Fanfiction Reference Works
This is a collection of AO3 works and other resources for creating fan works. (See also the Fanwork Research & Reference Guides tag.)
Some fandoms have wonderful on-line communities (e.g. The Harry Potter Lexicon and Marvel wikis) devoted to creating canon references. Many more do not, but fans still have created deeply thought out essays, maps, tables, histories, and other world building. Hopefully, you can find them here.
AO3 allows custom formatting using limited HTML and CSS (workskins). This collection has a number of formatting "how-to's" in addition to the AO3 docs below.
Note: Works added as bookmarks do not add their tags or fandoms to the collection. Please add your own works
(Open, Unmoderated)
Recent works
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the idiot's incoherent guide to learning css & html for ao3 in dystopia by Anonymous
Fandoms: No Fandom
20 Jun 2022
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Summary
CSS & HTML code illiterate but want to add socmed elements amongst other interesting elements in your work? The Idiot™ pertained in the title? Then this Idiot's Incomprehensible Guide is for you! Alternatively, an autobiographical exploit and documentation into learning CSS and HTML in AO3 through the guide of other authors written in a third person perspective. If you found this, I'm so sorry. I'm publishing this so it doesn't get deleted.
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Summary
This is a personal experiment with HTML. It is a very limited list with what I find useful.
Update: Somehow I find more and more stuff useful, so this list is not that limited (and not that private) anymore. I'll improve it with time and according to my needs. I just realized, this will never be "complete" and there is no final number of chapters.
So far that's posted:
Part One: Basics
Part Two: Lines
Part Three: Footnotes and Links
Part Four: Columns and Skins
Part Five: Pictures
Part Six: Choose Your Own Adventure
Part Seven: Chapter Title
Part Eight: The Title, the Username and Links
Part Nine: Boxes (still in progress)
Part Ten: Newspaper Article -
Replika Skin by FaeriMagic
Fandoms: Replika - Fandom, Fandom - Fandom, Archive of Our Own
28 Mar 2022
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Summary
I tried to replicate the Replika aesthetic as much as I could within the confines of AO3's limited HTML/CSS pool.
May be updated in the future when necessary. -
Dyslexia friendly Site Skin by ElectricAlice
Fandoms: Archive of Our Own, Fandom - Fandom
21 Feb 2022
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Summary
A clean dyslexia skin for Ao3.
I made this following the British Dyslexia Association Style Guide and then tweaked with requests and ideas dyslexic readers brought forth.
There's a guide inside on how to further tweak everything from font to size to color so that you can customize it for your needs.Dark mode available in chapter 3!
Series
- Part 5 of CSS code scripts for Ao3
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Summary
A work skin that replicates the appearance of the game "Disco Elysium." Includes HTML, CSS, and a brief tutorial.
Recent bookmarks
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The Fanfic Author's Guide to Metatext by Eiiri
Fandoms: Fanwork Research & Reference Guides - Fandom, Writing Guides - Fandom
29 Apr 2021
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Summary
A handbook for fanfiction writers on Ao3 regarding effective use of meta text, including good tagging practices.
Bookmarked by Nightcandle
08 Nov 2021
Bookmarker's Tags:
Bookmarker's Collections:
Bookmarker's Notes
The Fanfic Author's Guide to Metatext by Eiiri
Very useful!
(including the comment section) -
Staring into the Tag Vortex: AO3 tagging demystified by JustSomeAo3Tips
Fandoms: AO3 Tags
19 Apr 2021
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Summary
[CW: Tag Vortex may stare back.]
Tagging! How many tags does your story need? How can you tell which ones will be useful? As a reader, how can you use them to find what you want, what you really really want? When you keysmash in the forest, does it make a sound?
