Meandering tomes. Weighty descriptions. Subtle subtext. Sweeping themes. A thesaurus by my side.
Ah, the joys of reading literary fiction.
I’m a fast reader and I love literary fiction because it forces me to slow down. I love lit fic because it is the beauty of words on the page as much as it’s the story those words tell.
Sometimes, it seems that the author has actually painted the scenes with his or her words. Meticulously, painstakingly, slowly painted. Sometimes I wish those writers would just paint by number and get on with it. That’s when I crave balance — in some of what I read — and in all of what I write.
So, what do I learn from reading literary fiction? That sometimes I want to slow down and paint a picture with my words so that the reader has the time to breathe and imagine. A good pace in a novel doesn’t just mean it’s a fast read, a good pace also means the author knows where to slow down. An adept author micromanages the reader’s experience even though what every reader derives from the actual book is a little different.
I’m not seeking to write lofty volumes – but accessible ones. Yet, I want to write a book where phrases, sentences, even paragraphs are deemed underline or hightlight or dog-ear worthy by readers, because I’ve expressed something in just that certain way that’s a little different.
Not too much to ask of myself. I hope.
Literary fiction authors who pop to mind — Margaret Atwood, John Updike, Willa Cather, Brian Morton, Geraldine Brooks — these books make me think. Hard. Everything is not presented on a silver platter (and I do love silver platters) and is therefore a more difficult read. Not necessarily for smarter people, but for readers who want to look behind the curtain for themselves to figure out how the story works. Literary fiction has been called serious fiction. I think all fiction is serious (for the record).
What I miss when I read literary fiction, is a break in the intensity of the language and theme. That’s why I want to write something that straddles the fence — something that makes the reader think and also allows that same reader to coast in well-placed bits, as a reprieve.
I’m privy to the lyrical nature of language because of literary fiction. I also love to soar through a book that has great characters and plot, but where I am not enraptured by the prose. Then there are the books that do both. Those are my lifelines. Those are the women’s fiction of which I often speak and want to produce. I strive to not only create art with my words, but a wild ride. Without a hefty dose of literary fiction in my past, present and future, I don’t think I’d be able to articulate that wish, that goal, that drive — let alone write it.
Which genres have taught you what and how you want to write your own women’s fiction? Examples?
What a great topic! I also enjoy reading literature. I love reading a passage of writing so good that I want to stop and read it aloud. Some examples: Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried” and the first chapter of Colum McCann’s “Let the Great World Spin”.
I’m reading Barbara Kingsolver’s short story collection now along with a lighter, romantic comedy from a popular author. Both are well written, but the former makes me stop, read slower, and just feel the moment. It’s a very different experience. Not a lot happens in the former, but I feel it more and I know it will stay with me longer.
Thanks for the recommendations, Adrienne. I think I’m destined to read something by Tim O’Brien. Meg Waite Clayton mentioned him in her interview last Thursday and now you. I just finished a fun chick lit read, so now it’s time for something a little meatier. And I agree, some books stick with you. I feel that way about Brian Morton’s Starting Out In The Evening. It’s a book I won’t loan out, for fear of not having it returned. I just want to possess it.
🙂
Amy
Just added to the top of my To Be Read list. Thanks!
This is a great post. It’s something that I’ve been contemplating lately – on one hand I adore literary fiction and when I’m reading, that’s where I gravitate. As a writer, however, my muse is sometimes leading me in various directions (sometimes simultaneously!) … so it seems that I, too, am seeking to sort of straddle that line between genre and literary fiction. I’m not sure what that means, exactly, in terms of what that means for my career or my publishing opportunities, but that’s sort of where my head is at the moment. You’ve explained it very well here 🙂
Thanks, PJ. Sometimes it helps when you know someone else gets it. I know I feel that way — so thanks!!
🙂
Amy
I prefer lit. fic. and books of poetry over genre for reading. And I strive (wish) to write both. However, my writing treads toward the literary without being too literary. I try to incorporate a fitting motif to fit my theme; I love the metaphor and symbolism. Am I accomplishing the same? Not sure, but in order to feel that I am I continue to read/write poetry as well as lit.fic (and continue taking Eng. Lit. courses ’cause I’m a glutton for punishment).
Not to sound like a literary snob, as I’ve been called at a blog by a certain nameless self-pubbed authoress, but damn it, there’s beauty in them-there poetic prose. So sue me for being true to myself. 🙂
I like to read a combination. I love a good genre book – light reading, not too much thinking, just it is what it is. It’s good writing for sure, but not deep. But I love reading that makes me think – that says things better than I ever could. It pushes me.
