Here's a list of fic classifications I wrote up a while back for a fic review
project that eventually died. It's intended to be used for Ranma 1/2 fics; it
might fit other series with some adaptation. It attempts to be reasonably
comprehensive, though I'm sure if you look hard enough you can find fics that
don't fit into any of the categories.

The two classifications are to be used independently. My own HaM, for example,
would be serious in tone, and its subject matter would be continuation and/or
unusual events.


CLASSIFICATIONS BY TONE:

SPOOF: A fic done purely for laughs, with characterization, consistency,
etc. happily thrown out the window; a parody.

COMEDY: A story done to be funny, though with reasonable consistency and
characterization; may include dramatic bits.

SERIOUS: A primarily non-funny story with realistic tones.

GRIM: Bordering on the dark, with the possibility of serious
consequences.

DARK: Charatcers go insane, turn into killers, or get killed, maimed,
etc.


CLASSIFICATIONS BY SUBJECT MATTER:

ORIGINAL FLAVOR: The regular characters in more or less the usual kinds of
situations.

CONTINUATION: Takes over where the Manga left off (possibly with some
minor changes).

-- Subclass RESOLUTION: Focuses on some or all of the relationships in
the series and brings them to some sort of resolution.

-- Subclass NEXT GENERATION: Introduces the future children of some of
the original characters.

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE: Changes the storyline at some point before or during
the original series and takes off from there. A what-if story.

NEW CHARACTER: Follows the exploits of a character of the author's
creation as he/she interacts with the regulars.

-- Subclass INSERTION: The new character is or represents the author.

-- Subclass INFLICTION: Insertion parody where the new character screws
things up and/or generally suffers a lot of pain.

CROSSOVER: Characters or other elements from another series interact
with the regulars.

-- Subclass FUSION: The regular characters *are* in another series, i.e.
things that happened in another series happen to the Ranma characters
instead, or the Ranma characters get replaced by those of another series.

UNUSUAL SETTING: The regulars are transplanted to a different location,
time, etc.

UNUSUAL EVENTS: Something happens (or someone does something) that would
not have taken place in the original series.

-- Subclass DEATHFIC: Someone has died, and the characters have to deal
with it.

-- Subclass LEMON: Characters are shown having sex.

-- Subclass LIME: Involves sexual situations, but without the explicit detail of
a lemon.

CHARACTER STUDY: Not a story so much as a look at a particular
character's thoughts, motivations, and such.

NON-STORY: Poems, Songfics, etc.


Gary Kleppe
http://www.execpc.com/~kleppe/comics