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 | This page in a nutshell: Wikipedia articles should describe fiction and fictional elements from the perspective of the real world, not from the perspective of the fiction itself. Jump to§ Conclusions for a more detailed summary of this guideline's contents. |
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Wikipedia contains numerous articles onsubjects related to fiction, includingfictional worlds and elements therein. When creating these articles, editors should establish the subject's real-worldnotability by including severalreliable,independentsecondary sources. This approach will also ensure enough source material is available to write a balanced article that is more thanjust a plot summary, meeting the policy onwhat Wikipedia is not.
Once an article about fiction or a fictional subject meets basic policies and guidelines, editors should consider: (a)what to write about the subject, and (b)how to best present that information. These questions are complementary and should be addressed simultaneously to create a well-written article orimprove a preexisting one.
Articles about fiction, like all Wikipedia articles, should use thereal world as their primaryframe of reference. As such, the subject should be described from theperspective of the real world. To achieve this, editors must use bothprimaryandsecondary information.
Important aspects of real-world perspective include:
Anin-universe perspective describes the narrative (or afictional element of the narrative, such as characters, places, groups, and lore) from the vantage of characters within thefictional universe, treating it as if it were real and ignoringreal-world context and sourced analysis. Many fan wikis and fan websites (seebelow) take this approach, but it should not be used for Wikipedia articles. An in-universe perspective can be misleading to the reader, who may have trouble differentiating between fact and fiction within the article. Furthermore, articles with an in-universe perspective are more likely to includeunverifiableoriginal research due to reliance on the primary source. Most importantly, in-universe perspective defies community consensus as towhat we do not want Wikipedia to be.
Features often seen in an inappropriate, in-universe perspective include:
These restrictions also apply to serious satire such asGulliver's Travels,Candide, and many stage plays, in which the fictional elements camouflage the political or social criticism within the work. In such cases, it is legitimate to usereliable sources to examine the fictional elements and the design of the storyline when such sources attempt to decipher the author's original intent. Also, exemptions might apply to other special forms of literature in which the fiction/non-fiction categorization is disputed, such as the possibly historical elements ofreligious scripture.
This section deals with theincorporation of information in articles about fiction, specifically in regard to primary and secondary sources.
In an article about fiction, the fiction itself is the mainprimary source. Even articles with the strictest adherence to a real-world perspective still source the original work. According to the policyWP:No original research § Primary, secondary, and tertiary sources, "A primary source may be used on Wikipedia only to make straightforward, descriptivestatements of facts that can beverified by any educated person with access to the primary source but without further, specialized knowledge. ...Do not analyze, evaluate, interpret, or synthesize material found in a primary source yourself; instead, refer to reliable secondary sources that do so."
Examples of information often only found in primary sources include:
This content should not be included outside of the plot summary section of an article, unless also covered in reliable secondary sources.
Secondary information is external to the fictional universe; it is usually taken fromsecondary sources about the work or thefictional world it describes, or from primary and secondary sources about the author and the creation of the work. Publications affiliated with a particular work (such as fan magazines) are mostlynot considered suitable secondary sources about the primary works. However, such publications may be suitable primary or secondary sources in an article about the fan publication itself or other related topics.
The rule of thumb is to use as much secondary information asnecessary anduseful to cover the topic's major facts and details from a real-world perspective –not more andnot less. Another rule of thumb is that if the topic isnotable, secondary information should be available and possibly already in the article.
Examples ofuseful information typically provided by secondary sources about the original work, or primary and secondary sources about information related to the work, include the:
An article about a fictional work should include a plot summary. Character descriptions or direct quotations could also be helpful in some cases. By convention, the summary should be written in the continuous present tense, also known as thenarrative present, as this is how a reader, listener, or viewer experiences the story (see alsoWP:FICTENSE).
Plot summaries and character descriptions should be written in an out-of-universe style, presenting the narrative from an external real-world frame of reference from the characters or setting. For example, instead of starting a plot summary with "It is 2003", which puts the reader in the frame of reference of the work, start with "In 2003," which extracts the reader from that frame.
Plot summaries should be written as prose, not as lists or timelines. For some types of media, associated guidelines may offer advice on plot length; for example,WP:Manual of Style/Film § Plot andWP:Manual of Style/Novels § Plot say that plot summaries for feature films or full length novels should be between 400 and 700 words.
