Commercial vs Literary Fiction

What is commercial fiction? How it is different from literary fiction? How do they differ? I'm giving an overview of these two often compared, opposing types of books. But, as I cover in the video, there's a TON inbetween, and commercial vs. literary can be limiting.

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[inabacklistmood]

Those colors look so good on you! The shirt, the lip color: you're serving up a whole look.

[DavidMichaelCommer]

I think there's *a little bit* of bias here—which is fine; we all lean one way or another. I would just add that you left out a defining aspect of literary fiction: a focus on language, often experimentally or at least creatively. Most literary fiction writers are interested in using language like a malleable artistic medium rather than just conventional usage to clearly communicate plot. Not all, but a lot of literary fiction also uses unconventional forms—for example, breaking up time into non-chronological scenes to communicate a certain state of mind, for example, or to disorient the reader for the purposes of exploring psychology, time or another facet of being. Most commercial fiction not only uses streamlined, straightforward language with little embellishment, but it also propels its plots at a rapid clip with little interruption. Literary fiction often is more meditative, or it may demand a lot of attention to the powers of language itself, and so on. Literary fiction is a very broad umbrella that can include plot-driven stories, but which almost always has purposes beyond plot. Commercial fiction exists to tell entertaining stories and good commercial fiction can make a reader think, and literary fiction often requires thought simply to understand the story, and guiding readers to think in different ways often is more of the point than telling an entertaining story is. They're just different animals. Neither is better than the other, and if someone were trying to prove that literary fiction is superior, they'd have to contend with the enormous varieties of what is grouped together as literary fiction, because some is subjectively much better than some others. I think the bottom line, the reason there are more 'bragging rights' associated with reading (more than writing) literary fiction is that the act of reading it is mentally challenging, whereas most commercial fiction is superficial in the sense that there isn't a lot of subtext and straightforward in the sense that the plot advances like an arrow rather than like a heat-seeking missile that may weave and bob as it approaches its target.

[aleksandragieralt]

I agree with you about the snobbery. Its true that a lot of classics were originally commercial. I think there's room for creativity in commercial and genre fiction and that's often what makes a book memorable (Laini Taylor's use of language, George R R Martin's multiple plots, etc.)

[iblamejanepodcast]

What's so backward, though, is that at least in my experience, university creative writing programs focus almost exclusively on literary fiction. I would submit science fiction stories for workshop sometimes and get barely any useful feedback, while my more "literary" stories would get a lot. I never personally experienced any outright scorn for writing genre fiction, though I know of people who did, but the program I went through definitely was not designed for anything besides literary fiction.

[paulapoetry]

Great video, thank you. Both Literary and Commercial Fiction have value, and are difficult to write, in different ways. It's good to have an understanding of the various distinctions between the two. It's also good to read at least some of each. 😃👍💝

[TheWordNrd]

I spend a lot of time wondering what commercial fiction novels will end up being held up there with the "great classics".

[brightskysyl]

Hi, Alexa! 😊 Been following you for months now and I enjoy your videos very much. They're very informative.

By the way, if you have the time, can you make a video about tips for international/foreign writers (who aren't living in the USA) in order to get published. 😊

[dear_totheheart]

I do think that the distinction is appropriate and appreciated. I personally am not at all interested in commercial fiction and am grateful for the emphasis on artistic and quality exploration yet the reality that there is quite a bit of overlap - I think that’s encouraging for any of us as writers regardless of our preferred approach!

[marissalete]

THANK YOU!! I need more videos like this!! When searching through agents to figure out who to query, I keep seeing these terms and things like “high-concept” or “with a literary flair” and I’m just like...I have no idea what these mean. Just tell me what you want, dangit!!

[mr.scarytheterry]

Literary Fiction: 1984
Commercial Fiction: Hunger Games

[queendsheena]

This is a great video for defining what both are in a quick and efficient way. Thank you, Alexa.

[GPadugan]

It would seem the distinction between literary and commercial is about post rationalization. There really is no difference. Both categories have the same or can have the same elements. Literary seems to be a cop-out as to why people don't buy it or "get it". Much like the art world. If the masses don't get it it's modern art. if everyone accepts it it's pop-art. Just write. let the critics and readers decide.

[lilyd]

Great video, Alexa! I've been thinking a lot about literary/commercial fiction lately and I was never really sure how to define each, so I was glad to see this pop up. I was wondering if you would ever do a video on being a cross-genre author, whether you would advise it or advise against it, if it's possible to do in today's market and what the publishing specifics would need to be for a situation like that. That's something I'm really curious about

[KeitieKalopsia]

I love your channel! Can I ask for some advice?
How should I make a plot and setting if I’ve created my characters before anything else?

[bossaddict]

Great video. I guess I still understand if there is a difference in the "essence", style, or some word that I can't figure out right now. Is there only difference how marketable a book is or its sales numbers? Are commercial fiction books "dumber" than literary fiction?

[priscilladias]

Mauler and Questus by english writer Shawn Williamson. Indicated by histórian, writer, cinema director Andrew Sinclair.

[nviz]

Thanks Alexa for the clarification! :/

[kdnxnhdhdbfn]

I don’t know how Name dropping is recurved in the writing community, but it would be really helpful if you gave examples for at least the most broad types of books

[irishlostboy]

Ok, so if my story is successful, it is commercial, and if it bombs, I just wear a funny hat, look down my nose at people, and say it's literary fiction. Got it. About what I expected.

[joanp]

I still don't really understand what the differences are. Ok, literary sell less, but if you pick up a book, how do you know which it is.