Wikipedia:Notability (fiction): Difference between revisions

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This is an essay.

It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.

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This page in a nutshell: Fictional elements are expected to follow the same notability guidelines as any other topic.

There is no special guideline for fiction. See other relevant policies and guidelines in order to determine which fictional articles are appropriate for inclusion on Wikipedia. In particular, editors should review:

The general notability guideline
The policy on what Wikipedia is not
The manual of style for writing about fiction

History and rationale

Several attempts have been made to establish specialized guidelines to cover the notability of fictional elements within Wikipedia. Until there is a successful proposal to treat fiction in a specialized way, other policies and guidelines should offer guidance on a wide range of topics, including fiction. Existing policies and guidelines have wide acceptance among editors and describe standards that all users should normally follow.

Relevant guidelines and policies

Notability guidelines

The Wikipedia's general notability guideline is appropriate and sufficient for demonstrating the notability of fictional elements. Specifically, fictional elements are presumed to be notable if there is significant coverage in independent secondary sources about the fictional element; when a fictional element is presumed notable, a separate article to cover that element is usually acceptable.

There are specialized notability guidelines for works of fiction which can be found in the following guidelines:

What Wikipedia is not

Articles on fiction are expected to follow existing content policies and guidelines, particularly Wikipedia is not simply plot summaries. Articles on fiction elements are expected to cover more about "real-world" aspects of the element, such as its development and reception, than "in-universe" details.

Manual of style

Editors interesting in writing articles on fictional elements are encouraged to review Writing About Fiction and Wikipedia:Writing better articles#Check your fiction to understand the general approach and content of these articles.

Fictional lists

Non-notable elements of fiction (such as characters and episodes) may be grouped into an appropriate list-like article. Advice for the appropriateness of these list articles can be found at the general Notability guideline and at Stand-alone Lists and Topics.

Consult Wikiprojects

Editors should also review guidelines and recommendations made by WikiProjects that deal primarily with works of fiction. These include but not limited to:

Previous proposals

Wikipedia:Fiction, a previous failed content proposal
Wikipedia:Notability (fiction)/proposed-12-9-07, a previous failed proposal
User:Phil Sandifer/Fiction proposal, a previous proposal
Wikipedia:Plot-only description of fictional works, a previous proposal

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 {{IncGuide}}
+There is no special guideline for fiction. See other relevant [[WP:policies and guidelines|policies and guidelines]] in order to determine which fictional articles are appropriate for inclusion on Wikipedia. In particular, editors should review:
-Several attempts have been made to establish specialized guidelines to cover the '''notability of fictional elements''' within Wikipedia, but without any success. It has been determined that existing policy and guideline, specifically [[WP:GNG|Wikipedia's general notability guideline]] is appropriate and sufficient for demonstrating the notability of fictional elements.  Specifically, fictional elements are presumed to be notable if there is significant coverage in independent secondary sources about the fictional element; when a fictional element is presumed notable, a separate article to cover that element is usually acceptable.
+* The [[WP:GNG|general notability guideline]]
+* The policy on [[WP:NOT|what Wikipedia is not]]
+* The manual of style for [[WP:WAF|writing about fiction]]
+==History and rationale==
-Non-notable elements of fiction (such as characters and episodes) ''may'' be grouped into an appropriate list-like article.  Advice for the appropriateness of these list articles can be found at [[WP:N|the general Notability guideline]] and at [[WP:SALAT|Stand-alone Lists and Topics]].
+Several attempts have been made to establish specialized guidelines to cover the '''notability of fictional elements''' within Wikipedia. Until there is a successful proposal to treat fiction in a specialized way, other policies and guidelines should offer guidance on a wide range of topics, including fiction. Existing policies and guidelines have wide acceptance among editors and describe standards that all users should normally follow.
+==Relevant guidelines and policies==
+===Notability guidelines===
+{{main|Wikipedia:Notability}}
+The [[WP:GNG|Wikipedia's general notability guideline]] is appropriate and sufficient for demonstrating the notability of fictional elements. Specifically, fictional elements are presumed to be notable if there is significant coverage in independent secondary sources about the fictional element; when a fictional element is presumed notable, a separate article to cover that element is usually acceptable.
 There are specialized notability guidelines for works of fiction which can be found in the following guidelines:
 * [[Wikipedia:Notability (books)]]
 * [[Wikipedia:Notability (films)]]
+===What Wikipedia is not===
+{{main|Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not}}
-Articles on fiction are expected to follow existing content policies and guidelines, particularly [[WP:NOT#PLOT|Wikipedia is not simply plot summaries]]. Articles on fiction elements are expected to cover more about "real-world" aspects of the element, such as its development and reception, than "in-universe" details. Editors interesting in writing articles on fictional elements are encouraged to review [[WP:WAF|Writing About Fiction]] and [[Wikipedia:Writing better articles#Check your fiction]] to understand the general approach and content of these articles. Editors should also review guidelines and recommendations made by WikiProjects that deal primarily with works of fiction. These include but not limited to:
+Articles on fiction are expected to follow existing content policies and guidelines, particularly [[WP:NOT#PLOT|Wikipedia is not simply plot summaries]]. Articles on fiction elements are expected to cover more about "real-world" aspects of the element, such as its development and reception, than "in-universe" details.
+===Manual of style===
+{{main|Wikipedia:Manual of Style (writing about fiction)}}
+Editors interesting in writing articles on fictional elements are encouraged to review [[WP:WAF|Writing About Fiction]] and [[Wikipedia:Writing better articles#Check your fiction]] to understand the general approach and content of these articles.
+==Fictional lists==
+Non-notable elements of fiction (such as characters and episodes) ''may'' be grouped into an appropriate list-like article.  Advice for the appropriateness of these list articles can be found at [[WP:N|the general Notability guideline]] and at [[WP:SALAT|Stand-alone Lists and Topics]].
+==Consult Wikiprojects==
+Editors should also review guidelines and recommendations made by WikiProjects that deal primarily with works of fiction. These include but not limited to:
 * [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Television]]
 * [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Soap Operas]]
@@ Line 19: / Line 36: @@
 * [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics]]
 * [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Video games]]
 ==Previous proposals==
 * [[Wikipedia:Fiction]], a previous failed content proposal