Dictionary

metafic en · NOUN

Etymology

From meta- + fic.

Meanings

1. (countable, slang) A fanfic with metafictional elements, focusing on fan fiction, fandom, or creators.
   • In metafics, Janeites make hypotheses on the sources of inspiration for the novels, wonder how the world would have been without Jane, and imagine a TV talk show where Austen herself interviews her characters. 2008, Roberta Grandi, “Web Side Stories: Janeites, Fanfictions, And Never Ending Romances”, in Ingrid Hotz-Davies, Anton Kirchhofer, Sirpa Leppänen, editors, Internet Fictions, page 35:
   • This fic is considered a metafic, a fic about fanfiction and fandom, and usually metafic is satirical like this one. 2016, Layanne Malluhi, "Fanfiction and the Transgression of Fandom Communities", thesis submitted to Georgetown University, unnumbered page
   • A few days later, the fan who sparked this discussion added her own voice to the debate with a metafic (that is, a fic about fandom) called 'The Girl Who Did Not Know Angst.' 2014, Veerle Van Steenhuyse, “Oh, the Angst! Emotional Immersion in Jane Austen Fan Fiction”, in Tawnya Ravy, Eric Forcier, editors, Words, Worlds, Narratives: Transmedia and Immersion:
2. (slang, uncountable) Such fan fiction collectively.
   • User umqra1895 comments that the author “poke[d] fun and [paid] homage to the wide fanfic universe” with this fic, which is essentially what metafic does. 2016, Layanne Malluhi, "Fanfiction and the Transgression of Fandom Communities", thesis submitted to Georgetown University, unnumbered page
   • Depends. The blatantly obvious Mary-Sue-as-Metafic/Parody can be great, or it can be tiresome. 2002 April 11, Becky C., “Re: A question about Mary Sue stories...”, in alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer.creative (Usenet):
   • The difference between this kind of "metafic" and objectionable "actor-fic" is that the metafic is still concentrated on the characters and the fictional world, with just a bit of the actors/real world (or other characters/other ficworld) stirred in for added interest, and usually humor. Objectionable "actor-fic" is fiction about the actors in the real world. 2000 May 2, lee burwasser, “Re: HAD question - "actor-fic"”, in alt.tv.x-files.creative (Usenet):

Forms