Wikipedia:Notability (fiction)

For information about writing articles on fiction, see Wikipedia:Manual of Style (writing about fiction).

For specific examples of where you may be able to help, see Wikipedia:Fiction/Noticeboard.

Wikipedia:Notability (fiction) is a proposed guideline that defines the inclusion criteria for topics about fiction, whether their subject is a work of fiction or a fictional element from a work (including but not limited to serialised works that are divided into episodes, and elements such as fictional characters, settings or events).

This proposed guideline may be considered a specialized version of Wikipedia:Notability, which refers to whether or not a topic should be the subject of a standalone article. The term "Notability" is not a reflection of a topic's importance or merit; rather it used in the sense that the topic has been noted in published commentary from reliable sources independent of the topic itself. A work or element of fiction may be a brilliant creation, fascinating and topical, while still not being notable enough to ensure sufficient verifiable source material exists to create an article that meets Wikipedia's content and style policies.

Special consideration must be given to writing about fictional topics because they are inherently not real. Articles about fiction, like all Wikipedia articles, should describe their subject matter from the perspective of the real world in which the work or element of fiction is embedded, and should not attempt to create or uphold the illusion that a fictional topic is real by the omission of real world information or by over-reliance on a perspective that is in universe. It is Wikipedia's mission is to inform rather than immerse the readership by providing balanced coverage, so that they can fully understand the subject and appreciate its overall significance.

Works of fiction distributed through the media of books and film are also (but not exclusively) the subject of separate notability guidelines for books and films respectively. Other specific guidelines may be developed in the future. Until then, this guideline may be instructive by analogy.

Inclusion criteria

If a fictional topic has received non-trivial real-world coverage in reliable secondary sources that are independent of the subject, it is presumed to satisfy the inclusion criteria for a stand-alone article.

• "Non-trivial real-world coverage" means that sources address the subject directly in detail using the real-world or out-of-universe analysis as the primary frame of reference, and no original research is needed to extract the content.

• "Reliable secondary sources" are at least one step removed from the primary source, and contain non-trivial real-world coverage of their own that focus upon it. Coverage from tertiary sources does not constitute evidence of notability for the purposes of article creation - directories and databases are examples of coverage that may not actually support notability when examined, despite their existence as reliable sources.

• "Independent" means published sources that are independent of the creator, author, publisher or distributor. Promotion and product placement are not independent, and non-promotional self-published sources are still not evidence of notability as they do not measure the attention a subject has received by the world at large. Creator commentary on specific elements may still hint at the likelyhood of the element being notable.

• "Presumed" means that non-trivial real-world coverage in reliable secondary sources establishes a presumption, not a guarantee, of satisfying the inclusion criteria for a stand-alone article. Editors may reach a consensus that although a topic meets the all of the above criteria, it is not suitable for inclusion. For example, it may violate what Wikipedia is not or may go against the general consensus of what to include by giving undue weight to trivial elements and attempts to bypass it could be seen as a point-of-view fork.

A topic for which the inclusion criteria are deemed to have been met by consensus, satisfies one of the criteria for a stand-alone article in the encyclopedia. Content which can be verified from the primary source, but which does not currently meet the inclusion criteria, may still be appropriate for inclusion within another article or list that does meet these criteria.

Derivative articles

Wikipedia articles tend to grow in a way which lends itself to the natural creation of new articles. The threshold for creating a separate article is verifiable evidence, not simply volume of information. It is not enough to simply assert that an element of fiction such as a fictional character, or a segment of a fictional work, such as an episode or scene should be the subject of a standalone article simply because the book, film or television series from which it is notable. Notability is not inherited since it applies to individual topics, every article about a fictional topic must stand on its own feet in the sense that it must substantiate its own claim to notability.

It is general consensus on Wikipedia that articles should not be split and split again into ever more minutiae of detail treatment, with each split normally lowering the level of real-world coverage contained in an article. This means that while a book or television series may be the subject of non-trivial real-world coverage, care should be taken when creating seperate articles ensure that each topic is notable in its own right.

For this reason, it is not normally advisable to set out from the start with the intention of creating derivative articles for every fictional character, episode, scene or chapter derived from it. Rather, avoid splitting articles if the new article cannot meet inclusion criteria for topics about fiction. Derivative articles should explain the significance of the character, setting, episode or scene to the work by sourcing relevant information. After reading the article, the reader should be able to understand secondary opinions as to why a character, place, or event was included in the fictional work.

Often, a separate article is created for formatting and display purposes; however, this does not imply an "inherited notability" per se, but is often accepted in the context of ease of formatting and navigation.

Plot summary

A plot summary is a retelling, a summary, or an abridged or shortened précis of the events that occur within a work of fiction. The purpose of a plot summary is to help the reader understand the important events within a work of fiction, be they of the work as a whole or of an individual character.

Coverage of a work of fiction and elements of such works should not solely be a plot summary. In addition to a summary of the primary source, they should include real world coverage of the work (such as its development, legacy, critical reception, and any sourced literary analysis) from reliable secondary sources. Coverage of fictional topics should provide balanced coverage that includes both plot summary and real-world context.

Articles that don't meet the inclusion criteria

Articles that do not meet the inclusion guidelines above may be deleted. Whilst this guideline is intended to be used by Wikipedia editors to decide whether a fictional topic should or should not have an article on Wikipedia, it should not be used as a set of deletion criteria. Although satisfying these notability guidelines generally indicates a fictional topic warrants an article, failing to satisfy them is not a criterion for speedy deletion.

Before proposing that an article is to be deleted, it is important to not just consider whether an article meets these inclusion criteria, but whether it has the potential to do so. Remember that all Wikipedia articles are not a final draft, and an article can be notable if such sources exist even if they have not been added at present.

In addition, no part of this guideline is meant to preempt the editorial decision of content selection and presentation; for example, a topic may meet all the criteria, but may be decided by consensus to merge the article with an article on the work of fiction itself instead of a separate article if there is limited information available.

Articles covering fictional elements that are deletion candidates are generally merged or retained temporarily if their coverage can meet some of these criteria:

1. Real-world coverage: To establish real-world importance, or to provide appropriate context for understanding real-world importance, rather than detail the fictional adventures of imaginary characters. Articles writen in the appropriate style, which expand upon relevant points of a main topic to further the reader's understanding, are more likely to find acceptance among the Wikipedia community;
2. Importance of the fictional work: To justify articles on individual elements, the fictional work from which they come must have produced non-trivial artistic impact, cultural impact, or general popularity described in a secondary source;
3. Role within the fictional work: The element must be an important element, and its importance must be verifiable. The importance of characters can be demonstrated when a character or other element in a book/film is referred to in a reliable source review of the book/film, or there is a reference to the casting of the character in a reliable source.

These criteria are not exhaustive, nor agreed by all, but can help to concentrate editorial discussion regarding the merger or deletion of specific articles and help editors reach conclusions as to how to best organise content.

Further guidance

Wikiprojects

• Wikipedia:WikiProject Films/Style guidelines
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels/Style guidelines
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Television/Style guidelines
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Soap Operas#Style_guidelines
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Video games/Article guidelines

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Other policies and guidelines, examples and how-tos not mentioned above

• Wikipedia:Television episodes
• Wikipedia:Writing better articles#Check your fiction