Wikipedia articles normally include plot spoilers, as explained in thespoiler guideline. A plot summary should cover the complete story, including all major plot points, significanttwists, and the ending. Avoid using "teaser-style" descriptions designed to withhold key encyclopedic details, for example "In the end the family makes a shocking discovery…". Omitting or concealing plot elements due to concerns about spoilers is not acceptable. Spoiler warnings are never used on Wikipedia, for the reasons set out in theno disclaimers guideline.
Do not create articlesconsisting of a plot summary and little else. Sourced external context should always be presented, covering the development, design, reception, significance or influence of the work.
In articles on individual works, the plot summary usually appears in a section labeled "Plot", "Story", or "Synopsis". This heading implicitly informs the reader that the text within it describes the fiction. It is thus usually not necessary for a plot summary to include explicit out-of-universe language, though care should be taken toavoid incorporating elements of an in-universe perspective. Subheadings based on natural divisions in the plot, such as the acts of a play or musical, can be used to provide real-world framing.
In a Wikipedia article on a work of fiction, the work itself serves as a primary source for a written description of the plot. Thus, a basic plot summary, without interpretation or explanation, does not normally require a reference to any outside source. References may be required in non-linear works such as video games and interactive films, where key elements of the plot may not be seen by the viewer due to how they interact with the work. For example, some of the core backstory to the video gameBioShock is provided by optional audio logs, so Wikipedia's plot summary references these when they are relevant.
Works that incorporate non-linear storytelling elements, such asflashbacks (Citizen Kane) orin medias res (The Usual Suspects) presentation, or other narrative framing devices such as breaking thefourth wall (Ferris Bueller's Day Off) or inclusion ofself-referential humor (Monty Python and the Holy Grail), may require inclusion of out-of-universe language to describe how the work is presented to the reader or viewer. For example, a summary ofCitizen Kane should establish that much of the film is an extended flashback that is bookended by scenes in the film's present; the entire plot summary should still be written in narrative present tense. Summaries may depart from the fiction's chronological order if doing so enhances clarity or brevity. A work with two concurrent, interchanging storylines is likely better told by summarizing one storyline in full, followed by the second storyline. If the narrative device is a significant feature of the work, such as with the filmsMemento andRun Lola Run, then this structure should be explained to the reader.
The plot summary should normally set out the basic plot without any attempt to interpret or explain the creator's intent or meaning. Where a plot point is unclear or ambiguous, for example as a result of anunreliable narrator or storytelling technique, out-of-universe language can be used to describe (but not to interpret) the way in which events are presented. Discussion, interpretation and explanation of the plot requires the citation of external reliable sources, and is generally best included elsewhere in the article.
A plot summary for a series might broadly describe the overall series storyline, related events in different works, or the life of a fictional character over multiple works. Section headers can delineate individual works in the series.
When an article getslong, a section is sometimes developed into its own article, and the handling of the subject in the main article is condensed to abrief summary. The new article is sometimes called a "spinoff" or "spinout" of the main article. For fiction, such spinout articles are typically about characters or other elements that appear in multiple works. There may be alist of characters. If one individual character or plot item is sufficiently notable, it could have its own article. Such an article should make clear that the subject is part of the fictional world in question; characters should not be presented as if they are real persons, fictional settings should not be treated as real places, and so forth. Section labels such as "Fictional description" or "Appearances" can help to maintain a real-world perspective. Appropriate real-world information should also be included.
Even in a spinout article,excessive detail should be avoided. As with all Wikipedia articles, the spinout needs to beverifiable, must possessno original research, and must reflect aneutral point of view.
The plot summary for a work, on a page about that work, does not need to be sourced with inline citations, as it is generally assumed that the work itself is the primary source for the plot summary. However, if the summary includes a direct quote from the work, this must be cited using inline citations so that readers can easilyverify it. Brief citations from the primary work can also be helpful (but are not required) to source key or complex plot points. If all or most of the summary has been derived not from the work itself but from a comprehensive plot summary in a reliable secondary source, citing that source is recommended as a convenience to readers.