AO3's beautiful and ridiculously wrangled tags do more than most people expect. Behold the mysteries, rejoice in the synonyms, and optimize your search results. Welcome to the tag vortex.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 3,105
- Chapters:
- 3/3
- Collections:
- 1
- Comments:
- 9
- Kudos:
- 69
- Bookmarks:
- 39
- Hits:
- 907
Bookmarked by Nightcandle
07 Nov 2021
Bookmarker's Tags:
Bookmarker's Collections:
Bookmarker's Notes
Staring into the Tag Vortex: AO3 tagging demystified by JustSomeAo3Tips
Very useful. Concise and easy to understand.
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Map of Hogwarts + 'A Beginner's Guide To Hogwarts' by SheFlooLikeAMadman
Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
09 Jul 2014
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Summary
GRYFFINDORS. Go up the marble staircase and left, and keep travelling in that general direction; you’ll want to be going towards your left, because Gryffindor Tower is on the easternmost side of the castle, and you’re coming from the north/north-west. Once you reach the second floor, you can take a short-cut! Concealed behind a tapestry is a narrow staircase to the upper floors...
A guide for people writing fic set in Hoggy Warty Hogwarts, who want to know where everything is, a first-person walk-through, written as if a Prefect is handing out pamphlets to all the poor ickle firsties. ^_^’
( Includes a map I made, back before the new illustrated editions came out when we still had no official guide, based on JKR's. )( UPDATE: now includes a rough map of Hogsmeade! )
Bookmarked by Nightcandle
07 Nov 2021
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Bookmarker's Collections:
Bookmarker's Notes
Map of Hogwarts + 'A Beginner's Guide To Hogwarts' by SheFlooLikeAMadman
Written like a leaflet for new students it also includes two maps and several charts; with very useful information about the locations of many things on Hogwarts' grounds and in Hogsmeade and additional 'good to know about' info about them.
Great writing reference, but also helpful for readers who like to visualise the layout while reading.
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How to: Block fanfics/tags/users & Hide too-long tag fields by vanetta
Fandoms: 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)
12 May 2021
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Summary
Have you ever had to scroll past a fanfic with too many tags, especially on mobile where it takes forever? A fic that updates daily and has tagged over 20 fandoms that you cannot escape seeing?
Well, here's how to block a fic on AO3, or how to block stories with certain tags or even the way to block specific users whose stories you don't want to see! You will not need to download anything nor create a specific bookmark on your browser.
Ch.1
-Block fanfics.
-Limit the amount of visible relationship/freeform tags with a scrollbar.
Ch.2
-General troubleshooting if you blocked a story but it still appears. A list of common mistakes you could have made and their fixes.
Ch.3
-Limit the amount of visible fandom tags. (Like in chapter 1, except for fandom tags instead of relationship/freeform tags)
Ch.4
-Block AO3 users so you won't see any of their stories when browsing AO3.
Ch.5
-Block tags with AO3 savior - A step-by step guide with detailed explanations, images and examples.Series
- Part 1 of Reference Guides
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 5,188
- Chapters:
- 5/5
- Collections:
- 3
- Comments:
- 499
- Kudos:
- 1656
- Bookmarks:
- 1419
- Hits:
- 41559
Bookmarked by Nightcandle
07 Nov 2021
Bookmarker's Tags:
Bookmarker's Collections:
Bookmarker's Notes
How to: Block fanfics/tags/users & Hide too-long tag fields by vanetta
Very useful.
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Alphas, Betas, Omegas: A Primer by norabombay
Fandoms: Sherlock (TV), Supernatural, Supernatural RPF, X-Men: First Class (2011) - Fandom, The Avengers (2012), Sherlock Holmes & Related Fandoms, Teen Wolf (TV), Thor (Movies), Hannibal (TV)
21 Sep 2015
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Summary
A brief primer on the concept of Alpha/Beta/Omega Universes: Also known as that trope suddenly showing up in your fandom that doesn't make any sense.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 9,689
- Chapters:
- 5/5
- Comments:
- 1334
- Kudos:
- 8325
- Bookmarks:
- 2644
- Hits:
- 371241
Bookmarked by britishdisasters (thoseshadowsalmostkilled)
01 Apr 2021
Bookmarker's Collections:
Bookmarker's Notes
Reference text