shortfic

English

Etymology

short +‎ fic

Noun

shortfic (countable and uncountable, plural shortfics)

1. (fandom slang, countable) A fanfic of shorter than average length.
   • 1998 January 18, Lord Archive [username], “Re: [C&C][Ranma][FanFic] Right of Possession”, in rec.arts.anime.fandom‎^[1] (Usenet):

     This is just a shortfic I wrote one afternoon. It wasn't meant to have much of a base, it was just a couple scenes that played out in my head that demanded I write them. So, I did.

   • 1999 April 17, Harper, “Re: "Spark" by Lucy Garner”, in alt.tv.x-files.creative‎^[2] (Usenet):

     A well done shortfic on Scully's feelings, in my opinion.

   • 2000 May 29, Joyce Reynolds-Ward, “Re: Thanks and update! was Re: The Ties That Bind by jrw --"Requiem" post-ep”, in alt.tv.x-files.creative‎^[3] (Usenet):

     Hmm. Methinks I have another project on line after I do the Joyce Writes Her Version Of Season Eight Mytharc one....well, hell, I need to work on more potboiler shortfics anyway, and the current fanfic is fueling the current potboiler quite nicely....hmmm.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:shortfic.
2. (fandom slang, uncountable) Such fan fiction collectively.
   • 1999 August 29, chee...@hotmail.com, “Re: NEW: Incredibly Short Gunmenfic (1/1)”, in alt.tv.x-files.creative‎^[4] (Usenet):

     Shortfic is fun! Just right for the attention-span impaired.

   • 1999 September 27, Jogonturan, “Re: Bad Romance Metaphors”, in alt.tv.x-files.creative‎^[5] (Usenet):

     Would it be qualified as badfic or shortfic, though? <G>

   • 2002 March 24, Clotho [username], “fic: Where have all the years gone?”, in alt.tv.er.creative‎^[6] (Usenet):

     This is a fic I started on after a discussion with Cathy about there not being much shortfic about at the moment.

Hyponyms

• (a short fanfic): drabble