User:Erachima/draft
 | This page in a nutshell: Provide readers with information on elements within fiction where this information is useful to understanding notable subjects in the real world. |
Among the numerous subjects that Wikipedia covers, there are many articles on works of fiction. These works range from ancient mythological epics such as Beowulf and The Ramayana, to literary classics like Les Misérables, to recently published novels and ongoing television series like Harry Potter or The Simpsons. Information about fiction falls into two broad categories: facts about the work of fiction itself, such as its authorship, publication, critical reception, and influence —often termed out-of-universe information— and information about the plot and concepts that are described within the work, referred to as in-universe information.
This guideline addresses the inclusion of content about in-universe subjects within Wikipedia. For the notability guidelines on works of fiction themselves, rather than concepts within the works, see Wikipedia:Notability (books), Wikipedia:Notability (films), or the general notability guideline.
Principles
Wikipedia is an encyclopedia of information about subjects notable within the real world, and is not a collection of plot summaries or an encyclopedia of fictional universes. However, since understanding an article on a work of fiction requires the reader know what the work is about, articles on works of fiction can and should include some information about the elements within the work. When considering how to include in universe information in an article, there are several key points that must be kept in mind:
- All Wikipedia subjects must be notable.
Establishing the notability of the subject is the first step in writing any article. If you have not yet taken the time to assert the notability of the work of fiction you are writing about by including information about its real-world history and reception, then summarizing its plot will not help increase its quality.
- All Wikipedia articles must be readably formatted.
Articles about works of fiction should follow relevant portions of the Wikipedia:Manual of style, especially the style guide for fiction. Many WikiProjects also have their own stylistic guidelines.
- All Wikipedia articles must be understandable to outsiders.
When writing, you should assume your readers have little or no personal experience with the article's subject, and keep an out of universe perspective whenever possible to avoid potentially confusing them. If a work of fiction prominently features invented terminology or words redefined for the purposes of its story, then these terms should be briefly defined in the main article on the work. Similarly, avoid using unnecessary jargon; the Martians in a sci-fi book may have a different word for water in their language, but the Wikipedia article on the book should probably still refer to it in English.
- Coverage of in universe elements on Wikipedia must be succinct.
Information on an element of the plot or fictional universe should not be included simply because it is interesting, it must also be important. Things such as detailed retelling of combat sequences, "expanded universe" information that was revealed only in supplementary materials, or the personal history of background characters may be very interesting for fans of the work, but are generally unacceptable in articles because they do not significantly aid in understanding the work as a whole.
- Coverage of in universe elements on Wikipedia must be accurate.
The accuracy of in universe information is generally easy to ensure, since it comes directly from the original work, which is a reliable source for this purpose. However, all content still must be verifiable, and care taken to avoid original research or synthesis to advance a position.