<3
For me, it’s all in “the voice” — and I know the voice that appeals to one person isn’t the voice that appeals to another.
One of my favorite literary but accessable women’s novels is Lionel Shriver’s The Post Birthday World. It’s a domestic love story, told deeply and intelligently. But it never gets too dark or heavy, and there’s plenty of that “day to day life” flavor that makes it a relaxing read.
Sometimes I wish I could just have a reading vacation!
Absolutely love this post. I am a fan of literary fiction for the same reasons as you. And I guess that our other similarity is the desire to write somewhere in the middle. Like you, Amy, I want to be that “upmarket women’s fiction” writer or that “book club women’s fiction” writer, weaving words together that paint vivid, memorable pictures – but also writing a “can’t-put-it-down” drama without loads of dull spots. Thank you for revealing the beauty of literary fiction and how it really CAN help everyone.
Melissa,
I’m with you 100%!
🙂
Amy
Well, I hope my stuff straddles the fence. I know when I write it, I don’t over think or try to write something that sounds/reads a certain way – it comes out how it comes out and it comes out pretty fast. Sometimes my stuff is called lit fiction and sometimes it’s called other things.
I read such a variety of work – and as long as the characters engage me, I’ll follow them wherever they go and however the author leads them to lead me!
Kat,
I think your novels absolutely straddle the fence (and I’m not just saying that). I tend to be someone who categorizes things – it’s just my nature – and sometimes I read a book and don’t know where it fits. I guess that’s a good thing when it’s a little of this and a little of that, because it’s appeal is wider. I can see a diverse audience enjoying your books. There is definitely beautiful prose as well as riveting story lines. The combination is NOT prevalent in all books and when it’s there – it is so fulfilling to me. I also love books that are on one end of the spectrum or the other, it’s just a different kind of satisfaction I get from reading them. 🙂
Amy
I found your blog via Nathan Bransford’s blog and am delighted I did. I have been browsing about for a while and thought I’d leave a comment to say how much I have enjoyed your posts.
I studied both English and French Literature at University.It wasn’t, however, any of the great masters that influenced how I wrote, but modern chick lit writers such as Helen Fielding ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’and ascerbic writers such as Ben Elton due to the humorous content of their novels. I found myself able to write quirky comedy much more easily than serious literature.
Nice to ‘meet’ you.
Kind regards from across the pond
Carol
Nice to meet you, Carol! I hope you’ll be back. 🙂
Amy
Love this post, Amy! This is a topic that is constantly on my mind. I have a bachelor’s in English and love literary fiction. My love of reading genre fiction, particularly romance, led me to major in English. Coming from a very small and rural town (pop of 850!),college opened a whole new world for me. I concentrate on Women’s Lit courses and writing workshops where no genre writing was allowed.
But I also still love genre fiction as both a reader and writer. On my novel writing journey, I’ve completed a romantic suspense and several paranormal romances. A few months ago, I finished my first women’s fiction novel which is now undergoing major rewrites. What I’ve learned — is that my writing voice fits women’s fiction “that straddles the fence.” After hours of researching on the web, I finally found the term ‘upmarket women’s fiction’ to describe what I’m writing market wise. Since I belong to RWA and Savvy Authors, marketing is a huge part of networking in those groups. Being able to “define” my market was a huge problem.
I often described my writing as Jodi Picoult meets Alice Hoffman and a “darker” Sarah Addison Allen.
I’m so glad that I came across your blog!!! Because honestly I’ve found no groups online writing women’s fiction in this category. Don’t get me wrong… I still love romance and genre books and writing them and all women’s fic books. 🙂
YOU WROTE:
“I’m privy to the lyrical nature of language because of literary fiction. I also love to soar through a book that has great characters and plot, but where I am not enraptured by the prose. Then there are the books that do both. Those are my lifelines. Those are the women’s fiction of which I often speak and want to produce. I strive to not only create art with my words, but a wild ride. Without a hefty dose of literary fiction in my past, present and future, I don’t think I’d be able to articulate that wish, that goal, that drive — let alone write it.”
You have described how I feel perfectly. Again, thank you so much for this wonderful blog post and blog. I feel like I’ve found my writing tribe here. 🙂
Sincerely,
Tina
I actually stopped and searched for it in Merriam-Webster. Did “Hightlight” in paragraph 6th and line 4th really existed?
Apparently it did not.