A few years ago I didn't know there was a difference between literary fiction and genre fiction.
In case you don't know, I thought I'd take a bit of time from your day today to explain. (I can't help it; it's the teacher in me.)
I did a lot of research on the subject, and you know what I found out? People are really defensive on this subject.
There is a lot of controversy, especially in the indie publishing world. The problem seems to be that there is no clear-cut definition, and, like pretty much everything, there are so many exceptions to the definitions that do exist that definitions are almost pointless. On top of that, people have opinions.
Essentially, what I have found is that genre fiction tends to be driven by plot, and literary fiction tends to be driven by character.
Genre fiction includes things like sci fi, fantasy, romance, horror, thriller, western, historical fiction, and so on. In other words, it encompasses genres.
Literary fiction includes, well, everything else. Some people lit. fiction is the "book club" type books, or the ones awards like.
As I said, though, books straddle worlds. The Hobbit (read my review here) is both fantasy and literary and middle grade. Pride and Prejudice is literary and romance (read that review here).
Some people say genre is exciting, and literary is boring. Some people say literary is serious and important, that genre is not.
While it is true that genre fiction tends to exist primarily for entertainment and escapism, and literary fiction tends to exist primarily for emotional interpretation of the world or society, one is not better than the other.
Let me say that again: One is not better than the other.
It all overlaps, and good books are just, quite simply, good books. Some genre books are considered very literary. Others not. Some literary books are considered very exciting. Others not.
In the indie publishing world, most write genre fiction.
I do not.
This presents a lot of challenges I didn't necessarily think - or worry - about when I started on this journey. It means there are a lot of bloggers and editors and readers who support indie authors but have no interest in books that are not genre fiction.
But there are lots who do, lots who support, lots who are simply just open to books, period, and who do even have some interest in literary fiction.
I'm working on expanding my writing, delving into genres in some short pieces. The more I read and the more I write, the better I will become.
Do you prefer genre fiction or literary fiction? Why types?