Literary Fiction is often thought of as a catch-all genre for writing that doesn’t fit comfortably into easily designated genres like chic lit, mystery, science fiction, political drama, speculative fiction, etc. Most people’s definitions for works of Literary Fiction include phrases like: “provocative writing with heavier language and lush descriptions”; “complex character-driven plots”; “leaves a deep, powerful impression on the reader”; and “multilayered novels that wrestle with universal dilemmas.”
I consider myself a Literary Fiction writer because of the characteristics that naturally arise in my work. I’m drawn to the complexities of a character’s personality, and my focus is foremost on the inner conflicts pulling the person in opposing directions. My writing style tends to include desciptive language that shows more than tells, and I like to indulge in literary devices. Also, I want my work to say something. Usually, I don’t start a story with a character or plot idea. Instead, a theme forms in my mind and the story becomes a vehicle to deliver that theme.
My greatest challenges within the genre are coming up with interesting plots to support my characters’ journey of self-discovery, and finessing my writing so the tone and language aren’t pretentious or convoluted. Many of my rewrites concentrate on voice and making the writing sound poetic and beautiful instead of grandiose and ostentatious.
Goodreads.com defines literary fiction as: "serious fiction with claims to literary merit, and focuses more on style, psychological depth, and character. (As opposed to genre or popular fiction)." Here are the top ten Literary Fiction novels, as determined by site member votes. Are any of your favorites here?
To Kill a Mockingbird -- Harper Lee
The Catcher in the Rye -- J.D. Salinger
The Power of Persuasion -- Shelagh Watkins
Crime and Punishment -- Fyodor Dostoevsky
Jane Eyre -- Charlotte Brontë
Lord of the Flies -- William Golding
Gone With the Wind -- Margaret Mitchell
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe -- C.S. Lewis
Memoirs of a Geisha -- Arthur Golden
One Hundred Years of Solitude -- Gabriel García Márquez
To read the entire list of the top 100 member picks, click HERE.
I enjoy experimenting outside the genre of Literary Fiction, and have written short stories that include Horror, Speculative Fiction, Erotica, Action/Adventure, and Comedy. Even then, I noticed an aura of Literary Fiction aglow in each story. It's definitely true that an author's voice is as unique as her fingerprint, and its evidence can be found on everything she touches.
Do you experiment outside your genre? Can you still hear your author's voice loud and clear?
14 comments:
"an author's voice is as unique as her fingerprint, and its evidence can be found on everything she touches."
I love that line! Very awesome!!
I've just now begun to experiment, as it were. It's fun and excting to see where my new words will take me. I've also decided to drop the romance and add more depth to the stories I create -- I don't live a life of fluff so why should I write one. Write what you know, and that includes heartbreak, depression, and getting older. Heavy stuff, but hey, it might work.
Megan -- Thanks!! And thanks for stopping by :))
Anne -- It's so funny, I have to work more romance into my writing! My characters tend to wallow in the heavy stuff, but real people also have love in their lives. I'm working on my first truly romantic thread, and it's harder than I thought it'd be :P
Hi Nicole. Funny how you posted about literary fiction and I posted about chick lit!
I've tried to write YA but I didn't really click with it. I do like to experiment... just not sure how successful I've been!
Looking forward to reading more about your writing journey.
Ooh, To Kill a Mockingbird and Memoirs of a Geisha are both excellent. Strangely enough, I wouldn't have called either of those Literary Fiction. I probably would have called them both Historical Fiction. But that's just me.
I tend to write YA. Sometimes I experiment and there are other genres involved, say YA romance or YA fantasy, but it all tends to fall under the YA heading for me.
I love reading literary fiction -- it's one of my favorite genres to read -- but I absolutely cannot write it. Yet. I aim to write a lit fic novel in the future, but I think I need some time to improve my craft. For now, I write commercial fiction with kind of a romance/chick lit style.
I really enjoyed this post, though, and I love the line about author's voices as unique as fingerprints! Love it!
I've tried to write literary fiction, though for some reason the supernatural seems to find its way in there somehow. I'm working on a short story right now that's all literary. It's more of an experiment to strengthen my skills at writing character emotions, but it's been a good experience. It's not so bad for my characters to not have superpowers. :)
And I love what you said about voice. It's so true.
My absolute favorite book of all time is To Kill a Mockingbird. Glad to see it's on the list.
Great post!
I love literary fiction, I can say this because the titles you have listed are under that category and I love them!!!
I find that I write what I feel, if I am feeling a character and a bit of romance I'll write a romance piece, or if I find that a dream has spoken to me and it was scary I find myself in the mystery/horror section.
I would say my current piece Finding Me is undecided, I'm not sure the direction it's taking me, but I assure you that it isn't a light piece, there is some hard soul mixed into this one!
Great post!
Literary fiction tends to be what I usually read and write (I'm guessing there is a slight correlation there...).
At some point, though, I'd like to branch out and maybe do something in the horror realm. Bringing out my inner Stephen King might be fun.
Well, that's as good a description of literary fiction as I've ever seen. I always assumed it was stuff I wouldn't read, but I've been on that list too. As a reader I mean.
I don't know why writers have to get stuck in a particular genre. Write what you want. Figure out where it goes later.
Thanks for stopping over to my blog.
I think I write literary fiction. I've been told I do. But I also write women's fiction, and sometimes I can't tell the difference between the two.
And I also have written genre fiction, Sci-fi to be exact, though it's dark and more literary I think, with just a thin veneer of sci-fi to carry the plot. It could easily be set elsewhere.
I don't know. I think I can still hear my voice loud and clear in work I've written more recently than I can in my earlier work.
I might be mistaken or confused about that, though. :)
How awesome it is to write amongst greats!
I generally don't step out of my genre (women's fiction) too much because I love it and my ideas fit into it. But I'm not against the idea in the future if I have a story that fits somewhere else.
The short stories I write tend to fall into the romantic category. Don't ask me why. It could be because romance is one of the biggest mysteries of all. :)
I agree with Megan - that's a great line. To Kill a Mockingbird has always been one of my favorites. Lord of the Flies made a big impression on me when I was a young teenager, just as Catcher in the Rye did when I was an older teen.
I write books that are different from one another, but there's always some fantasy element in it. I can't help it.
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