My Heart is Booked Blog

When I first joined the online bookish community, I found myself constantly Googling new words, abbreviations, and phrases. I’ve decided to compile a list of bookish jargon that I’ve accumulated over the years, in the hopes that it will aid other clueless newbies (or maybe not-so-newbies). It is my hope that this can be constantly updated as the language evolves. Feel free to leave suggested additions in the comments!

• ABA – American Booksellers Association
• ALA – American Library Association
• ACOSF – A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas
• ACOFAS – A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas
• ACOMAF – A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas
• ACOTAR – A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
• ACOWAR – A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas
• ACSDAL – A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
• ADSOM – A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
• AHSFAB – A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer
• Arc – also called Story Arc or Narrative Arc, an overarching plot line, theme, or character development
• ARC – Advance Reader Copy (sometimes called ARE- Advance Reader Edition), an early copy of a book given out by authors/publishers to generate reviews and interest before mass publication, not for resale
• AU – Alternate Universe, used in fan fiction, it refers to a setting that departs from the original work that the fic is based on
• Beta Reader – a test reader that provides feedback to an author on an unpublished manuscript often prior to querying or ARC production
• Bibliophile – book lover
• Book Plate – a decorative label or sticker that is placed in a book to denote ownership, authors sometimes provide signed book plates in lieu of signing the physical book
• Canon – often used in terms of Fan Fiction, canon refers to plot, setting, or character elements that are established in the original book
• Con – short for convention e.g. Comic Con, Book Con, etc.
• Cosplay – costume play, a performance art where fans wear (often homemade) costumes and accessories to represent a specific character
• CR – Current Read
• CW – Content Warning (see also TW, Trigger Warning) an advisory to potential readers that the book may contain potentially harmful subject matter such as violence, rape, or self-harm
• Deckled Edges – rough cut or distressed edges
• DNF – Did Not Finish, refers to a book that you could not or would not finish
• Fandom – the collective fans of a specific book
• Fanfic – a work of fiction created by a fan using the characters, worlds, or premises established in a published book
• Fanon – elements of a story that were not established in the original book, but are generally considered true by fans
• Genre – category, with books it can refer to fiction, non-fiction, romance, fantasy, memoir, etc.
• GR – Good Reads, a website/app dedicated to book reviews, discussion forums, giveaways, lists, articles, and reading tracking
• Grimdark – a subgenre of fantasy that is particularly dark, disturbing, and/or violent
• HC – hardcover
• HEA – Happily Ever After
• Headcanon – refers to a fan’s personal interpretation of canon or ideas that developed from a specific book or series that cannot be disproven by canon
• HP – Harry Potter
• IOBA – International Online Booksellers Association
• ISBN – International Standard Book Number
• JKR – J. K. Rowling, author of Harry Potter series
• LCN – Last/Current/Next, refers to the last book you read, your current read, and the next book you plan to read
• Manuscript – the earliest copy of an author’s completed work that has not yet been published in final or ARC form
• Mass Market Paperback – smaller paperbacks printed cheaply for mass production
• MC – Main Character
• MG – Middle Grade, refers to books targeted for readers age 8-12
• NA – New Adult, refers to books targeted for readers age 18-25/30, this category is not often recognized and, often, books are recategorized as either YA or Adult
• NaNoWriMo – National Novel Writing Month, annual event that takes place during the month of November in which writers attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days
• Novel – a work of fiction over 40,000 words
• Novella – a work of fiction between 17,000 and 40,000 words
• Novelette – a work of fiction between 7,500 and 17,000 words
• OOP – Out of Print
• OTP – One True Pairing, refers to the coupling of characters into “ideal” relationships
• PB – paperback
• Pitch Wars – a mentoring program where published/agented authors, editors, or industry interns choose one writer each, read their entire manuscript, and offer suggestions on how to make the manuscript shine for an agent showcase
• Potterhead – Harry Potter fan
• POV – Point of View, refers to the perspective in which the story is written, can be 1st person, 2nd person, 3rd person limited, or 3rd person omniscient
• Prequel – a story that comes before a previously published work
• Proof (Uncorrected Proof) – a printed copy of a book that needs to be reviewed for errors and corrections
• Pseudonym/Pseudo (also Pen Name or Nom De Plume) – an alias or assumed name that an author may use to remain anonymous
• Query – the initial step of reaching out and submitting your work to literary agents in an effort to have your work represented by them
• Rec – short for recommendation
• Review Copy – a free copy of a book provided in exchange for a review, can be an ARC or finished copy
• RH – reverse harem, refers to a work of fiction with a group of males centering around a singular female
• Sequel – a book which continues the story of a previously published work; a continuation of the series
• Shelfie – either a photo taken of a book shelf or a photo of yourself in front of a book shelf
• Ship – short for relationship, refers to a fan’s preferential pairing of characters that may or may not be canon
• Short Story – a work of fiction under 7,500 words
• SJM – Sarah J Maas, author of the Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City series
• SOC – Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
• Sprayed Edges – refers to the painted edges of book pages
• Stand Alone – a single work of fiction that does not have a sequel or prequel and is not a part of a larger series
• TBR – To Be Read
• TDA – The Dark Artifices, series by Cassandra Clare
• TID – The Infernal Devices, series by Cassandra Clare
• TLH – The Last Hours, series by Cassandra Clare
• TLC – The Lunar Chronicles, series by Marissa Meyer
• TMI – The Mortal Instruments, series by Cassandra Clare
• TOG – Throne of Glass, series by Sarah J Maas
• Trade Paperback – larger paperback book, closer in size to hardcovers
• Trope – a commonly used literary device, motif, or cliché e.g. the chosen one, the powerful artifact, or enemies-to-lovers
• TW – Trigger Warning (see also CW, Content Warning) an advisory to potential readers that the book may contain potentially harmful subject matter such as violence, rape, or self-harm
• Twihard – Twilight fan
• Verse – short for universe, refers to the setting of a book or series, usually fantasy based, as in the Grishaverse
• WIP – Work in Progress, often used by authors to denote their current project
• World-Building – the development of a fictional universe (setting, culture, society, religion, etc) by an author in a particular book or series
• YA – Young Adult, refers to books targeted to readers age 13-17

This list covers a wide variety of terminology, but I’d be happy to add to it if you have any suggestions. Feel free to provide more ideas in the comments!