Depending on the person you ask, fiction is usually categorized as genre and literary. But unlike genre fiction which can follow a predictable story, literary fiction doesn’t follow any rules. This means that anything can happen in the story, which can be unnerving and exciting for the readers. In most cases, literary fiction can take a standard theme in genre fiction and make some major changes. This makes literary fiction quite exciting to read because your target readers cannot know the outcome of the story. This page discusses literary fiction.
Key aspects of literary fiction
Literary fiction tends to emphasize style, theme, and character. You should note that genre usually prioritizes plot. Literary fiction can dig deep and can ask uncomfortable questions surrounding social, moral, or even political situations. This can in turn affect or create complex and intricate characters.
These characters can then become how the readers see the world in another way. The readers can explore themes that are determined by the writer. Take note that the characters tend to be the mechanism and catalyst with which readers can explore complex situations.
No doubt, character development is the key to any great fiction. Because genre fiction focuses on plot and moving the story forward, it often leaves little space to look into the mindset of the character. On the other hand, literary fiction puts more emphasis on the character’s motivation, though few things actually happen.
In literary fiction, there are good chances that you can come across some characters that may challenge your preconceptions. They can allow you to get into their inner motivations and thoughts.
Theme and style are also quite common in literary fiction. Most literary fiction can inspire flowery, longer, and complicated prose. You can also find people that consider literary fiction books as heavily themed.
Tone is another aspect of literary fiction that often sets it apart. Many literary fiction novels are usually more introspective when it comes to the way they deliver tone, and they tend to be almost realistic. Because of this, internal conflict can drive the plot. Besides, the characters drive the plot instead of the plot revealing these characters.
The characteristics of literary fiction
Literary fiction doesn’t follow the strict standards of any specific sub-genre, so every writer can make up their rules as they see them fit. Therefore, the readers cannot be quite sure where the story can take them. Because there are no rules, the literary fiction author can push the boundaries of what they intend to write, and the results can sometimes be great.
Genre fiction tries to distract the readers through light entertainment, but literary fiction is introspective in its objective. Therefore, literary fiction attempts to make sense of the environment by exploring the human condition.
You should note that stories that try to explore the human condition tend to be hard to read. By nature, they must deal with some difficult subject matters with honesty. It can be hard for readers to think about these, especially when they simply want to escape. Also, literary fiction can rely on allegory or symbolism to convey a deeper meaning.
As explained above, genre fiction is often tied to the plot while literary fiction tends to have a similar relationship with the character. These characters need to be defined and explored as well as the impetus that moves the narrative forward. Literary fiction can chow the characters in action and how each action changes the character.
In literary fiction, the ending can sometimes be abrupt, sad, or even left up to the reader for their interpretation. Sometimes, you find that nothing is resolved, leaving the readers desperate to find the meaning of the story.
Most literary fiction novels usually push boundaries and use a unique perspective. No wonder, works of literary fiction novels get more awards. Many critics like this type of novel, though receiving an award doesn’t mean that the novel is worth the readers’ money and time. This is because creative content can depend on the kind of reader. If you enjoy action movies, then you must read about the 45 70 brass.
Understanding the characteristics of genre fiction
Now that you understand what is involved in literary fiction, it is a good idea for you to know about genre fiction. You should also remember that genre fiction is also called popular fiction. This is because it usually appeals to a wide audience. These books are suitable for mainstream readers, particularly individuals who already like a specific subset of fiction. Most readers prefer a specific genre like romance, mystery, action, sci-fi, and many more.
Unlike literary fiction, genre fiction needs to follow some certain rules. For example, a sci-fi novel can have advanced technology while young adults can look at coming of age stories. That said, a writer can choose whatever they desire, though the readers of that specific genre may have some basic expectations. Therefore, the writer should not ignore these expectations; otherwise the novel can look like literary fiction.
Genre fiction stories also start off with exposition that may be interrupted by conflict. Then there is rising action that can follow until the climax of the narrative followed by falling action and a great resolution.
Genre fiction also comes with a tidy ending, meaning some crucial questions are answered. Many popular fiction novels resolve with a pleasant ending as the readers demand this. Above all, genre fiction can be easier to sell. This is because fans of a specific genre are usually drawn to reading many books that narrate the same kind of stories. This means that they are always looking for different interpretations of this basic story.
In conclusion, literary fiction can be interesting to read, especially for the readers who don’t like knowing how the story ends. The good thing is that there are many literary books on the market. If you are interested in writing a literary fiction novel, then you need to read some popular books for inspiration. When it comes to genre fiction, they can be spellbinding, inventive, and beautifully written. But there are fewer chances that genre fiction can win prestigious literary awards or even appeal to book experts.