Go me! Two entries one day!
And now I present to you the Second installment of D.A.Z. Heh heh. Funny anagrams. ^.^
Alternate Universe, Alternate Reality, and Alternate Dimension (Same meaning, more or less)
AKA (in previous order) AU, AR, AD
Plural- AUs, ARs, ADs
Definition: A character(s) are in a dimension where at least one major thing in their canon is added, removed, or changed without their direct knowledge, and is accepted as reality as the characters know it. All AR's are non-canon.
(AU –ish slight AU)- A story fulfills one of the criteria of an AR to the point that is noticeable, but is it very minor and not warping the flow of things. See *
*I like to call the Aus, so I'll stick with that.*
You know the whole "without their knowledge thing?" yeah. It's not like they're jumping on a space ship or going through a portal or anything like that. They would to be aware of their going to another dimension or universe. In AUs, the reality that the author makes up is treated like its canon, and is their accepted reality.
The thing that differentiates them from a ! story that a lot of the character(s) (but not limited to) situation, problems, setting, relationships, family, backgrounds are very unusual, original or personable, and because of this may change their thoughts, actions, reactions to things, personality, heritage, body types, side of law, etc may be warped to something that in the canon would be consider Out-of-Character. Makes for interesting fics, albeit confusing at times.
Most AUs have a lot of things changed, but some have just one main point of focus that throws off the usual flow of things.
Types of AUs (I may call them something else, but you'll know it when you write/read them)
Never Borns: A Character(s) was never in the series. Most everything may stay the same, only without that character. The missing character would have to be a large influence on the protagonist(s) life, that thing would be very shaken up; These two would be dating, these two would be enemies, these two wouldn't be friends, etc. Not to be confused with deathfics. Either the dead person and protagonist actively knew each other, or the protagonist had at least heard of them and would still be affected by the dead person. If they were never born, how could they ever die?
Never Loved, Never Knew: This is when it gets sticky. Similar to Never Born, but not to be confused. They N.L./N.K. person still EXISTS the same dimension. But they just don't interact romantically or at all with the character of focus who in the canon loved/knew them. This is usually so the author could pair up who they liked, to stage a meeting post their actual meeting, the N.L/N.K. interacts with another character without the protagonist's knowing, or to writing in both POV. If they didn't do one of the following, or make the N.L/N.K have something to do with it, then its kinda pointless even mentioning it, and should be a Never Born. Kinda like saying that baker so-n-so met five years ago who gave him a muffin and the went overseas and was never heard of again was never known. Who cares?
Influential Relatives: Almost the opposite of Never Borns, the influential relative (brother, cousin, paternal mother) are family member that somehow never was introduced or mention prior to the story's timeline, and are OCs, unless they are fillers (see filler family). They have great force in the protagonist's life, and effect what they do think, say, ect.
Long Lost: This is usually with two canon characters. Through some sort of event, or unbeknownst to the characters, they are close relatives in some way, shape or form. It may surface issues, such as their dating, being enemies or something to that effect.
Switched: Two characters switch situations, problems, families, relationships with other characters. This can be a one or two street, with one having the situation etc and the other just being normal. This is a big enough change, but the fact that different characters are very different produces interesting results.
Superpowers: Having wings, being invisible, being able to turn into a cat, all that jazz. How and when the power(s) were acquired are don't matter. So long as it's NOT POSSIBLE it's fine. If, let's say, the cause is possible (so probably lab work) and can be done in real life, and it happens to the character, then it would be consider AU. Good luck finding one of those.
There is probably even more, but these are pretty common, and easy to pick out.
**- In a fic If something very minor is added, changed, or removed and is centered on that change that really are just added facts, that don't really affect the timeline very much, or just slightly, then it is slightly AU.
No go out there and start messing with your poor character's minds! Have fun!
Until next time!
LoL,
Daydreamer1412