Literary writing versus Genre writing – By Melinda Carroll
Literary agent Kristin sparked a great conversation among writers when she tried to define the term literary on her Pub Rants blog.
Kristin defines literary as:
“I wish there were a quick and dirty definition I could give you but there’s not. It’s often like porn. I know it when I see it. It’s pretty clear.
I can at least make a stab at defining it though. The term literary refers to the level and quality of the writing. The language itself is art. It also refers to the level of complexity in the story. So works like THE CLOUD ATLAS or GILEAD are definitely literary.
The writing itself has a beauty that’s palpable. Now, these works can also tell a good story (which both do by the way) but when you sit back in awe at the tightness of the writing and the sheer scope encompassed, then you know it’s literary.”
She went on to explain that most genre writing or commercial fiction is not necessarily literary but it could be genre or commercial fiction with literary leanings. Her statements got everyone in an uproar over literary writing versus genre writing.
(Read the full blog and the comments)
Kristin followed up the discussion in another blog post titled: “Literary Can of Worms.”
She states:
“Where in my post do I denigrate genre writers? Simply because I mention that “literary” writing is usually recognizable or defined by level or art of the writing doesn’t mean that genre writers don’t also achieve that. It’s simply that the industry doesn’t DEFINE them as literary. Folks, I don’t make the rules. I simply try and point out that they exist. That there is an expectation an editor has if I pitch a work as literary fiction. They are expecting whatever it is they consider to be literary—and in the way I took a stab at defining.”
(Read the full blog and the comments)
I myself love good literary prose and literary themes. I would agree with her statement: “The writing itself has a beauty that’s palpable.” Even though I read a lot of commercial fiction and women’s fiction I’m always looking for a great literary work of art that just blows me away.
What are your thoughts on literary writing versus genre writing and the labels the publshing world uses to define books?
No matter the genre or label, I think most people want to read good writing. Good writing stands out. And that is exactly what Noveltown is looking for. (Submissions accepted here.)
Kristin defines literary as:
“I wish there were a quick and dirty definition I could give you but there’s not. It’s often like porn. I know it when I see it. It’s pretty clear.
I can at least make a stab at defining it though. The term literary refers to the level and quality of the writing. The language itself is art. It also refers to the level of complexity in the story. So works like THE CLOUD ATLAS or GILEAD are definitely literary.
The writing itself has a beauty that’s palpable. Now, these works can also tell a good story (which both do by the way) but when you sit back in awe at the tightness of the writing and the sheer scope encompassed, then you know it’s literary.”
She went on to explain that most genre writing or commercial fiction is not necessarily literary but it could be genre or commercial fiction with literary leanings. Her statements got everyone in an uproar over literary writing versus genre writing.
(Read the full blog and the comments)
Kristin followed up the discussion in another blog post titled: “Literary Can of Worms.”
She states:
“Where in my post do I denigrate genre writers? Simply because I mention that “literary” writing is usually recognizable or defined by level or art of the writing doesn’t mean that genre writers don’t also achieve that. It’s simply that the industry doesn’t DEFINE them as literary. Folks, I don’t make the rules. I simply try and point out that they exist. That there is an expectation an editor has if I pitch a work as literary fiction. They are expecting whatever it is they consider to be literary—and in the way I took a stab at defining.”
(Read the full blog and the comments)
I myself love good literary prose and literary themes. I would agree with her statement: “The writing itself has a beauty that’s palpable.” Even though I read a lot of commercial fiction and women’s fiction I’m always looking for a great literary work of art that just blows me away.
What are your thoughts on literary writing versus genre writing and the labels the publshing world uses to define books?
No matter the genre or label, I think most people want to read good writing. Good writing stands out. And that is exactly what Noveltown is looking for. (Submissions accepted here.)
Labels: Bakersfield, commercial fiction, DIY, genre, Indie Press, literary, Literary Agents, literary submissions, Noveltown, Writers
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Monday, March 12, 2007.
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what about blogs? it is "writing" after all. and some titles attract massive comments, to where it's like a mini-novel or something(comedy,drama,religion...). the topics are pretty heavy, and the comments seem serious enough to be good literary work.has anyone ever published a collection of blogs?
probably a legal issue huh? oh well, just wondering...
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