Literary Fiction vs Genre Fiction: What Should You Write?
by Mary Kole | Former literary agent, now a freelance editor, writing teacher, and IP/story developer for major publishers and creators.
Many new writers wonder about the difference between literary fiction vs genre fiction. In the publishing industry, you often hear that there is a dichotomy between the two, but the terms themselves can be unclear.
This was recently asked by a Good Story Learning member:
What are agents publishing looking for with literary fiction vs genre fiction? It seems like genre fiction is an easier sell. Does that mean bad things for people pursuing literary fiction?
If you’re wondering the difference between literary fiction vs genre fiction, read on.
How Agents Approach Literary Fiction vs Genre Fiction
A prerequisite for being a writer (and a literary gatekeeper, come to think of it) is loving books. But loving books or being a talented wordsmith isn’t always enough to make a viable and profitable writing career. Which brings up the question of the type of books that agents might consider “saleable,” as this is how we get to the seeming divide between literary fiction vs genre fiction. Is one more desirable than the other, or are they both worthwhile?
Some agents pursue literary fiction, which sometimes has a reputation as being quiet and beautiful, more focused on the writing style than on plot development. Unfortunately, some of these manuscripts are quite difficult to market in an industry that is more and more fixated on sales hooks. The downside of literary fiction in the literary fiction vs genre fiction debate is that these novels are seen as not often having enough plot. Which is why some writers might feel like genre fiction is more worthwhile (if you’ve been paying attention to the market, the latter has especially been blowing up on TikTok, for example, because of clearly identifiable tropes that readers gravitate toward en masse).
Is Literary Fiction A Tough Sell?
To me, the literary fiction vs genre fiction argument is the wrong fixation. They are not mutually exclusive. You can add beautiful prose to high-concept commercial fiction that’s intended for “mass market appeal” or “upmarket,” which are other labels you’ll hear a lot as part of this conversation. That being said, “quiet” books are still very worthwhile for writers to write and agents to represent and publishers to publish. They just might take a bit longer to find their perfect home.
Regardless of category—literary fiction vs genre fiction aside—your book should have a plot and a story and character development. It should be compelling to hook the reader. If it is, then identifying genre doesn’t matter as much. If it isn’t, maybe you’re hiding between the literary fiction label for a collection of beautiful sentences (and not much story) or a genre fiction piece that fits the tropes but isn’t well-written. You shouldn’t actually choose between one or the other. Today’s bestselling books tend to blend categories anyway, and the bar is very high for both story and writing style.
It's true that it's easier to sell something with a commercial premise than something that relies on reviews and awards to make a splash (in kidlit, these books have more opportunities for traction in the school and library market, but in the adult market, less so). An agent deciding which books to represent will consider the sales potential of a title, because agenting is a commission-based book sales job and that practical aspect can’t be ignored.
The question of literary fiction vs genre fiction has become something agents do think about when they decide whether or not to vouch for a project. Agents often have to make the difficult decision of whether or not they think they can sell something. Even if they love a manuscript, they might not be able to market it successfully. This isn’t the end of the road for some literary projects that get passed over, though. A literary agent might be interested in that writer’s next project. Or another agent might bite.
Unfortunately, in the timeless question of literary fiction vs genre fiction, love isn't enough—if you want to know how to write a book that sells, you have to consider how viable it is in the market, too.
The Literary Fiction vs Genre Fiction Question Leads to a Decision
Think about it from a writer’s perspective. Would you prefer an agent who talks up your work and provides validation but isn’t able to sell it? Or someone who actually sells your book, makes your desires happen and turns you into a successful writer with the stepping stone to a career? Pardon me for being so blunt, but I believe you'd do better choosing the second one, so paying attention to the literary fiction vs genre fiction debate will behoove you. Only you can decide whether your work can feasibly land. Or you might realize that you don’t have to choose.
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