The Merits of a Literary Fiction Book

One of the newer fiction "genres" is the literary fiction book. While I've included it as a genre, in reality, it defies the definition because there are no hard and fast rules for writing this type of novel.

Exactly what is literary fiction, and how do you know if you write it
(or want to)?


Defining the Undefinable

At it's most basic, a literary fiction book is considered to be "serious" fiction, or fiction with literary merit.

That's a pretty broad definition, don't you think?

The term didn't come into common use until the 1970s. Maybe we thought it was time to get serious about our fiction... (notice I have difficulty doing that).

It boils down to what drives the story. If the book is about "character", focusing more on style and psychological depth, it's literary. If it's a page-turner (plot-driven, with strong characters sometimes but not always), it's genre fiction.

Genre writers may think literary writers are snobs. Literary writers may think genre writers are lazy. Neither is the case. They simply write different kinds of fiction well.

I, for one, hold nothing against any writer for writing what he or she loves to write. There's no point in it. I can't write horror well, but Stephen King rocks at it.

I can't write a literary fiction book either, but that's because many of the literary fiction books I had to read as a student bored me. I'm not against them, per se. I just don't enjoy them as much.

Funny thing is, when Mark Twain (and other authors now considered "classic") was writing his books, his work was considered to be sub-par for the times. Now he's a literary classic!


Six of One Kind, Half-Dozen of Another

Now we know what it is, what sorts of books would be considered a literary fiction book?

If we start by looking at classics, authors such as Alexander Dumas, Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway and Jane Austen would all fit the bill, even if they didn't when they were alive.

More recent authors include John Steinbeck, Kurt Vonnegut, Roald Dahl and C.S. Lewis.

What all of these authors have in common is that they were writing about human nature - focusing on human nature. Even if they were writing what seemed "exciting" novels for their time.

Alexander Dumas, for instance, enjoyed poking fun at society for it's snobbish views. Charles Dickens pointed out how dark society could be. C.S. Lewis generally included a spiritual message in his novels, even those aimed at children.

None of their books fall into genre categories neatly. C.S. Lewis is famous for his Chronicles of Narnia series, which is an adventure and a fantasy and a children's book. But it's more a statement on human beliefs and integrity.

So writing a literary fiction book leaves you wide open to nearly any subject matter you wish to address. As long as you're writing it more for style and depth, and less for sheer entertainment. (I'll take the entertainment, personally, but that doesn't make me shallow. Just human.)


You Might Be A Literary Fiction Author If...

Wikipedia has a great quote from a literary author, or one who's labeled that way, at least. John Updike finds the term limiting. He thinks it sets up expectations he may not want to meet, so he dislikes it.

On the other hand, he says all his works are literary because "they are written in words." (That would make mine literary, too... hmmm.)

A literary fiction book tends to be one that would be nominated for literary awards. Mine never will be, though they might make the bestseller lists. I'm as happy with that as with an award.

So, you may want to write literary fiction if you enjoy reading it, first of all. And if you'd like the distinction of perhaps winning one of the many literary awards available. Just think how it would look to have a Pulitzer Prize framed on your wall. Maybe a Newberry Medal or wait! How about a Nobel Prize for literature!

Any of these are lofty goals, and I urge you to write such novels if that's what you truly have a passion for.

If you don't, you won't win any awards, because it will show. So write a literary fiction book only if it's your burning desire.

Best of luck at the awards!