Smut Writing Glossary
Your complete guide to smut, erotica, and adult fiction terminology. Learn the language of the community.
A
AI Smut
Sexually explicit creative writing generated or assisted by artificial intelligence. AI smut tools like SmutWriter allow users to create personalized adult content instantly without restrictions.
Learn moreAU (Alternate Universe)
A story setting that differs from the original canon. Common AUs include coffee shop AU, college AU, or historical AU, allowing writers to place characters in entirely new contexts.
B
BDSM
Stands for Bondage/Discipline, Dominance/Submission, and Sadism/Masochism. A broad category of erotic practices involving power exchange, restraint, and various kink activities.
Learn moreD
Dubcon
Short for "dubious consent." Refers to sexual scenarios where consent is ambiguous or unclear. Common in fantasy scenarios involving supernatural elements or power dynamics.
E
Erotica
Literature or art intended to arouse sexual desire. Unlike smut, erotica typically balances explicit content with plot development, character depth, and emotional storytelling.
Learn moreExplicit
Content that describes sexual acts in graphic, detailed terms. Explicit content leaves little to the imagination and is intended for adult audiences only.
F
F/F (Femslash)
Romantic or sexual content featuring two female characters. Also known as femslash or lesbian fiction.
Learn moreFanfiction
Stories written by fans using characters, settings, or worlds from existing media. Fanfiction communities have been instrumental in developing smut writing culture and terminology.
Fluff
Light, feel-good content focusing on sweetness, comfort, and emotional warmth. The opposite of angst. Can be combined with smut for "fluffy smut."
K
Kink
Sexual interests or practices that fall outside conventional sexual behavior. Kinks vary widely and can include everything from light bondage to elaborate roleplay scenarios.
Learn moreL
Lemon
Fanfiction term for explicit sexual content. Originated in anime/manga fandom. A "lemon" story contains graphic sex scenes.
Lime
Fanfiction term for sexual content that is suggestive but not fully explicit. Falls between "lemon" (explicit) and clean content. May include foreplay or fade-to-black scenes.
M
M/M (Slash)
Romantic or sexual content featuring two male characters. Also known as slash fiction or gay erotica.
Learn moreN
NSFW
Stands for "Not Safe For Work." A content warning indicating material contains adult themes, explicit content, or imagery inappropriate for workplace or public viewing.
Learn moreO
One-shot
A complete story told in a single chapter or installment. One-shots are popular for smut because they deliver complete satisfaction without requiring long-term reading commitment.
OTP
Stands for "One True Pairing." A fan's favorite romantic pairing of characters. Writers often create smut featuring their OTP.
P
PWP
Stands for "Plot? What Plot?" or "Porn Without Plot." Stories that focus entirely on sexual content with minimal narrative framing. Pure smut.
R
Reader-Insert
Stories where the protagonist is written as "you," allowing readers to imagine themselves in the scenario. Common in smut to create immersive, personalized experiences.
Romance
Stories centered on romantic relationships and emotional connections. Romance can range from clean (no explicit content) to steamy (explicit scenes), with the relationship always central.
Learn moreS
Self-Insert
A character that represents the author themselves within a story. Different from reader-insert, as self-inserts are specific characters rather than a "you" perspective.
Ship/Shipping
Supporting or creating content about a romantic/sexual relationship between characters. "I ship them" means wanting characters to be together romantically.
Slowburn
Stories where romantic or sexual tension builds gradually over a long period before characters get together. The payoff is often more satisfying due to extended anticipation.
Learn moreSmut
Sexually explicit written content that prioritizes arousal over plot. Direct, unapologetic adult content focused on sexual encounters and satisfaction.
Learn moreT
Taboo
Content exploring forbidden, socially unacceptable, or transgressive scenarios. Taboo fiction allows safe exploration of fantasies that couldn't or shouldn't happen in real life.
Learn moreV
Vanilla
Conventional sexual content without kinks, BDSM elements, or unconventional practices. "Vanilla smut" focuses on straightforward sexual encounters.
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