Genre Fiction vs Literary Fiction: A Guide for Writers
This article may contain affiliate links. This means we might make a small commission on anything you buy through a link on this page. This comes at no extra cost to you. Commissions help us to run our free 7 Day Story Writing Challenges.
Article by: Lily Elborn, freelance writer at Globe Soup.
What is Genre Fiction?
Whether it’s Crime, Mystery or Romance, most of us go straight to specific genres when asked what we like to read and write. But while you might find arguments online debating whether Science Fiction or Horror is the best, all of these can in fact be categorised together, as genre fiction. While that may seem strange, categorising all of these seemingly incomparable genres under one branch, they are more similar than you may think.
Genre fiction is strictly plot driven. Each individual genre contains their own rules and qualities, that the writer will adhere to and create a plot around. Fantasy contains elements of magic and adventure. Horror aims to scare. Genre fiction writers are often drawn to this side of fiction for these reasons. The comfort that comes from a strict set of story beats to hit, and the versatile options that comes from picking a specific genre to write within, is obviously appealing.
Famous genre fiction writers include big hitters like Stephen King, who has made his living terrifying his fans, and Colleen Hoover, who’s name you most likely have seen all over TikTok with her steamy romance novels.
What is Literary fiction?
At first glance, literary fiction may seem hard to define. In contrast to the previously mentioned genre fiction, it doesn’t have such specific rules it must follow. But perhaps that is what marks a literary novel as such: its complete lack of restrictions.
Nevertheless, it is important to note the qualities usually attached to the concept of literary fiction. As such stories are distinctly genre-less, there is a lack of what we’ve come to recognise as “plot”; writers are more focused on character, or explorations of the human condition. Look no further than Gabriel García Márquez’ critically adored One Hundred Years of Solitude. A story that, on the surface, simply follows seven generations of the Buendía family and their relationships, yet is one of the most beloved novels of this generation.
Because of this, literary fiction is often slower in pace than a genre story and is often less predictable with where it is heading. If you are struggling to recall any examples, think back to any book you had to begrudgingly read in English class. Novels such as The Great Gatsby and To Kill A Mockingbird fall into this category.
A Brief History of Literary and Genre Fiction
You may think, due to most 19th century novels being literary fiction, that it is the elder of the two. But genre fiction has been around a lot longer than you would think. In fact, it was the Ancient Greek’s that first established the idea of genre. Using it to make distinctions between poetry and prose, tragedy and comedy etc. And while literary fiction became the go-to when “the novel” as a concept first come about, genre has been bleeding into our stories for a very long time.
The distinction between literary and genre fiction wasn’t made until well into the 20th century. When elements of genre had been slowly making their way into writing until, eventually, a distinct and recognisable comparison could be made between different novels. Romance is perhaps the oldest example of this. With authors such as Jane Austen incorporating romance into their stories as a tool to enhance the character driven elements. From there, genre started to become more and more of its own being. With recognisable titles such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein introducing new genres and revolutionising the modern novel into what we know today.
Critical Acclaim VS Commercial Audience
Perhaps the most differentiating factor of these two types of fiction is the well documented discourse that has come about in the last few decades. Depending on what side of the argument you are on, literary fiction is considered either as fine art or as stuffy and boring. While genre fiction is either adored and fought for in the industry for being unsung, or it is considered oversaturated and simple.
There is much contention in the industry between the two. Genre fiction writers feel slighted and underappreciated, especially critically and when it comes to awards for writing; the Booker Prize is especially known for this.
Vice versa, people that fall on the side of literary fiction feel they are forgotten. Publishers are a lot more receptive to genre fiction and are more likely to pick up your novel if it is genre fiction. You see most bookstores and general retailers stocking new genre novels over new literary novels.
Many people ask if this is a classism issue. Is there gatekeeping in the industry? Perhaps.
We can’t ignore the undercurrent of class and educational bias that seems to be bleeding into the arguments for and against both sides of fiction. By exclusively celebrating literary fiction in prestigious circles, it suggests that genre fiction is for less influential people. By having genre fiction as the only options on grocery store shelves and at the top of Amazon recommended, this perpetuates the idea that general audiences aren’t capable of reading literary fiction. Whether intentional or not, whether it is just a biproduct of capitalism or something more sinister, this unfortunately does add to the class divide that is ever present in today’s society.
Is One Better Than the Other?
While the discourse is plenty, is there really a better type of fiction? The short answer: No. Both sides have their good parts and flaws. Both have their benefits when writing, and both have their downsides.
While genre fiction may seem like the less risky option if you are wanting to get published, the oversaturation of genre fiction means that published doesn’t necessarily mean read. So, is literary fiction the better way to get noticed? Is the longevity that seemingly comes with a successful literary fiction novel more important in the long run? Also, no.
Literary fiction has its own pitfalls. As previously mentioned, it is really hard to get published with a literary fiction novel. And while you might argue that traditional publishing is redundant today, with Tik Tok popularity and self-publishing success stories, the preference for genre fiction is still ever popular. And, because of the class issue, the “prestigious” circles that consume literary fiction often look down at these new styles of publishing.
How to Approach Literary Fiction as a Genre Writer
If you are a genre writer considering veering into the world of the literary, there are a few things to think about. First, consider your reasonings. We’ve discussed how outside factors shouldn’t be having an impact on your decision. So, why would you want to make the switch? Well, it all depends on the story you want to tell.
I, myself have begun making the move over to literary fiction because my motives in storytelling have changed. You should want to set out to tell these stories because you want to explore something deeper than plot and theme. If your goals are focused more on your characters, their needs, and dynamics with each other. Or if your goals are focused more on philosophical questions and big, life moments. Maybe it is time to consider literary fiction.
How to Approach Genre Fiction as a Literary Writer
Some of the world’s most famous literary fiction writers have made the switch into genre, and very successfully too!
As with the previous section, you are probably thinking of making the change because the motives of your storytelling have shifted. With this transition, there are other things to consider.
If you’ve gotten to this point, you probably already have a specific genre in mind, so what you need to think about now, as a genre writer, is its specific set of rules. If you are writing a mystery, for example, you’re planning to engage your reader by giving them a problem to solve. You need suspects and clues. If you’re writing a romance, you need a main couple. And figure out the journey they will go on so you can engage your reader with their relationship.
When writing genre fiction, it is much more important to think about your reader now. The story is less about you, and what you have to say, and more about what they want to experience. But remember, whether genre or literary, both these things are still essential either way.
With that being said then, outside opinions and climate aren’t important, you are. When sitting down to write, you can only really ask yourself: what do I want to write?