Literary vs Commercial Fiction

Is literary fiction the yin to commercial fiction's yang? I think so... But you'll have to decide what you think for yourself, because opinions vary far and wide. It's a hot topic in the fiction writing world these days... maybe it always has been.

Many writers wonder about the differences between literary fiction and commercial fiction. Below I've broken each category down to show the most significant contrasts between the two.

Literary Fiction:

Literary vs Commercial Fiction

Confronts life as we know it Action makes little (or no) difference to the conflict Resolves the story, but not necessarily the conflict by the end Confronts issues pertaining to the human condition Is challenging and thought-provoking The beauty of the writing is often remarked upon--often aspires to win awards in the literary world Focuses more on the poise of expression, psychological acumen, and character
Commercial Fiction:

Diverts us from life for a while Action always makes a difference to the conflict--can be good OR bad Characters aren't always realistic, they often seem slightly cartoonish Social issues described are similar to the ones portrayed on sitcoms or in movies Can be read quickly and easily--without too much thinking involved Written to entertain a much wider audience Focuses more on narrative and plot

However, what most other articles, sites, and writers don't focus on are the things that two types of fiction SHARE. It's also important to understand a few of the similarities between (good) literary and commercial fiction.

Ingredients for a good piece of fiction, be it literary or commercial:

Good fiction is grammatically accurate and well edited Good fiction is character driven Good fiction evokes emotions from its readers Good fiction is written with specificity (write concretely, not vaguely)

Do you have to label your fiction writing as literary or commercial? I don't think so, necessarily. But it is a good idea to understand the basics if you're working your way into the writing/publishing community.

Literary vs Commercial Fiction
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Sara McClung is a full-time writer living in Northern Virginia. Currently, she's editing her YA urban fantasy, SHATTERED, and is working on her second novel. Read more about the writing process at http://babblingflow.blogspot.com

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