Some Thoughts On The Literary Genre

[TeddyG]

To Whom It May Concern:
(nice beginning!)

I have noticed that the powers that be have placed the thread on "Literary" with that of Mainstream and Contemporary. It is for this reason I write my open letter in protest.

I know that many writers and authors, both published and not published as of yet, feel a bit of disdain for the "literary" genre. For some reason it is perceived as the domain of intellectual and writer snobs.

I also know that there is nothing FARTHER from the imagination than a connection between Mainstream and Literary or a connection most certainly between Contemporary and Literary.

I am not going to even to try define literary fiction. I know it when I read it though.

I personally never attempt to assign a genre to my writing. But almost every time (except of course in non-fiction works and one fantasy) editors have assigned my writing to the literary genre. That for sure is their decision. It certainly is NOT mainstream in the classic sense and I shudder to think that it would be called Contemporary.

So I am respectfully requesting a division if you will. A thread devoted to the afficendos of Literary fiction. Indeed I have spent the past few months, sometimes reading other works of friends on AW, and I think one may be surprised as to how many Literary writers and how much literary fiction is being produced here.

Perhaps quoting Hemmingway and not Clancy or King is not in vogue these days. And personally I like Clancy and King, I just dont think they are literary writers. I dont think they think they are literary writers. They are for me, great airport books. That is not a put-down. That is in my mind a great compliment. But they sure as hell are not Hemmingway. And King could write for a hundred years, he will never be Poe.

However, it would only be fair on a board dedicated to all types of writing, that the Literary genre get its due, if only for a few paltry threads.

As to those who feel that being a writer in the "literary genre" is not something they are interested in, or those that feel too many people call themselves "literary fiction" writers, well then a Thread devoted to these discussions in a board clearly marked ONLY literary may help.

These are my humble opinions on the matter.

[Sesselja]

Oh goody! It's not just me who gets confused by having these three lumped in together as one.

[Bubastes]

Great letter! I'm glad I'm not the only one that gets confused about the 3-in-1. As far as the perceived snobbery goes, well, I wish I had an answer to that. I don't really understand why writers feel the need to look down on genres outside the ones they write in (I also love literary fiction, and I'm a relative latecomer to reading the genre). The less we indulge in silly, arbitrary pecking orders, the better. I've seen it in music too (e.g., classical vs. pop) and it's just a waste of time. I'm thankful that there are SO many choices out there so I can pick whatever I'm in the mood for. A steady diet of any single genre would make me nuts.

[TeddyG]

I agree with both of you. But the combination that was picked also grated on my nerves. The genre's have nothing to do with literary...and even are often diametrically opposed to literary.

Understand, I dont think it was done out of any desire to put anyone down. I just think it was done cause there are not a lot of threads posted in literary, and thus it would be easier to handle and define. I totally understand it.

But of course being a "snob" I think literary does deserve its rightful and full place in a board of its own. :)

[Bubastes]

But of course being a "snob" I think literary does deserve its rightful and full place in a board of its own. :)

ITA. Although I love to read, I must confess that I didn't read much fiction as an adult until a few years ago. I picked up "The Hours" and it just took my breath away. Then I started reading short story collections and found some that I couldn't stop thinking about or re-reading. I've been hooked ever since. It was nice to find a writing category that allows unhappy or ambiguous endings. I seem incapable of writing stories that end neatly -- it just feels so forced when I try to do it.

[TeddyG]

On AW it was the first time a few months back that I discovered a post that explained to a newbie that a short story must have "a beginning a middle and an end". This post was by someone whom I truly respect here.

I was in shock. I said OMG what happens to literary fiction? Didnt this person ever read Atlantic or Haprpers on the NYer?

As writers sometimes offering advice we try to put neat laws on writing. Show vs. Tell, Short stories etc.

These laws are good for articles and other genre possibly. I do not know. But they dont fit the literary fiction genre. They are an anethma to it.

So...yes, I think literary fiction deserves its own board and threads and area to share with other "literary" writers.

[Medievalist]

Literary isn't a genre.

It really isn't.

Neither is Contemporary Fiction or Mainstream; these are are marketing categories created by the gnomes in marketing departments for books that don't fit a specific genre but that they they think have a definite audience.

You won't find all three in a single store; you'll almost certainly find two out of three.

You will find, frequently, the same novel in all three places at three different stores.

