The literary market is booming, and there are more opportunities for aspiring writers than ever before. But you may have noticed, in your journey through the query trenches, that certain publishers or agents flag “literary fiction” in their guidelines. They might say something like “We publish primarily literary fiction” or “I’m particularly looking for contemporary literary fiction at this time.” What gives?
If you’ve come across this term and aren’t completely sure what it means—or if it applies to what you’re writing—you’re in the right place. We’ll break down everything aspiring authors need to know about what makes a book “literary”, and how it compares to other publishing terms. Let’s dive in!
What is “literary fiction”?
Literary fiction (or “lit fic”) is a publishing category of books and short stories that are beautifully written, emphasize complex characters over plot, and which explore big philosophical questions. Often called “serious” or “highbrow” literature, these books allow characters to drive the story instead of following predetermined genre conventions.
If you can easily fit a book into a recognizable genre —romance, fantasy, mystery, western, and so on—it’s probably not literary fiction. Literary fiction is harder to pigeonhole, and often more ambiguous in its moral message (more on that down below).
This doesn’t mean that literary fiction is inherently “better”, “smarter”, or even “more serious” than other genres. It’s just a different way of approaching a story.
Literary fiction vs. genre fiction
“Genre fiction” is a term that refers to stories which fit into specific conventions around plot points, characters, and worldbuilding. This includes things like romance, fantasy, action-adventure, sci-fi, horror, crime, thrillers, and so on. These books appeal to a very specific audience, and fit into that audience’s set of expected tropes.
For instance, a romance novel always has to have a happy ending and a fantasy novel always has to have magical elements. This way the reader knows what to expect when they pick up the book.
By contrast, “literary fiction” is free from those constraints. It can have elements of genre fiction, but overall it tells a different kind of story. Genre fiction tends to have faster pacing and a more structured plot, while literary fiction is more realistic and introspective. We’ll look at the different kinds of literary fiction further down in this article.
Literary fiction vs. upmarket fiction
“Upmarket fiction”, sometimes called “book club fiction”, sits in the middle of literary and genre fiction. It has fast paced, accessible writing just like genre fiction, as well as elevated prose and thought-provoking themes, just like literary fiction.
They’re popular at book clubs because they’re easy to read while also providing a lot to talk about. A lot of historical fiction falls into this category, as well as commercial fiction that deals with timely themes.
Key elements of literary fiction novels
So now that we know how literary fiction stands up against genre and commercial fiction, let’s take a deeper look at what makes literary fiction “literary” in the eyes of agents and publishers.
Literary fiction is character driven
As we’ve established, literary fiction is all about flawed, morally grey characters. Rather than following a predetermined plot structure, literary novels follow real people discovering themselves, making relatable choices, and learning a little bit about the world along the way. The stories feel like they could happen to any one of us.
Literary fiction is heavy on theme
Literary fiction is about more than entertainment; it’s about saying something important. Whether it’s a political statement, a societal cautionary tale, or a message about the importance of family, theme runs through every page. The best literary novels leave the reader with a new perspective about the human experience.
Literary fiction exhibits mastery of language
One of the key traits that defines literary fiction is its beautiful writing. Literary authors know how to use language and imagery to create a dreamlike landscape on the page—or a nightmarish one. These novels have stunning lines that stay with you long after the book is closed. This can contribute to the book’s slower pace.
Literary fiction allows for ambiguity
Literary fiction doesn’t promise a happy ending. Sometimes these stories have a tragic ending; sometimes, the ending leaves open-ended questions with multiple possibilities. Just like real life, not all loose ends get tied up, and not everyone gets what they deserve.
Different types of literary fiction
By now we have a pretty good idea of what makes a novel “literary”, and what separates commercial and literary fiction on the shelves. Now we’re going to break down the different types and approaches authors take to this thought-provoking genre.
(Keep in mind that these categories can overlap, and your novel may fit into more than one.)
Contemporary literary fiction
While many contemporary works can be considered literary fiction, “contemporary literary fiction” specifically refers to novels that deal with pressing timely themes. This can include politics, cultural debates, and history-making events that are unfolding in the world today.
These books can be risky to publish, because they don’t exactly hold back on stating what’s wrong with the world. But they also have the potential to shift perspectives and enact real change.
Philosophical literary fiction
Philosophical literary fiction can be contemporary, historical, or even futuristic (more on futuristic literary fiction below). The goal of this genre is to get people thinking.
These novels ask tough questions and propose non-traditional ideas. They encourage the reader to consider what they would do in the main character’s place, and if they agree with the choices being made.
Speculative literary fiction
Say what?! It may seem like an oxymoron, but the gap between literary and speculative fiction is ever shrinking. Speculative literary fiction novels have all the attributes of other types of literary fiction—complex characters, rich themes, messy humanity, and beautiful writing—while at the same time asking, what if.
These novels usually take place in the present day or the near future. They tell us, “if we continue on this path, this is what could happen.” Often, speculative literary stories serve as a gateway for commercial genre readers who want to explore literary fiction.
Experimental literary fiction
Finally, there’s experimental literary fiction—novels that turn left when you’re expecting them to turn right, that utilize non-traditional narrative structures and transgressive themes.
Because literary fiction is bound by the normal conventions of commercial fiction, it can really do whatever it wants. It’s not uncommon to find literary fiction books that slip in and out of time, use flash fiction or verse structures, or intentionally break the “rules” of creative writing.
Literary fiction examples
We’ve seen the key elements of literary fiction: thought-provoking themes, messy human nature, and freedom from conventional genre tropes. To see how these look in practice, here are a few key examples of literary fiction books that have resonated with readers.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman
This wordy but eye-catching title establishes the basic premise of this literary novel. The protagonist Eleanor is an unassuming office worker, cued as deeply neurodivergent, with a hidden traumatic past. The story explores themes of adult loneliness, depression, acceptance, friendship, and more. No one in Eleanor’s life is a simple stock character, and nothing is as it seems.
Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt
Part literary, part mystery novel with a touch of magical realism, this story explores the unlikely friendship between Tova, an elderly caretaker at the local aquarium, and a giant octopus named Marcellus. There is also an element of intergenerationalism between Tova and the young man she takes on as her protégé. As with all great literary fiction, this story is driven by complex characters and a unique voice.
Practical Magic, by Alice Hoffman
Though you may not have guessed it from the cult-classic film adaptation, Practical Magic is a very literary take on the fantasy genre. The plot-driven magical elements take a back seat to the character-driven storylines, including estranged sisters and young women coming into their feminine power. This novel is all about nuanced themes and the grey area between right and wrong.
Expand your horizons with literary fiction
Literary fiction carries a lot of misconceptions. It’s “serious fiction for serious writers”, it’s “lofty and inaccessible”, or even boring! But as we’ve seen from these great examples above, that simply isn’t true. Literary fiction makes its own rules—which means it can be anything you want it to be.
