What Does Au Mean In Fanfiction

In fan-created derivative stories, one often encounters the abbreviation "AU", which is short for Alternate Universe, meaning a parallel universe. This setting provides creators and all fans with a space for free creative expression—you can extract the familiar characters and well-known settings from the original work entirely, place them into an entirely new story, and no longer be constrained by the official plot of the original work. The most appealing aspect of the AU is that it opens up endless possibilities for storytelling; even when retaining the beloved characters, one can write completely new, distinct stories. For example, you can place the characters from Harry Potter into a modern superhero setting, having them save the world instead of studying magic; you can also place the characters from My Hero Academia into a 1980s high school, and write a brand-new experience that would never exist in the original work.AUs typically alter one core setting from the official main storyline of the original work.

The vast majority of fans love the AU setting, for a simple reason—it allows everyone to re-approach their favorite characters with an entirely new perspective. Even long-time fans who have followed the original work for years can find a sense of novelty in AUs. For example, you can read a story that places characters from One Piece into a modern high school, where the former pirates return to being ordinary high school students attending classes and making friends; or place the characters from Attack on Titan, who fought desperately against titans, at the center of a lighthearted romantic comedy, navigating relationships and comedic misunderstandings. The creativity in these AU works is often remarkable; stories frequently feature intricately crafted complex plots or humorous twists, none of which align with the original work's core settings. They could never be added to the original work, and can only take root and grow within the framework of an AU.