How to tag fanfiction on AO3

In so many ways, fanfiction online is the Wild Wild West. There are no guidelines for how to tag your work, and there’s no one there to teach you when you’re just starting out. The standard expectation is a newbie will read fanfiction long enough to absorb the tagging conventions other writers employ, then follow them when uploading their work.

The trouble is, as a new fanfiction author, you’re bound to make mistakes. You want to be a good citizen in your fandom by making sure no one accidentally reads something that could hurt them. You also want to make sure you find your readership and get loads of lovely comments. Tagging makes it very easy to accomplish both, but it can be hard when you’re just starting to make sense of it all.

This article aims to help you understand tagging conventions on Archive of Our Own. It’s the gold standard for fanfiction websites right now, and since it relies almost entirely on the tagged search system, it’s a great platform to teach you exactly how to tag fanfiction.

What are fanfiction tags?

Let’s very briefly nail down a definition of fanfiction tags before we move on to specifics.

A fanfiction tag is a keyword used to identify main themes and ideas in a work. Tags help label a fanfiction so readers can easily see what kinds of content will be included in the work. It’s common to tag relationships, situations, kinks, and potential triggers so readers are not surprised.

Not every reader searching for a Harry Potter fanfiction is going to want to read graphic sex or explicit violence, especially because the original source material is a children’s series. Tags help readers understand what will be in the story so they can either search for or exclude certain content.

AO3 tags explained

When you browse AO3, the first thing you notice is the limitless amount of tags you could use. That’s because they aren’t pre-fixed.

Authors upload unique tags when they publish fanfiction on Archive of Our Own. The platform makes suggestions for relationship tags, but authors are free to type out any tag they wish in their summary. Adhering to fandom tagging conventions ensures the algorithm includes your work in search results.

If you’re writing for a fandom, you’re probably reading for it, too. You’re likely familiar with some of the more popular tags already. That said, there are some very clear, standard tags you can lean on to be found when readers run tag searches.

AO3 tag list

Here’s a list of some common tags you’ll see on Archive of Our Own.

Media – TV, Movies, Books, etc.
Fandom – specific works of fiction like Harry Potter or The Matrix
Characters – Harry, Ron, Hermione
Relationships – can be listed as Ron/Hermione or Romione (many fandoms have multiple ways of naming ships)
Additional Tags – this is the free-for-all

All tags on AO3 get nested neatly in this format, but when you get to Additional tags, the fun starts. Authors love to go crazy in their Additional Tags, and because tags are created by the writers and not any official governing body, they take on some fun flavor.

For example, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there is a very specific tag for works that include depictions of Howard Stark being abusive or neglectful to Tony Stark – “Howard Stark’s A+ Parenting”. Enough writers loved the sarcasm and snark that the tag stuck around and became prolific.

Another great example is the “X Character Needs a Hug” tag. It’s found most often in the Hurt/Comfort genre when characters go through difficult situations and need to be comforted. If you’re writing Harry Potter angst, you better believe you’ll be using “Draco Malfoy Needs a Hug.”

AO3 tags automatically hyperlink together, so if a reader likes the label you’ve put on your work, they can click it to find other writers who have used the same label. It’s easy for a reader to understand what subjects, themes, and ideas you’ll be presenting and working with, and it’s equally easy for them to find more works like yours.

Many people use tags to avoid certain topics, as well. Be clear in your tags if something extreme, explicit, or otherwise is going to happen.

Relationship tags on AO3

Relationship tags are some of the most important tags you’ll use on AO3 if you’re writing romance fanfiction.

Relationship tags on AO3 are formatted using a slash “/” between the character names. For example, Harry/Ron/Hermione or Harry/Ginny. If a relationship is platonic but important to the plot, use an ampersand “&” to tag the relationship. Don’t mix platonic and romantic in the same tag.

To read more about this, check out the official AO3 FAQ.

Should I tag side pairings on AO3?

Side pairings do get tagged in a lot of AO3 stories, but this is a debated topic in fandom. Should you tag your side pairings?

You should avoid tagging your side pairings on AO3 unless they play a main role in the plot of your story. For example, if your Harry/Hermione fanfiction also includes Luna/Ron but they don’t impact the plot in any major way, you’ll only peeve off the Luna/Ron shippers who are searching through that tag.

Just imagine you’re searching for Luna/Ron, a somewhat rare pairing, and you have to scroll for miles and miles through side pairing stories to find them as the main pairing in a work. Pretty frustrating, right? Unless you devote time to the relationship in your story, don’t include the tag.

Kink tags on AO3

Remember when I mentioned Additional Tags in the tag nest? Well, here we are. Additional Tags are a great way to show the reader what kind of content you’re including in your story, and kinks are something people will most definitely be searching for on AO3.

Adding kink tags on AO3 helps readers search through desired kinks to read about them. Properly tagging the kinks in your work is a great way to be included in the search results. It’s also important for readers searching through your Relationship tag who may not want to read about certain kinks.

This is important for the kinkier kinks especially. It’s okay to use more vanilla tags, but you’re probably just cluttering up your summary. Think about it this way: is this kink something people would have an extreme reaction to? When in doubt, tag it out!

Trigger warning tags on AO3

This goes doubly so for trigger warnings on AO3. Trigger warnings are important to include if you’re going to be dealing with sensitive and potentially harmful subject material.

Since readers on AO3 who might be triggered by sensitive content won’t actively be searching for it, simply writing “tw: alcoholism”, “trigger warning: Alcoholism”, or “alcoholism” will be enough to alert the reader to the trigger. Be clear and upfront with people about the content in your work.

Keeping the tags as minimal as possible will also help protect sensitive readers. If your summary is just a blur of red hyperlinks, a reader’s eyes could easily skip over a trigger tag for something they want to avoid. Be specific and concise.

Why should I tag trigger warnings on my fanfiction?

It’s important to be a good citizen when tagging your fanfiction. Many of the fandoms we love are also loved by victims of abuse, underage fans, and others who may be harmed by reading extreme or sensitive content. Remember that fandom is a space for play, and you are free to write whatever your heart desires. Just be clear and honest with people when you’re posting your work online.