Literary fiction emphasizes style and depth over plot, with intense attention to writing style and psychological depth. It is less widely published than genre fiction, which focuses more on storytelling and plot development. Literary fiction often has less straightforward titles and uses more complicated language. It is usually published in smaller quantities, but there is still a market for it.
Literary fiction is a term universally used to describe “serious science fiction” that bears some kind of literary merit. While typical characteristics of fictional pieces, such as plot, are present in works of literature, these works tend to place more emphasis on style and depth. Overall, literary fiction is not published as often or as widely as genre fiction, but there is still a market for its authors and readers.
Although some critics, reviewers, editors, and even writers describe literary fiction as having no plot, there is usually a plot present. Often, the plot is overshadowed by the stronger features of literary fiction. These features can include intense attention to writing style, psychological depth, and what is happening to each character. Other types of fiction usually have simple plots driven by the characters and their actions, motives, or intentions, and readers can spot these plots with little effort. Literary fiction, on the other hand, employs its characteristics to make its readers work to understand the plot.
One way to more easily distinguish literary fiction from other types of fiction is to compare these characteristics. For example, popular fiction, also known as genre fiction, tends to focus more on storytelling and story plotting. This does not mean that popular fiction lacks characteristics such as psychological depth, but it does mean that this type of fiction usually does not focus so much on these traits as on the storytelling and plot development of the stories. Generally, genre fiction sticks to a particular genre, and such attention to narrative and plot helps readers to recognize that genre more easily. Examples of genre or popular fiction include novels or romances, horrors, and mysteries.
When comparing literary fiction to popular fiction, it becomes easier to spot other more superficial characteristics. For example, works of literature tend to have less straightforward titles than popular pieces. JK Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” is an example of a genre work with a direct title, while Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” is an example of a literary work with an indirect title. Another type of surface feature is the language used by each type of fiction. Popular fiction tends to use more traditional and contemporary language, while literary pieces use more complicated words.
Generally, literary fiction comes in the form of a novel, novella, or short story. Many literary publishers publish fewer works of literature than they publish popular fiction. They also tend to publish smaller quantities of those pieces they publish. This does not mean that writers should avoid literary works, nor does it mean that there is no hope of getting published. More likely, it means that publishers are simply responding to their customers’ requests.
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