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So. You got into Star Wars. You want to write a fic. But what the kriff is a midichlorian? Where even is the Outer Rim? Do you need to read Bossk’s entire Wookieepedia page before you can write that Din and Grogu fluff oneshot?*
Well, I’ve been where you are, pal. So I thought I might compile a few of the most common terms and whatnot to hopefully help you out.
Note: This is far from comprehensive, and if any veteran Star Wars fic-readers/writers spot a major mistake, let me know. And if you wish to add or expound, go ahead!
A Few Common Terms and Items
Some Common Expletives
Some nasty things to call people who have irked or wronged you
Weird Phrases
Configuration of the Galaxy
Hyperspace
Timeline Crash Course
Common Languages
Alien Species
1. A Few Common Terms and Items…
Refresher = bathroom/restroom/lavatory/toilet
E.g. “I need to use the refresher” = “I need to use the toilet.” “I’ll be in the refresher” = “I’ll be in the bathroom.”
Note: “toilet” has been used in canon (thank you, Andor) but, in starships, they’re more likely to call it a “vacc-tube” or simply “vac/vacc”
Caf = coffee
Note: from what I’ve gathered over the years, ”caf” is a bit of an umbrella term which includes artificial drinks with a resemblance to coffee, all the way to what is made from genuine space coffee beans.
Droid = robot, android; covers everything from space roombas to humanoid, talking robots
Blasters = pewpew guns
Slugthrowers = actual guns
Duracrete = concrete
Transparisteel = glass, usually the tougher, reinforced glass used in starship viewports
Flimsi = paper
Note: “paper” has been used in canon so don’t sweat over this one too much.
Plastoid = plastic
Note: “Plastoid” is a bit of an umbrella term for plastic-like substances. Things like Tupperware containers to Stormtrooper armour are described as plastoid.
Datapad = an electronic device, like an iPad but usually not as versatile; limited storage, tends to hold just documents and files; some have extra capabilities like a laptop computer, some have hologram emitters
Note: no hard-and-fast on these devices. You can make them iPads if you want, but do keep in mind the 1970’s origin of the universe and the limited abilities of the futuristic tech will make a lot more sense
Speeder = hover car
Speederbike = hover motorcycle
HoloNet = internet, news network
Bacta = a cure-all medical substance, can come in liquid, gel, patches, tablets—anything the situation requires. You can bob about in a tank of it, or lie in a pod; you can even ingest it. How fast it works, how much it heals—all up to the writer’s discretion.
Midichlorians = micro-organisms found in blood. Have enough of them, you’ll be Force-sensitive (able to use the Force). You’ll sometimes see this referred to as a person’s “M-count” in universe.
3. Some nasty things to call people who have irked or wronged you…
Skank. Skud. Skug. Skughole. Sleemo. Bantha fodder. Nerf-herder. Womp-rat (note: can be used affectionately).
4. Weird Phrases
“If that isn’t the quakta calling the stifling slimy” = “If that isn’t the kettle calling the pot black.” I.e. “Look who’s talking?” “You can’t talk; you’re just as bad.”
“A real skank in the skud pie” = “thorn in the side” “pebble in the shoe” “spanner in the works” I.e. a problem in the plan; something that may not seem like a problem right now but will inevitably become one later.
5. Configuration of the Galaxy
Think of the Galaxy Far, Far Away (GFFA) as a big fried egg (no, seriously, this is most often how it’s depicted). The yolk in the middle is the Deep Core and Core, the centre of the galaxy (and the worlds therein tend to act like it). Here’s where you’ve got Coruscant (the big city planet, most shown in the Prequels, the Clone Wars cartoon, and Andor). The Core worlds tend to have the strongest political presence of the day (Republic, Empire, or New Republic, depending on where you are in the timeline).
Inner and Mid Rims are left a little more to themselves but still work closely with the Core.
The Outer Rim is basically supposed to be the wild frontier. Most worlds out here are either self-governing or ruled by some crime family or the other (most common one you’ll hear of is the Hutts, who have a whole sector to themselves literally called Hutt Space). Some worlds have aligned themselves with the Republic or Empire, either by choice, through manipulation, or out of desperation. The Mandalorian Sector is in the Outer Rim.
