When The Glass Wives was published in 2013, I was taken aback when some readers said my novel was an easy read. I’d spent FOUR YEARS writing it. Sentences were painstakingly composed. Characters were crafted from the inside out. The manuscript was edited, revised, rewritten, and then edited again. Others said it was a light read. So I wondered–how many grieving children does it take to write a heavy read? And was that what I wanted? The answer was no.
And then it hit me.
IT’S HARD TO WRITE AN EASY READ.
I flipped my internal switch and that which I considered a slight became a compliment.
Today we have Karin Gillespie sharing with us her experience with real life literary snobbery and how it inspired her latest novel, Love Literary Style.
Please welcome Karin to WFW!
Amy xo
Struggling With Literary Snobbery
When my debut novel, a lighthearted Southern tale, came out in 2004, one of first reviewers said, “It’s a fun read but Gillespie is no Flannery O’Connor.” For heaven sakes, I thought, who said I was trying to be Flannery O’Connor? I was fully aware my novel, unlike Flannery’s fiction, fell into the “guilty pleasure: category. And besides, there’s definitely a place for fluffy fiction. I often get letters from readers who are facing difficult circumstances, and they claim my novels cheered them. That’s a good thing, I’d tell myself. But if I’m going to be perfectly candid, the snobbery against my books, which I’d experienced more times than I liked, stung some.
In 2008, when the publishing imploded, I thought it’d be wise to take a break and get my MFA. By this time, I had five books published, all commercial novels or as academics call them, genre fiction.” In the majority of MFA programs, the goal is to write literary fiction, and genre fiction is seen as a much lesser art form. I basically knew that going in, but there was one instructor who wanted to make certain I didn’t miss the point..
In front of the entire workshop, he deemed my novels as mere “parlor fiction” (of interest to women only, as he put it), and proceeded to tell me that genre fiction was worthless. He claimed, “I could easily write a bestselling novel, but I wouldn’t lower myself that way.” It was one of the worst days of my life, and he shamed me so thoroughly I almost quit the program.
But, happily, I ended up sticking it out. Later I wrote about my MFA experiences in an essay for the New York Times called “Masters in Chicklit.” The article went viral, and authors like Elizabeth Gilbert and Anne Rice shared it on social media. I got dozens of supportive letters and comments. It seemed almost very writer had an experience similar to mine, and they wanted to share it.
I’m delighted to say that the uppity instructor no longer teaches for the program (for reasons that have nothing to do with me), and the rest of my MFA instructors were wonderful and warm. But clearly, literary snobbery is alive and well in America or else my article wouldn’t have resonated with so many people. That NY Times article inspired my latest novel, Love Literary Style, which is about a relationship between a stuffy literary writer and a vivacious, self-published romance author, and how their union suffers when she becomes more successful than he.
From what you’ve read so far, you might imagine genre fiction will come out on top in Love Literary Style, but that’s not at all true. I genuinely tried to fairly portray both sides. In fact, I strongly believe that literary writers can learn much from genre writers and visa versa. Initially, because my instructor was so unkind, I was a little resistant to what my MFA program had to offer and I feared they were trying to change me completely. But gradually I loosened up and started to take in some very valuable lessons. My instructors taught me the art of nuance, and how to go much deeper with my themes and characters. While I’m definitely still a commercial writer, my new strengths are reflected in the reviews I’ve been getting for the books I’ve written since the program.
Likewise, literary writers can learn volumes from commercial writers, particularly when it comes to structure issues. Structure and plot concerns get little or no airtime in MFA programs, and, unfortunately, it shows in the novels. During my MFA program, I did extensive research on structural concerns and presented it at the end of the last semester. It proved to be a revelation for a number of writers, and I’d be glad to send it to any of you who want to improve in this area. Just email me at karin.gillespie@gmail.com.
Agents and editors are always saying they want upmarket fiction, which is a marriage of the best elements of gene and literary fiction. Think of novels like A Man Named Ove, The Light Between Oceans, and Me Before You. Such novels appear on the bestselling lists and stay there for weeks, instead of slipping off after a week or two. Which just goes to show you, no matter what kind of writer you are, there’s always something valuable to learn from writers who are different from you. Just don’t let your biases get in the way.
