What is the Difference Between Literary Fiction and Commercial Fiction

Literary fiction and commercial fiction are two labels commonly used in the publishing industry to refer to two types of novels. There are several differences between these two categories of fiction.

The key difference between literary fiction and commercial fiction is their focus. Literary fiction mainly focuses on characterization, writing style, and complex themes, whereas commercial fiction mainly focuses on a strong plot.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Literary Fiction  
3. What is Commercial Fiction
4. Similarities – Literary Fiction and Commercial Fiction
5. Literary Fiction vs Commercial Fiction in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Literary Fiction vs Commercial Fiction
7. FAQ: Literary Fiction and Commercial Fiction

What is Literary Fiction?

Literary fiction is a term used to describe fiction that focuses on character development, writing style, and complex themes and ideas. This style of fiction is not just about telling a story; it has a strong focus on the writing itself and may involve concerns like political criticism, social commentary, and reflection on the human condition. It also has a slower pace than commercial fiction. In literary fiction, the plot may not be as important as characterization, atmosphere, themes, and style. This is why it’s often described as being character-driven rather than being plot-driven.

Literary fiction has a smaller audience than popular fiction. This audience is usually more intellectually minded and read for depth and artistry, not entertainment. Since literary fiction has a smaller audience, it’s difficult to get many sales unless a book is nominated or wins a popular literary award like Booker Prize or Pulitzer Prize. Some popular literary fiction writers include Cormac McCarthy, Arundhati Roy, Zadie Smith, Toni Morrison, and Elizabeth Strout.

Some criticize literary fiction for sacrificing the plot to focus on writing or innovation, which may sometimes lead to readers giving up reading halfway as they can’t understand the content or style of the book. Some even accuse literary authors of having no concerns about the readers.

What is Commercial Fiction?

Commercial fiction, also known as genre fiction or popular fiction, is a broad category of fiction that focuses on a strong, engaging plot. It is an umbrella term and includes different genres like romance, historical fiction, crime and suspense, science fiction, and fantasy. The language in this genre is fairly straightforward and often conversational, which makes it easy to read and understand. They also let readers escape from reality through dramatic scenes, fantasy elements, or imaginative settings.

Since books that fall under commercial fiction are plot-driven, they are page-turners. They have a large audience and make many sales. Some popular commercial fiction writers include Sidney Sheldon, J.K Rowling, Agatha Christie, Nora Roberts, Dan Brown, and Colleen Hoover.

What is Upmarket Fiction?

Sometimes, the line between literary and commercial fiction blurs, and it’s difficult to decide whether a book is literary or commercial. This is where the label upmarket fiction comes in. Upmarket fiction includes fiction that falls into both genres. They have engaging plots as well as strong characterization, nuanced writing, and more depth.

Similarities Between Literary Fiction and Commercial Fiction

1. Both categories of fiction may have a high standard of writing.
2. They narrate a compelling story.
3. Both have the basic elements of a novel – plot, characters, themes, etc.
4. They have well-developed characters (but the depth of characterization may vary according to the book).
5. Some books have elements of both literary and commercial fiction.

Difference Between Literary Fiction and Commercial Fiction

Definition

1. Literary fiction is a term that describes fiction that mainly focuses on character development, writing style, and complex themes and ideas.
2. Commercial fiction is a broad category of fiction that focuses on a strong, engaging plot.

Plot

1. In literary fiction, the plot may not be as important as characterization, atmosphere, themes, and style.
2. Commercial fiction has a strong, engaging plot.

Pace

1. Literary fiction tends to have a slower pace.
2. Commercial fiction tends to have a faster pace.

Language Use

1. In literary fiction, the language is usually complex and introspective. Literary authors may also experiment with language.
2. In commercial fiction, the language is straightforward and easy to understand.

Audience

1. Literary fiction has a smaller, intellectually minded audience.
2. Commercial fiction has a broader audience.

The following table summarizes the difference between literary fiction and commercial fiction.

Summary – Literary Fiction vs Commercial Fiction

Literary fiction and commercial fiction are two labels used in publishing to categorize novels. Basically, literary fiction refers to serious fiction with a strong focus on characters, writing style, and themes, whereas commercial fiction refers to fiction with a strong focus on the plot. While literary fiction has a small audience, commercial fiction has a larger audience. This is the summary of the difference between literary fiction and commercial fiction.

FAQ: Literary Fiction and Commercial Fiction

1. Why is it called literary fiction?

• The word ‘literary’ means relating to literature. This is why we use the term literary fiction to describe books that are known for their literary value. These books have rich language, complex themes, and deep character exploration.

2. What are the two major types of fiction?

• Commercial fiction (popular fiction or genre fiction) and literary fiction (non-genre fiction or serious fiction) are the two major types of fiction. Commercial fiction is plot-driven, whereas literary fiction mainly focuses on characterization, complex themes, and writing. Meanwhile, fiction that falls under both these categories is known as upmarket fiction.

3. What is the difference between literary fiction and upmarket fiction?

• Literary fiction refers to fiction that mainly focuses on character development, writing style, and complex themes. Upmarket fiction, on the other hand, refers to fiction that has elements of both literary and popular fiction. This type of fiction has engaging plots, strong characterization, nuanced writing, and more depth.

4. What is the difference between literary fiction and realistic fiction?

• Literary fiction focuses on artistic quality and deep themes and has complex language and experimental techniques. Realistic fiction, on the other hand, tries to depict everyday life and ordinary characters with authenticity and straightforward storytelling.

Reference:

1. “What is Commercial Fiction?” The Novelry.
2. “Literary Fiction.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Close-Up of Books on Shelf” (CC0) via Pexels
2. “Assorted-title Reading Book Lot” (CC0) via Pexels

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