Terms a Newbies should know

I'm a newbie and, like many I'm sure, I'm looking through forums, profiles and just links and diferent places on this website trying to learn more.

THe problem I keep seeing thought is terms and words and phrases taht keep coming up. Yet I can't quite figure out what it means.

So I'd like this thread to be questions, answers and clarifications on things a Newbie wouldn't know about.

Let me start: What's a word war? and WoD?

A word war is when two (or more) people sit for x amount of time and see who can write the most words in one sitting.

WoD: I have no idea--never come across it.

Voss

WoD usually refers to Write or Die, a website that helps you write a lot at once by giving a timer and "penalties" (like loud noises) if you stop writing before the time is up.

You should also know MMC (male main character) and FMC (female main character).

Planner - someone who writes with an outline.
Pantser - someone who writes without an outline.
Edit - a banned activity in November.
TSoD - travelling shovel of death. Need to get rid of a character and don't know how? Use a shovel!
Spork - an eating/writer-stabbing implement that may randomly turn up in a story.

Plot bunnies - ideas for subplots that crop up at random in your story. They can lead you down the rabbit hole into distraction or be fertile ground for story and wordcount. They breed like rabbits.

That was very helpful I was having the same problem not knowing what was going on! Thanks everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Fourth Wall: usually used in the context of breaking it. When the author begins speaking to his or her characters within the story.

NaNoism: the lovely grammar or redundancy that somehow appears in your manuscript. Generally amusing, and reading the thread is a great procrastination tool

I love how I'm a second year NaNo-er and this is extremely enlightening :P

May I recommend Wikiwrimo's NaNo Terms category here? http://www.wikiwrimo.org/wiki/Category:NaNoWriMo_terms It's not complete but it does hold a lot! And Wikiwrimo is an excellent resource for learning NaNo things.

But adding a couple terms to the list.

Plot Ninja: A character who comes in specifically for the purpose of rearranging the plot. Usually takes the form of a ninja.
Plot Bunny: An idea for a character, story or scene. Comes in many different flavors.
Mr. Ian Woon: A character who will appear in multiple Wrimos novels. His name can be rearranged to spell NaNoWriMo.
Wrimo: A participant of the mad event NaNoWriMo.

wow, this is awesome, am so excited :) who knew I would learn a whole new language?

Inner Editor: That small voice that tells you how crummy your novel is coming along and why would you even consider writing it. It usually begins about the second week in. Make sure to lock up your Inner Editor (IE) before November 1st!

Ah, this has been wonderfully enlightening! Thanks for sharing for all of us. :)

Could someone explain a Mary-Sue? I saw it mentioned in a different thread but wasn't sure of context.

One I haven't seen yet...Might be super obvious but here it is anyway:

NaNo: can refer to anything from the whole month of November, the novel that you are attempting to transcribe from the innards of your skull to paper (or computer screen), a previously completed draft written during NaNoWriMo, or, in verb form (NaNo-ing), writing your NaNoWriMo novel. The verb form is usually followed by 'DO NOT DISTURB ON PAIN OF STABBING' on irl signs, warning people not taking part to not disturb whomever is within.
Oh, and NaNo-er=someone taking part in the madness. That's you!

What's Script Frenzy?

Script Frenzy - A separate event that happens in April. 30 days to write 100 + pages of a screen/stage play.
Chris Baty - The genius behind Nano
SoD - Shovel of Death
Write-In - A group of writers getting together to work on their novels/scripts, sort out problems and generally socialise.
TGIO - Thank God It's Over (party time)
Winner - Those who reach or pass the 50k word count. Also can be used to describe anyone who has a go at Nano. (sorry about the unintentional rhyming)
Totem - A good luck charm. Something that relates to either writing or your novel.
Epigraph - The use of a quote to begin a novel/chapter ie 'I have a dream.' Martin Luthor King.
YA - Young Adult. A genre aimed at teens, which usually deal with themes a little more adult than childrens books.
Nanowrimo - National Novel Writing Month (even though it's an international event)

Mary Sue (sometimes Gary Stu for male characters) is a character that can do no wrong. She gorgeous, smart, and everybody loves her even if the author gives no good reason for it in the story. She often has a troubled past if the author is aware enough of what's happening to try to give her flaws. No matter what she does everyone still loves her, with the possible exception of the bad guy who hates her because he's the bad guy, not because of anything she's done. She's good at everything she tries the first time. If a fantasy, she is often also the first or last of her kind, the most powerful magic user ever, or something else intrinsic to her that she has no control over but which sets her apart.

In short, an unrealistically ideal character.

They can be fun to write, but are no fun to read. If you ever hope to get published, try to avoid them. If you're just in it for fun, don't worry about it.

(Note: a gorgeous character who makes friends easily isn't automatically a Mary Sue. The "can do no wrong", lack of consequences, and idealism is more the key instead of any particular advantage she may have.)

YWP - the young writers program which has its own portal and goings on.

Write-In(s) - times to go sit with your fellow Wrimos and get some work done. Generally found through your regional forum

ML - the brave Municipal Liasons who are volunteers and coordinate local events

I've started to notice this:

Here on the forums you see that little book icon? What does it mean when it's red, blue or has a star/twinke?

What is "snowflaking"?