Is literary fiction dying?

Hold off the funeral!

WriterBN said:

Is literary fiction dying?

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No way. I've seen a long list of new books coming out in 2013, and slated for 2014, by some of my favorite authors. So many good ones, I can't wait!

As far as AW, there are many more genre fiction writers roaming the halls than literary fiction, but so what? It's reflective of everywhere. We're all involved in the same trials and tribulations of writing. All trying to tell a good story with whatever talent we have.

Usually when literary fiction is seen as pretentious, it's because the story doesn't belong in the genre to begin with. It's just the writer being pretentious... heh heh

Eliza azilE said:

1.) I don't use this site often and I can find any number of examples of genre writers beating up litfic. Sure, it "ought not" happen, but it does.

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There's an amazing magic button to Report a post.

Use it.

At the same time, I can find just as many instances of people sneering at genre fic.

Both sorts of posts share a common characteristic; they are ignorant.

Eliza azilE said:

2.) Because this section can go a month or so without anyone posting anything, I suspect the answer to the original question is either "Yes" or else "It's always been such."

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I suspect that that the low posting frequency in this section is in part because, despite popular understanding to the contrary, literary fiction is not a genre.

It's a fabulous, amazing and much-loved marketing category created in the 1970s.

Literary fiction was meant as a way to draw attention to books that might not otherwise have the readers they deserved; you will note that the novels designated as literary fiction are also novels that bear the traits of specific genres, but they may not be the genres most people think of as genres.

Genres are marked by more than plot; there are far more genres than the mystery, romance, sf/f, horror, thriller etc. that many people think of as genre.

Finally, if as usual when members do not find the thread they want to find, in a topic the member in question cherishes, the solution is obvious.

Create a thread that will engage the members. In general, you'll have more success if you are specific with respect to specific books or authors.

In the meantime, I'm locking this thread because it annoys me when a courteous note from a moderator is dismissed in a less than courteous fashion.