FicML (Fiction Markup Language) is an
XML
Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a markup language and file format for storing, transmitting, and reconstructing arbitrary data. It defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. T ...
format for fictional stories (short stories, novellas, novels, etc.). Originally conceived of by multiple contributors, it is an initiative and is in the process of forming its first specification.
XML format
The speculated XML elements in a typical FicML document are:
; <ficml version="0.2"> : This is the root element. It must contain the version attribute and one ''head'' and one ''body'' element.
; <head> : Contains
metadata
Metadata is "data that provides information about other data", but not the content of the data, such as the text of a message or the image itself. There are many distinct types of metadata, including:
* Descriptive metadata – the descriptive ...
. May include any of these optional elements: ''title'', ''dateCreated'', ''dateModified'', ''authorName'', ''authorEmail''.
; <body> : Contains the body of the story, the contents of the narrative. It must have one or more ''story'' elements.
; <story> : Represents the general text of the fictional story. It may contain any number of arbitrary attributes. Common attributes include ''tense'' (as in past, present), ''voice'' (as in first or third person), and ''view'' (as in omniscient or limited).
; <character> : Represents where characters appear within a narrative. It may have several attributes such as ''name'', ''surname'', ''nickname'', and ''role''.
; <setting> : Represents where sections of a narrative take place. It may have several attributes such as ''name'', ''type'', ''alt''. Setting tags can appear within other setting tags in order to illustrate a relationship. The setting of an apartment would be within the larger setting of a city or building.
See also
*
XML
Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a markup language and file format for storing, transmitting, and reconstructing arbitrary data. It defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. T ...
*
FictionBook
FictionBook is an open XML-based e-book format which originated and gained popularity in Russia. FictionBook files have the filename extension. Some readers also support ZIP-compressed FictionBook files ( or )
The FictionBook format does not ...
*
Fiction
Fiction is any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying individuals, events, or places that are imaginary, or in ways that are imaginary. Fictional portrayals are thus inconsistent with history, fact, or plausibility. In a traditi ...
External links
Initiation LetterFiction Markup Language initiative letter.
XML markup languages