authorinvented

Authorinvented is a term used in literary analysis and online discourse to describe elements of a narrative that are wholly created by the author and embedded in a fictional world. This includes languages, mythologies, calendars, maps, place names, customs, technologies, and backstories that have no basis in real-world data.

The term is employed to distinguish author-created content from elements drawn from actual history, archaeology, or documentary sources. In worldbuilding discussions, authorinvented content is evaluated for internal consistency and plausibility within the author's invented universe, and it may be contrasted with historically informed research or fan-generated noncanonical explanations.

Etymology and usage: authorinvented combines author and invented and functions as a label in analysis, criticism, and fan communities. Its exact origin is not well documented, but the concept appears in online discourse and scholarly-style writing from the early 21st century onward.

Examples and applications: authorinvented languages, calendars, religions, and political systems are common focuses in discussions of worldbuilding. Classic cases often cited include authors who created entire linguistic and cultural systems for their fictional worlds, such as Tolkien, whose languages and mythologies are intentional authorinvented content. The concept also encompasses everyday invented details in fiction, like fictional place names or technological designs, that serve the narrative without real-world counterparts.