Plot summaries that rely on the work as a primary source should provide a straightforward account of the plot, free from interpretation. For example, a summary ofInception should not speculate on whether the spinning top remains upright or falls at the end of the film. Any interpretive content should be placed in a separate analysis section and supported by secondary sources, in accordance with theprohibition on original research. Information drawn directly from a work as a primary source should represent how the work is presented to a typical reader or viewer, avoiding reliance on details that demand a meticulous word-by-word or frame-by-frame analysis beyond the standard experience of reading or watching.
In many visual works, viewers with relevant local or specialist knowledge may easily identify real-world locations, objects, or brands. However, such details should not be included in the plot summary unless they are explicitly referenced within the work and are directly relevant to the narrative. For instance, theDMC DeLorean inBack to the Future is explicitly identified in the film and is central to the story, making its inclusion in the summary appropriate. By contrast, while the setting ofSeven can be recognised as Los Angeles through visible landmarks, the city should not be mentioned in the summary since the film does not explicitly name it and its specific features are not central to the story. If such details hold real-life significance and are supported by a secondary source, they may be included in a separate section, such as one addressing filming locations or behind-the-scenes matters.
Generally speaking, a fictional topic that does not meet thenotability guidelines should not have its own article on Wikipedia. However, a collection of fictional topics, such as a setting or cast of characters, may be more notable as a whole. As mentionedearlier, the rule of thumb is that if the topic is sufficiently notable,secondary sources will be available and will ideally be included upon article creation, to show that the article should exist.
Articles must be written from aneutral point of view and must give due weight to all aspects of the subject. Editors should also give appropriate weight to all elements of the article (e.g., images and text, as well asinfoboxes and succession boxes). The goal is to attain the greatest possible degree of accuracy in covering the topic at hand, which is also the basic rationale behind discouragingdisproportionately long plot summaries and in-universe writing.
As the Wikimedia Foundation is based in the United States, Wikipedia articlesmust conform to United States copyright law. It has been held in a number of court cases that any work which re-tells original ideas from a fictional source, in sufficient quantity without adding information about that work, or in some way analysing and explaining it, may be construed as aderivative work or a copyright violation. This may apply irrespective of the way information is presented, in or out of the respective fictional universe, or in some entirely different form such as a quizbook or "encyclopedia galactica".
Information from copyrighted fiction can be provided only underfair use, andWikipedia's non-free content policy requiresminimal extent of use. Many works of fiction covered by Wikipedia are protected by copyright. Some works are sufficiently old that their copyright has expired, or the rights may have been released in some way, such as under theCC BY-SA license, or into thepublic domain. In these cases, the works themselves may be hosted at a Wikimedia project likeWikisource, but the Wikipedia should still cover the work tersely.
When writing about fiction, keep the following in mind.
Here are examples of fiction-related articles that, at last check, followed thereal-world perspective. This is a brief selection; for other equally exceptional examples, see the lists of articles that have been rated atGood andFeatured status.
List of articles as of 17 December 2024[update]:
Complete works[edit]Novels[edit]Films[edit]Television series[edit]Television episodes[edit]
Comics[edit]Video games[edit]Miscellaneous[edit] | Characters[edit]Cartoons[edit]Video games[edit] | Elements of fictional works[edit]
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{{In-universe}}If you notice an article that predominantly describes a fictional topic from an in-universe perspective, or even provides no indication that a fictional subject is fictional, preferably rewrite the article or section yourself, or use the{{In-universe}} template to bring the issue to the attention of others. You could also leave a note on the article's talk page explaining your objections. The template looks like this:
 | This articledescribes a work or element of fiction in a primarilyin-universe style. Pleasehelp rewrite it toexplain the fiction more clearly and provide non-fictional perspective. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
{{Cleanup tense}}One of the most frequently occurring errors associated with an in-universe style of writing is incorrect use of past tense when discussing elements of the plot.Works of fiction are generally considered to "come alive" when read. As with all other article issues, preferably fix it yourself, or alternatively you may use the template to supplement and specify the{{In-universe}} template's call for a consistent real-world perspective.
 | This articlemay usetenses incorrectly. Please helpimprove this article. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
{{Primary sources}}If you notice an article featuring only primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject, preferably find and add suitable sources yourself, or use the{{Primarysources}} template to bring the issue to the attention of others.
