Wikipedia:Too soon

This essay contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia users. Essays may represent common ideas, or ideas that many users would not support. They are not rules. Think carefully about what they say before following them.

Shortcuts: WP:TOOSOONWP:TOOSOON WP:SOONWP:SOON WP:NOTJUSTYETWP:NOTJUSTYET

This page in a nutshell: Sometimes, a topic simply just too soon to have an article.

Even if a topic seems important, sometimes it's simply too soon for a Wikipedia article. Wikipedia needs the topic to be verifiable by independent, reliable sources. Wikipedia is not a crystal ball; it doesn't collect unverifiable content. If sources don't exist yet, the article is generally too soon.

Verifiability

For an article to be created, the subject should be verifiably notable because it has been discussed enough in reliable, third-party, published sources (not connected to the subject). Even if a topic seems obviously important to you, if there isn't enough independent coverage to prove it, it's too soon to create an article. This !rule applies to anything new: recent events, people, and products where facts are still developing. Even old things that are newly rediscovered (like artifacts or old documents) need verifiably independent source before an article can be made.

Biographies

People

You must be able to prove notability. A person needs significant coverage in independent reliable sources (not Facebook, Twitter, or self-serving press releases). If you can't prove it’s notability, it's too soon. Sometimes we can assume notability: If a person has won a major award or made a widely recognized, lasting contribution, we can assume more sources exist, even if they haven't all been found yet.

Actors and Entertainers

An article about an actor is too soon if they don't meet at least one of the specific rules for entertainers. They must have "significant roles in multiple notable films, television shows, or other productions" OR have made "unique, prolific or innovative contributions" to their field. As described in WP:NACTOR. Example: An actress might star in one huge show, but if she hasn't had other significant roles, it is still too soon for her own article.

Movies

An article about a movie is too soon if it doesn't meet at least one of the movie notability guidelines (WP:MOVIE). It needs significant coverage. A movie needs a lot of coverage in reliable sources to show it is worthy of note. The further away the movie is from being released, the more coverage it needs.

What doesn't count toward notability

Simple media reprints of press releases or ads.
Trailers.
Trivial coverage (like simple lists of screening times).
Plot summaries without critical reviews.

What to consider

Was the movie widely distributed and reviewed by two or more well-known critics? (These critics do not have to be American or write in English.)
Has the movie won a major award?
Has the movie been selected for preservation in a national archive?
Is the movie taught at a notable university film program?

Note: Some rules, like having articles written about it five years after release, only apply to older movies.

What to do if it's Too Soon

If an article is deemed Too Soon, you can create a draft under your userspace instead of a main article. A draft in your userspace can be a temporary workspace where you can wait for more sources to appear.