimes.

An account of events. The term, for our purposes, is essentially synonymous with "story."

A framework on which stories are built. Narrative structures divide stories into distinct sections, and they can be used to ensure that a story keeps its readers engaged. Not all stories need to use a formal narrative structure. In fact, overuse of narrative structures can sometimes lead to formulaic, unoriginal stories.

The "person" who tells a story. The narrator of a story can be "reliable," meaning we can trust that what they're telling us is the truth, or "unreliable," which means that their account is slanted in some way and can't necessarily be trusted to be complete or accurate.

A type of character arc in which the character is gradually overcome by obstacles, ultimately leading to their downfall. This arc is typically used in tragedies. Macbeth is a classic example. May also be called a "moral descending arc."

A category of fiction aimed primarily at college-age adults. May be abbreviated as "NA."

Point-of-view (POV) style in which the narrator has access to all characters' thoughts, experiences, and inner lives. A truly omniscient narrator knows everything that has happened, is happening, and is going to happen in the story's world.

A term indicating the relative level of explicit intimacy in a romance story. "Open door" means that the intimacy is on the page for the reader to experience, and the spicy scenes are truly spicy.

Grammatical construction in which a sentence's verb acts on the subject, instead of the subject doing the acting. For example: "The song was sung by the singer." In the old days, many editors argued that passive voice was never acceptable. These days, the prohibition has been relaxed somewhat, but passive voice should still be used with care.

A picaresque novel is a (usually humorous and satirical) story that follows a scoundrel-ish protagonist as they embark on an adventure.

The sequence of events or situations that make up a story.

An unexpected event or situation in a story that surprises the reader when it happens.

Often abbreviated as POV, point of view is the perspective from which a story is told. POV defines who's telling the story and how much they know about the world around them.

Stories targeted at a wide general audience. Typically more focused on plot-driven stories than literary fiction is. Some people use "popular fiction" as a derogatory term, but we do not.

A type of character arc in which the character overcomes obstacles and becomes a better person through the course of the story. Romances often use this type of arc. May also be called a "moral ascending arc."

A style of fiction characterized by intentional rejection of traditional forms. Postmodern writers use techniques such as unreliable narrators, metafiction (a story that refers to itself), grammatical or structural gimmicks, and unexpected points of view. The works of David Foster Wallace and Don DeLillo are examples.

This is a pre-publication version of a book provided to an author by an editor or publisher for review or approval before publication. May also be called simply a "proof," "galley proof" or "galley."

Final editing to correct problems with spelling, punctuation, grammar, layout, and other technical issues. Unlike copy editing, proofreading is not concerned with things like tone or style.

The main character (MC) of a story. Traditionally, the protagonist is an admirable character or one that the reader can relate to, but that's not always the case.

Sometimes called a "query letter," a query is a formal communication that a writer sends to a literary agent to propose a writing idea and request the agent's representation. A query is the first step (aside from the writing itself, of course) in the writer's progress toward traditional publishing.

In its strictest sense, realism simply refers to a story that could actually happen in the real word, as distinct from fantasy. However, in literary fiction, the term often carries a preference for stories about ordinary life and characters, rather than extraordinary ones.

A fantasy story trope. In this plot formula, the protagonist is saddled with the responsibility of saving the day against their will. Can be combined with the "Chosen One" and "Hero's Journey" tropes.

A story in which a character (or characters) is isolated from civilization and has to survive by their wits. The term refers to Daniel Dafoe's Robinson Crusoe. The Martian and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir are modern expmaples.

A fiction subgenre that combines elements of the fantasy and romance genres. While traditional fantasy might focus on politics or supernatural perils, romantasy stories are primarily concerned with relationships.

Royalties are money paid to an author by a publisher based on book sales. Royalties are usually calculated as a specific portion of the income from each book sold. The terms of the royalty arrangement—the rate, the schedule by which royalties are paid, etc.—are usually agreed to by the author and publisher in the initial publishing agreement for a book.

A genre of fiction set in a world that differs from our own but that still adheres to the real world's rules of science. Differs from fantasy in that true science fiction does not include magical or supernatural elements.

Writing stories for film, video, or television. Screenwriting is similar to literature in some ways, but it differs in key aspects, too. Many formal narrative structures were originally developed to guide screenwriters.

Point of view (POV) in which the reader is treated as if they are a character in the story. "You went to the store" is an example of a second-person sentence. The second-person POV is less common in literature than the first- or third-person POV.