 | This articlerelies excessively onreferences toprimary sources. Please improve this article by addingsecondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: "Writing about fiction" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
{{No plot}}When the article is missing a plot summary entirely, use the{{No plot}} template. If you feel qualified to write a basic plot summary, consider giving it a shot.Succinctly summarizing a plot and deciding which elements to mention and how to describe and weight them can be a challenge, but it's also a rewarding experience; plot summaries can be entirely based on primary sources and in many cases no complicated cross-reading between various sources is required.
| Thisarticle needs aplot summary. Pleaseadd one in your own words. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
When the plot summary is present but insufficient (for example, if it summarizes the conflict but omits the resolution, or consists only of a blurb or "hook"), use the{{Hook}} or{{More plot}} template.
| Thisplot summarymay bea hook or written as if for alistings magazine. Pleasehelp improve it by ensuring it covers the whole story, however briefly, and in anencyclopedic style. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| This articleneeds an improvedplot summary. Please helpimprove the plot summary. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
{{Long plot}}A plot summary should be succinct and focused on the main plot.What to cut can sometimes be a difficult decision. If you have the time and energy, please consider tightening overly long and overly detailed plot summaries yourself.
| This article's plot summarymay betoo long or excessively detailed. Pleasehelp improve it by removing unnecessary details and making it more concise. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
{{All plot}}When the article contains little more than a plot summary, use{{All plot}} to raise the issue. Since a lack of significant coverage in reliable secondary sources may eventually lead to the article's being nominated for deletion, consider improving the article yourself.
| This articleconsists almost entirely of aplot summary. Please helpimprove the article by adding morereal-world context. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Many fictional universes have dedicated wikis that may feature more comprehensive coverage of the in-universe aspects of the work, without the need to establish real-world perspective. If a universe is not available in the above link, please try asearch engine.
Infoboxes, usually placed in the upper-right portion of an article, give key data about the article's subject in tabular format. For entities within fiction, useful infobox data might include the creators or actors, first appearance, an image, and in-universe informationessential to understanding the entity's context in the overall fiction. What qualifies as essential varies based on the nature of the work. Where facts change at different points in a story or series, there may be no appropriate in-universe information at all to add. By contrast, an infobox on a character in afantasy work with multiple warring factions may warrant data such as allegiance.
As with all infoboxes, trivial details should be avoided. An infobox for a real-life actor would not contain items such asfavorite food andhobbies; these details do not aid the reader in understanding theimportant characteristics of the subject. In the same way, infoboxes about fictional entities should avoid delving into minutiae, such as information only mentioned in supplementary backstory. For this reason, infoboxes meant for real-world entities should not be applied to their fictional counterparts, since, for example, information important to a description of a real-world company may be tangential to a fictional one. It is important to identify the revenue ofMicrosoft, whereas the fact that fictional MegaAcmeCorp makes300 billion GalactiBucks in 2463 is probably unimportant.
Another common type of template,succession boxes, should not be used to describe in-universe relationships in articles about fictional entities. Succession boxes assume continuity, which may not exist. Furthermore, they may invite the creation of non-notable articles that fall under the fictional succession. For articles about works of fiction themselves, the story that each work of fiction depicts does not change despite the continuation of stories across serial works or sequels, and as a consequence, the events within one work of fiction are always in the present whenever it is read, watched, or listened to. In-universe temporal designations such as "current" or "previous" are therefore inappropriate. For character articles (which cannot be bound temporally), it may be acceptable to use customized templates to summarize information from the perspective of the real world, such as connections between articles describing the same fictional world. Such templates should not invite the creation of articles about non-notable subjects.
A number ofcategories exist to sort works of fiction by their major themes and narrative elements which can help readers find related works. For example, works onHarry Potter should be categorized inFictional characters who use magic. However, editors should be careful not to use an excessive number of categories, and should only use the categories that primarily cover the work, where it would be nearly impossible to concisely describe the work or topic of fiction without broadly mentioning the category. WhileCategory:Blood in fiction may readily apply to stories where blood is a major element such as works about vampires, the work should not be placed into this category just based on the appearance of blood in the work. Overzealous sorting can diffuse the usefulness of these categories, as well as over-categorize certain works.
These are some of the largerwikiprojects that deal with fiction material. They may have additionalsuggestions, article templates and styles with which you might wish to make yourself familiar.
There are also numerous genre-specific and even franchise-specific wikiprojects; seeWP:WikiProject Council for listings.