Literary fiction is a term that has come into common usage since around 1970, principally to distinguish 'serious' fiction (that is, work with claims to literary merit) from the many types of genre fiction and popular fiction. In broad terms, literary fiction focuses more on style, psychological depth, and character, whereas mainstream commercial fiction (the 'pageturner') focuses more on narrative and plot. Literary Merit a written text has Liteary Merit if it is a work of quality, that is if it has some aesthetic value. ... Genre fiction is a term for fictional works (novels, short stories) written with the intent of fitting into a specific literary genre in order to appeal to the fans of that genre. ... Genre fiction is a term for writings by multiple authors that are very similar in theme and style, especially where these similarities are deliberately pursued by the authors. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Look up plot in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Literary fiction includes works written as short story, novella, novel and novel sequence. Of these, the novella is relatively uncommon in English literature, and more important in German literature or Russian literature. In the world of comic writing, graphic novels are sometimes considered literary fiction, as represented by a work such as Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth. This article is in need of attention. ... A novella is a narrative work of prose fiction somewhat longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. ... A novel (from French nouvelle Italian novella, new) is an extended, generally fictional narrative, typically in prose. ... A novel sequence is a set or series of novels which share common themes, characters, or settings, but where each novel has its own title and free-standing storyline, and can thus be read independently or out of sequence. ... The term English literature refers to literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; Joseph Conrad was Polish, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, Salman Rushdie is Indian, V.S... German literature comprises those literary texts originating within Germany proper and written in the German language. ... Russian literature refers to the literature of Russia or its émigrés, and to the Russian-language literature of several independent nations once a part of what was historically Russia or the Soviet Union. ... Trade paperback of Will Eisners A Contract with God (1978), often mistakenly cited as the first graphic novel. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The distinction has its subjective side, as it is impossible to draw an objective line between literary genres (for example, note that magical realism tends to be considered literary, while most fantasy writing is not). This is, however, no different than in any other medium. Genres tend to flow into one another and there are always exceptions. For literary fiction, the dividing line cannot be accurately drawn on the basis of content alone, and has to include style as a consideration. Magic Realism (or Magical Realism) is an illustrative or literary technique in which the laws of cause and effect seem not quite to apply in otherwise real world situations. ... Fantasy is a genre of art that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. ...

Literary prizes usually concern themselves with literary fiction, and their shortlists can give a working definition. A literary award is an award presented to an author who has written a particularly lauded piece of work. ...

Literary magazines, especially those affiliated with universities or ones considered for selection of anthologies by groups like the Pushcart Prize or O. Henry Awards, typically limit their fiction. A "no genre fiction" rule for submissions is common. A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. ... The Pushcart Prize - Best of the small Presses series, published every year since 1976, is the most honored literary project in America. ... The O. Henry Awards are yearly prizes given to short stories of exceptional merit. ...

It has become a commonplace that 'literary fiction' is in itself just another genre. This accords with the marketing practices now general in the book trade. It may also be taken to be the latest version of the death of the novel debate that has run from 1950, and reflects the importance of the novel as it replaced poetry as the central literary form in Western Europe and North America from the 1930s. However, "literary fiction" does not fit the general definition of a "genre" as it lacks the cohesion of genres like "westerns" or "romance" and lacks any kind of genre conventions. One would be hard pressed to come up with a list of genre conventions that would also apply historically, to include everything from the surrealist prose of Beckett to the punchy prose of Hemingway to the works of Victorian England. Look up genre in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Wikibooks has more about this subject: Marketing Look up marketing in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A novel (from French nouvelle Italian novella, new) is an extended, generally fictional narrative, typically in prose. ... The Chinese poem Quatrain on Heavenly Mountain by Emperor Gaozong (Song Dynasty) Poetry (from the Greek , poiesis, making or creating) is a form of art in which language is used for its aesthetic qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its ostensible meaning. ... A common understanding of Western Europe in modern times. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ...

On a recent broadcast of The Charlie Rose Show, John Updike stated that he felt this term, when applied to his work, greatly limited him and his expectations of what might come of his writing, and so does not really like it. He said that all his works are "literary" simply because "they deal with words". [1] Charlie Rose is a television interview show, with Charlie Rose as executive producer, executive editor, and host. ... John Updike John Hoyer Updike (born March 18, 1932) is an American writer born in Shillington, Pennsylvania, where he lived until he was 13. ...

External links

• The end of literary fiction
• Most Honored Literary Fiction at the Award Annals