What Are The Best Tags For A Queer Romance Fic On AO3?

2025-09-05 18:11:08 236

4 Answers

Ursula
Ursula
2025-09-06 19:30:40
Short checklist from my notebook: start with Archive Warnings and Rating—be blunt with triggers. Then put the Relationship tag (e.g., 'F/F' or 'M/M') and the exact pairing right after. Add character tags and identity labels only if they matter to the story. Next, list major tropes and AUs like 'Friends To Lovers', 'Fake Dating', 'Time Travel AU', or 'Slow Burn'. Toss in content tags for sex/kinks when relevant.

I always add one or two freeform tags that capture tone—'Cozy Domestic', 'Smutty', or 'Angsty'—and a short summary line. Tag order counts for readability, and clarity keeps the right readers happy, which is what I want when I post my own stuff.
Miles
Miles
2025-09-08 12:03:23
There's a lot I’ve picked up tagging fanfic over the years, and honestly the best way to make your queer romance visible is to mix practical tags with vibe-driven ones.

Start with the basics: rating (e.g., 'Teen And Up Audiences', 'Mature', 'Explicit'), appropriate content warnings under Archive Warnings (like 'No Archive Warnings Apply' or more specific ones such as 'Major Character Death' or 'Graphic Depictions Of Violence' if needed), and the relationship tag (e.g., 'M/M', 'F/F', 'M/F/Nonbinary' or 'Polyamory' depending on what you write). After that put the pairing tag—use canonical names or popular ship names so people searching will find you. Add character tags if they’re important to searches.

Then sprinkle in trope and setting tags: 'Slow Burn', 'Hurt/Comfort', 'Fake Dating', 'Enemies To Lovers', 'College AU', 'Soulmates', 'Found Family', 'Fluff', 'Angst', etc. Don’t forget identity tags if relevant—'Trans', 'Nonbinary', 'Bisexual', 'Queerplatonic'—because readers use those. Finally, use freeform tags for mood or meta details like 'Smutty One-Shot', 'Series', 'Content Note: Mentions Of Misogyny'. I usually order warnings first, then rating, then relationship/pairing, then tropes and freeform tags. That structure keeps things tidy and makes your fic easier to discover, and that little bit of tag hygiene makes me way more likely to click and read.
Ava
Ava
2025-09-10 04:53:27
Okay, quick and practical: I like to think of tagging like setting a signpost for readers. First line: Archive Warnings and Rating—be explicit. Next: Relationship tag such as 'M/M' or 'F/F' or 'M/F/Nonbinary', followed immediately by the pairing tag (use both character names and ship nicknames if both are common). Add sexual content or kink tags like 'Explicit Sexual Content' or 'BDSM' only if applicable. Then list major tropes—'Slow Burn', 'Fake Dating', 'Friends To Lovers', 'Angst/Fluff', and settings like 'College AU' or 'Modern AU'. Identity tags ('Trans', 'Nonbinary', 'Bisexual') help niche readers find you. I also always include a short freeform note: trigger/content details and a one-line summary. That little one-liner and tidy tag order will save someone a bad surprise and bring the right readers in.
Wyatt
Wyatt
2025-09-11 14:08:17
If you like organizing things, I tend to approach tags like metadata and accessibility rather than just promotional tools. I start by thinking of what would make me stop scrolling: clear Archive Warnings (for example 'Underage' or 'Rape/Non-Consensual Sexual Content' if relevant—never hide those), then the Rating. After that, I prioritize Relationship and Pairing tags: precise is better than vague—'M/M', 'F/F', 'M/F/Nonbinary', or explicit character pairings. Next I add identity descriptors such as 'Trans', 'Genderfluid', or 'Asexual' if the characters' identities factor into the plot. Then I layer tropes and settings: 'Slow Burn', 'Enemies To Lovers', 'Canonical Divergence', 'College AU', 'Soulmates', etc.

I also recommend using both common and niche synonyms—someone might search 'boyxboy' or 'gay romance', so include terms readers actually type. For long fics, tag format like 'Series' and update tags per chapter when content changes. Finally, be mindful that AO3 search prefers specific tags: the more accurate you are, the more likely your work will reach the people who will love it, and tagging well feels, to me, like being considerate to your future readers.
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