orfictional

Orfictional is a neologism used in some online discussions to refer to a mode or category of narrative that foregrounds choice, alternative outcomes, and parallel continuities within fiction. In orfiction, authors and readers negotiate a space where multiple possibilities are presented as equally valid within the same fictional frame, often through explicit "or" decision points, branching narratives, or juxtaposed parallel timelines. The term is not widely recognized in formal literary criticism and has no entry in major dictionaries; its usage is largely confined to fan communities, writing blogs, and self-published glossaries.

Etymology: formed by combining the conjunction or with fictional, signaling a hinge between alternatives rather than a single canonical outcome. The concept overlaps with branching fiction, interactive fiction, and alternate-history storytelling, but orfictional emphasizes the structural effect of presenting choices and contingencies as intrinsic to the narrative.

Characteristics: typical features include explicit decision points that generate divergent storylines, parallel or crossover timelines, and endings that reflect different outcomes of the same set of events. It may be realized in interactive formats (such as Twine or gamebooks) or in traditional prose that juxtaposes alternative passages.

Relation to other forms: orfictional narratives are distinct from standard linear fiction and from metafiction that directly comments on the act of storytelling. They are related to, but not identical with, interactive fiction and choose-your-own-adventure formats, and often align loosely with the broader category of multiverse or branching narratives.

See also: alternate history, branching narrative, interactive fiction, metafiction, choose-your-own-adventure.