Process in which an author provides all the money and labor associated with editing, designing, publishing, and marketing a book. The author retains complete control of their work and its marketing, but they don't get the expertise and experience that a publishing company may have to offer.

A romance trope. Here, the love between two characters grows slowly, usually with a strong will-they-or-won't-they tension. Can also have elements of "enemies to lovers" or "friends to lovers." Sometimes abbreviated as "SB."

A broad term that includes all fiction genres whose worlds differ from the real world that we know. Includes science fiction, fantasy, and much horror fiction.

A bit of information that gives away key parts of a story's plot. Reviews or discussions that contain story spoilers should be prefaced with a warning so that readers can avoid them if they wish.

One of the oldest romance tropes. Two lovers need to be together despite the entire Universe conspiring to keep them apart. Romeo and Juliet is the protypical example of this trope.

A fantasy subgenre often set in an early-industrial world in which Industrial-Revolution-era technology lives side-by-side with magical elements. The novels of Jules Verne and the His Dark Materials series are examples.

Also called a narrative structure, a story structure is a framework on which a story is built.

A subcategory of a broader category of fiction. Historical romance, legal thrillers, cozy fantasy, and steampunk are all examples of subgenres.

A secondary plot that runs concurrently with the main plot of a story. It may also be called a "B-plot," but a true subplot often comes together with the main plot eventually and supports the main story in some way, while a B-plot may remain totally disconnected from the main plot.

A publishing company that charges an author up-front fees to publish their book. May also be called a "vanity press." Subsidy presses are controversial because some unethical companies may mislead authors, overcharge, or fail to provide promised services. Writers should use extreme caution when evaluating the claims of subsidy publishers.

The part of the story that's implied, but not explicitly written in the text. Subtext is the opposite of exposition, where the writer explains what they want the reader to know. Effective use of subtext is crucial for good writing, and it is the basis of the "show, don't tell" principle.

A type of literary fiction that uses dream-like imagery and absurdity, often as a metaphor for emotional or moral themes. Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis is an example.

A genre in which a character or characters face a series of threats and problems that they must overcome in order to survive. The setting for these stories may be post-apocalyptic, but it doesn't have to be. A "Robinsonade" story, in which the characters are stranded or separated from civilization, is a subgenre of survival fiction.

To Be Read. A list of books a reader intends to read. Often manifests in a stack of books on a nightstand.

Point of view (POV) in which neither the narrator nor the reader is part of the story. "She went to the store" is an example of a third-person sentence. This is the most common POV in traditional fiction. Third-person POV may be limited (in which the narrator only knows the POV of a particular character) or omiscient (in which the narrator knows everything about everyone).

A fiction genre characterized by plot-driven, usually action-filled stories. Thriller stories may share features with mysteries, but thrillers typically have a higher tension level.

A publishing company that takes on the financial risk for publishing a book. Absorbs the costs of editing, design, etc., and pays the author in the form of royalties generated from book sales. These publishers are typically much more selective in which works they publish than hybrid or subsidy publishers.

A type of character arc in which the character undergoes profound internal change over the course of the story. Unlike in the "positive" and "negative" character arcs, the change in a transformational arc isn't necessarily from one moral extreme to another. Katniss's transformation in The Hunger Games is an example.

A warning given by an author to indicate that some content in their story might be problematic for individual readers. Trigger warnings are usually very specific, referring to situations, events, or story content that could be traumatic for specific people. This makes them different from content warnings, which are typically more general. Trigger warnings may contain story spoilers. May be abbreviated as "TW."

A situation, concept, character behavior, or other feature of a story that is commonly used in stories of the same genre. "Enemies-to-friends" or "forced proximity," for example, are tropes often used in romance stories.

A publishing company that charges authors for editing, design, and publishing services. Differs from a traditional publisher in that a traditional publisher does not charge an author for these services. "Vanity press" is a derogatory term. These companies have gained a poor reputation because some unethical businesses have misled authors, overcharged, or failed to deliver promised services.

Short for "Work in Progress." A writing project that is not yet finished. Can refer to any stage of the creative process.

A professional who helps an author through the writing process. The services of a writing coach may overlap significantly with those of a developmental editor. A writing coach may concern themselves with the writer's personal relationship with the project, while a developmental editor is likely to be more focused on the work itself.

When a writer chooses what and how they are going to write based on what they think will sell.

Often abbreviated as "YA." A category of fiction aimed primarily at teen readers. These stories may include themes and subject matter suitable for adults, and some YA stories have been fully embraced by adult audiences. The Harry Potter, Hunger Games, and Twilight franchises are examples.