nattish

For me, fluff is throughout. It's schmoopy, love-filled interactions and endearing, meant to be heart warming and light.

Then there is flangst, which is fluff mixed with angst, which us how I prefer my fluff. This can be the characters going through ups and downs with a common theme of love throughout.

Then there's angst. Meant to tug at your heart strings, it can and often does have a happy ending but it doesn't revert the whole fic to fluff just because of it.

Aaah, flangst sounds more my cup of tea. I probably write it and don't know it! Thank you for the input. :D

I think what defines fluff is the feeling the happy is never really at risk. It is there. Maybe it is smooshed a little by events, but the drama is never seriously enough to dent the happy ending.

I mean, a story... you can know a story will have a happy ending but if you ever wonder how, not fluff.

Ah, I like that definition, that happiness is never at risk. Non-fluff makes the conflict believable for the reader!

I think what defines fluff is the feeling the happy is never really at risk. It is there. Maybe it is smooshed a little by events, but the drama is never seriously enough to dent the happy ending.

Thanks for this definition! I think it's a really good one, and is useful given I'm trying to write a fic for someone who wants a romantic tone but lists fluff as a dealbreaker. I don't think fluff = romance, but I've been struggling to find a good balance.

I fully admit it is a personal definition, I hope it helps either way. ♥

Fluff is happy all the way through, and it's focused on events that are heartwarming and often domestic, in my mind.

Good thinking, the domestic thing is a big attribute I associate with fluff.