I think splitting the thread would just confuse people.

[TeddyG]

I totally completely disagree with all due respect Lisa.
You have a very specific way of looking at things which is fine.
But if the major Publishers see things as Literary fiction (Doubleday, Random House etc.) Then claiming there is no such genre is just being either very individualistic or fighting the system.

I cannot see how you can tell me that it would be confusing people, where I myself, mostly write and am published in this genre, and I find this utter mishkabobble of leaving these together ludicrous.

I respect your opinion. I think in this case it is highly non-conventional and certainly not what either agents, publishers or editors define in the field.

[TeddyG]

and btw...Literary Fiction is a recognized genre in all the major publishing houses.

[Sesselja]

I agree with Lisa that contemporary fiction is not a genre, it's just a reference to a book written today about today. A contemporary from the 70s, would not be considered contemporary today, but crime, romance or litfic (which is a genre) from the 70s will still be considered crime, romance and litfic today.

[Medievalist]

and btw...Literary Fiction is a recognized genre in all the major publishing houses.

Teddy

I've been there when the marketing department decides how to label the book. Have you?

It's purely a marketing decision. In some cases--To Kill a Mockingbird and The Color Purple come to mind--a book will be published in different form factors, with different cover art to maximize the sell through.

Literary fiction, and "mainstream," and "contemporary" are categories, not genres that are used when a book does not really fit the usual genres; it isn't Mystery, Detective, SF, Fantasy, Romance, Horror, Western . . .

You won't find "literary fiction" as a genre in the Dewey, LOC or BL cataloging systems for that reason. Such books are cataloged as Fiction, Contemporary or just Fiction.

[TeddyG]

I am not interested either in Contemp. or Mainstream...
I am simply discussing Literary Fiction

And if I remember correctly Lisa takes great pains to make sure that Sci/Fi and Fantasy are not lumped together (am I mistaken?) If that is correct (which I agree they should not be lumped together) - Yet most houses still do lump them together.

It is not fair nor right to apply individualistic opinion, no matter how right or pristine they may be, or intellectual, to writers who do "write" in those areas.
Literary Fiction is literary fiction. It sure is NOT Contemp. or Mainstream...
Just like Sci. Fi is NOT fantasy

[TeddyG]

Teddy

I've been there when the marketing department decides how to label the book. Have you?
....
You won't find "literary fiction" as a genre in the Dewey, LOC or BL cataloging systems for that reason. Such books are cataloged as Fiction, Contemporary or just Fiction.

1. Para. One..Yes I have. In Doubleday with my agent and with my editor who is a fairly well known name. with btw...LITERARY FICTION...as they called it NOT ME.

2. Who is talking about a catalogue or Library science? We are talking about writing. Agents, Editors Publishers - all use this term to define a genre. And we are talking about WRITING..the authors that create it.

As to the who did what when where and how....let us kind of leave that on the side for now okay?

[maestrowork]

Teddy...

No one is saying that Mainstream = Contemporary = Literary. We lumped them together because they're not really "genre" specific. You will find Virginia Woolf in the same section as Nicholas Sparks in Barnes and Noble. The thing is, we can't have 20 different genres/categories all listed here. There's just not enough traffic -- these forums are quiet to begin with. And we don't want to have too many forums.

We also lump romance and women's fiction together -- they're hardly the same thing. We also lump mystery, suspense and thriller together. The reason is not that we think they're the same -- the reason is that we think writers who write in these genres or categories tend to cross over. Even if you don't think contemporary and literary are remotely related, the fact is writers who write one tend to write the other as well. And marketing sometimes can't tell -- my first novel is sometimes called "contemporary" and sometimes "literary" and sometimes "romance" (!) depending on the person. I am sure John Irving writes both mainstream/contemporary AND literary. John Updike is not always literary. Hemingway was probably considered "contemporary" at one point during his time.

Anyway, the point is, lumping them together in a single forum helps clear the clutter. All you have to do is mark on your subject line whether you want to talk about "literary" fiction specifically. Even then, most people still don't really have a clear definition of what "literary" is. If you ask 10 different editors, you would probably get 10 different answers.

[MacAllister]

Dear Teddy G., et al--

Yeah, sorry but no. There are reasons we made the division the way we made it--btw, this really is NOT the way to challenge a board admin decision.

Locking this, now.