The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to fiction: Fiction – narrative which is made up by the author. Literary work, it also includes theatrical, cinematic, documental, and musical work. In contrast to this is non-fiction, which deals exclusively in factual events (for example, biographies, histories). Semi-fiction or a fictionalization is fiction implementing a great deal of non-fiction; for example, a fictional description based on a true story.

What type of thing is fiction?

Elements of fiction

Character

Plot

Setting

Theme

Style

Types of fiction

Literary fiction

Genre fiction

Genre fiction – plot-driven fiction • Crime fiction • Fantasy • Romance fiction • Science fiction • Western fiction • Inspirational fiction • Horror fiction

Genres based on age of reader

Genres based on subject matter

Genres based on form

• Novels • Short stories • Radio Theatre • * Audio Drama • * Podcasting • Electronic literature • * Cell phone novel • * Digital poetry • ** Instapoetry • * Hypertext fiction • * Interactive fiction • * Generative literature • Fables • Fairy tales • Legend • Plays • Poems • Films • Comics • TV Programs • Video games

Genres based on the length of the work

Other genres

Fictional elements

History of fiction

By content

By form

• History of comics • History of fables • History of fairy tales • History of film • History of novels • History of poetry • History of serials • History of short stories • History of situation comedies • History of video games

By length

Uses of fiction

Narrative technique

Narrative technique – any of several specific methods the creator of a narrative uses to convey what they want — in other words, a strategy used in the making of a narrative to relay information to the audience and, particularly, to "develop" the narrative, usually in order to make it more complete, complicated, or interesting.

Authors of fiction

Fantasy fiction authors

Horror fiction authors

Science fiction authors

Contemporary Fantasy Authors

Superhero authors