Wild Space is the term for systems and worlds beyond the edge of the Outer Rim where no one really knows what’s on the other side; in contrast, the Unknown Regions are somewhat mapped but unexplored.
6. Hyperspace
Hyperspace travel time is largely left to the speed of plot (i.e. the trip takes as long as you want or need it to take for the story you’re telling). Travel between neighbouring planets can take just a handful of minutes; travel from the Core to, say, the Outer Rim should take a number of days but canon tends to make it just a few hours, sometimes even just minutes. What I’m saying is: no one should get on your case for having someone fly from Corellia (Core) to Tatooine (Outer Rim) in under an hour (if they do, they can take it up with Mr Lucas and that Coruscant to Mustafar trip which took like twenty minutes).
However, it is supposed to be that you can slash travel time if your destination lies along an established hyperspace route (basically a space highway).
Some notes…
Small ships (like single-man crafts) tend not to have hyperdrives (engines that enable you to travel through hyperspace)
You can’t track a ship while it’s in hyperspace (unless you planted a super sophisticated tracker on it before it jumped… or you’re writing in the Sequels era where they can do anything they want now)
You can change course while in hyperspace but if you’re piggy-backing on someone else, you don’t want to just detach at random while in hyperspace. You could very well appear in the heart of a sun and you won’t enjoy the experience.
You can call someone while in hyperspace and it never even buffers… unless they’re confessing their love at long last or revealing the name of your presumed dead parent
7. Timeline Crash Course
Oh boy. Okay. Not gonna get super into this, but some basics to get you on your feet…
There’s BBY and ABY (much like our BCE and CE). BBY = Before the Battle of Yavin. ABY = After the Battle of Yavin.
32 BBY — The Phantom Menace
22 BBY — Attack of the Clones (start of the Clone Wars)
19 BBY — Revenge of the Sith (fall of Old Republic, rise of the Empire)
0 ABY — A New Hope (the Battle of Yavin is the one where Luke takes out the first Death Star)
4 ABY — Return of the Jedi (fall of the Empire)
9 ABY — The Mandalorian
8. Common Languages
Basic = the universal language
Huttese = a very common language, mostly spoken in the Outer Rim
Mando’a = the Mandalorians’ language
Shyriiwook = the Wookiees’ language
Binary = the droid language (all those beeps and boops)
9.Common Alien Species
Twi’leks
The aliens that look almost completely like humans but with head-tails and a whole rainbow range of skin colours.
Rodians
Even if you haven’t seen A New Hope, you’ve probably heard of Greedo. Big, bug-like eyes, fish-like snouts, and diddly-bobs all over their heads. Can be a range of skin colours, but green is the most common.
Zabraks
Darth Maul. Basically humans with a bunch of horns all over their heads (and two hearts, but that practically never comes up).
Devaronians
Not to be confused with Zabraks, these guys look totally human but only have two big horns. They’re pretty tough—immune to most poisons, alcohol, fire, you name it.
Weequays
Hondo Ohnaka. Basically human but with really leathery skin (which is immune to blasterfire. Neat.)
Gotals
A mix between a human and a goat. I’m not even kidding.
Ithorians
The hammerhead guys. They got two mouths, usually talk in warbles and use translator gizmos (but some can speak Basic).
A final word…
Don’t worry. Seriously. You don’t have to have read and watched every shred of Star Wars material to begin writing a Star Wars fic. I dare say the majority of Star Wars fanfiction writers haven’t seen all of Star Wars. It’s an enormous franchise with material stacking up for nigh on half a century now!
Even if you’ve just seen one episode of one show, if that story and those characters have captured you and inspired something, run with it. Write it! Enjoy it! And, if you wish, share it—someone out there will love it too! ☺️
Sincerely, Autumn 🍁
*no. no you do not need to read Bossk’s entire Wookieepedia page before writing your Din and Grogu fluff oneshot.
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