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WRITING GLOSSARY

What is Headcanon?

Headcanon is a personal belief or interpretation about a fictional work that is not confirmed by official canon but feels true to the fan.

Definition

Headcanon is a personal belief or interpretation about a fictional work that is not confirmed by official canon but feels true to the fan.

Example

A reader's headcanon might hold that two side characters met years before the story began, even though the book never says so.

Related terms

Common mistakes

  • Presenting headcanon as fact when discussing canon with other fans.
  • Letting headcanon override textual evidence when analyzing what the work actually shows.
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