Karin Gillespie is the national bestselling author of six novels and has an MFA in Creative Writing from Converse. Her nonfiction writing has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post and Writer Magazine. She writes a book column for the Augusta Chronicle and a humor column for August Magazine. She’s also a part-time writing instructor at Augusta University.
You can find Karin on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29974338-love-literary-style; on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karin.gillespie, and on her website: http://karingillespie.net/.
I am with you! It is hard to write an ‘easy read’ and they are a treat to read. But that definition is a matter of opinion – characters that resonate with me and don’t leave when the book is over don’t qualify imo. And there are enough grieving children to burden my heart every time I open the newspaper.
I am not a fan of literary fiction. There. I said it. That does not make me an ignorant dolt. In fact, I am an avid reader and learner in many subjects. (One of my recent endeavors has been the care of Phalaenopsis orchids and I am proud to say my specimen has just put up a new flower spike.) However, when I read fiction I am reading to be entertained, to be drawn into the world of another and to leave my own for a while. That doesn’t mean I shun literary fiction. I don’t, but if it isn’t a good tale, the writing alone will not move me, nor will an esoteric expression of a universal truth.
I am not yet published, but my style and voice are quite similar to yours, Amy and I enjoyed your novels immensely. Karin, I just added Love Literary Style to my ‘want to read’ list. I can’t wait to get to it.
Thank you. I’m so flattered.
I enjoyed this post. I’m sometimes amused, other times annoyed, when this particular snobbery implies that ideas that matter don’t exist in genre fiction. It takes skill and incredibly careful editing to make a novel fast-paced, emotionally engaging, fun to read and full of complicated ideas that resonate with readers, but it can be done. Dense and hard to read do not, by definition, equal piercing into the meaning of things.
I so agree. Storytelling mastery is extremely difficult.
Loved this post. It speaks volumes to the bias that still exists against women writers.
Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure!
I want to go back in time and take the chair beside you in that classroom so I can whisper, “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.”
This was an enlightening post, and I’m eager to read your new novel and recommend it to others. Thanks for standing up to the pressure.
Thanks so much, Kathy. Difficult as it was, in the long run it helped me.
Thank you for this post, Amy. It speaks of resilience against bullies dressed as professors. I believe the genre Women’s Fiction is looked down upon because of the gender of most of the authors and often the characters. If you write a great story within the boundaries of grammatical rules and regulations, why does it matter what genre it falls under. I identify my MS as WF, I was told that it wasn’t “fluffy” enough. However the commentator couldn’t tell me exactly what that meant. Anyway, I write first and let the story fall where it may. Thanks Karin Gillespie for sharing your experience. I’s inspiring.
So true. At the end of the day we just have to write what calls to us.
A wonderful post by a talented, courageous author… But I do believe our better angels are sometimes in disguise. Those who tell us we can’t, or shouldn’t, or never will, push us to prove them wrong. I was told by my high school guidance counselor that I was not college material. By a creative writing professor that my work was dreadful. By endless editors and agents that my novels were silly because they had humor… The good news for you, Karin, is that you didn’t listen. Me, either. I’m so proud of us! And by god, let’s keep going!
Hey Saralee,
Lovely to see a familiar face. We’ve both been in this game long enough to know to keep an eye on the prize and ignore the rest.
Karen-it was wonderful to sit next to you at the WFWA retreat’s last night dinner. I enjoyed reading this story of your literary journey and I most definately want to read this latest story of yours. It makes me think about all the times Jennifer Weiner has stuck up for genre fiction, especially WF and chick lit, when the literay snobs make snide comments about her work. I am definately going to send you an email requesting your presentation on structure and plot. Thanks Amy for always bringing us the most interesting and uplifting of interviews. Your name was brought up quite a few times at the retreat in regards to how much you’ve done for WF! I hope you can make it to the retreat sometime. I’d love to meet you in person too.
Thanks, Karin, your journey and what you have experienced is helping me a great deal. I struggle with where I am–somewhere between women’s fiction, upmarket fiction and maybe working toward literary fiction. But I am reading and researching, rewriting and working for the right balance for my fiction. In the end, I want to write a story that people fall into and when they are done, they might also comment that it had some “beautiful writing.” Will send you an email.
It is the highest form of self-respect to admit our errors and mistakes and make amends for them. To make a mistake is only an error in judgment, but to adhere to it when it is discovered shows infirmity of character.