Commercial Fiction -- What Does This Actually Mean?

All commercials are fiction, in my opinion. You just can't trust Madison Avenue anymore....oh, wait. You meant...sorry.

Jeanne,

I found this through Google:

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Commercial fiction:

Commercial fiction uses high-concept hooks and compelling plots to give it a wide, mainstream appeal. Commercial fiction often has the “ouuuh” factor: summarize what happens in your novel in a single, succinct sentence, and you invariably get, “ouhhh, that sounds interesting!” Plot (the events) and story (the overall tale) are first and foremost; characters’ choices and actions create heightened drama that propels the reader forward with urgency.

Like literary fiction, the writing style in commercial fiction is elevated beyond generic mainstream fiction; but unlike literary fiction, commercial fiction maintains a strong narrative storyline as its central goal, rather than the development of enviable prose or internal character conflicts. Commercial fiction often incorporates other genre types under its umbrella such as women’s fiction, thriller, suspense, adventure, family saga, chick lit, etc. Commercial fiction is not the same as "mainstream" fiction, which is an umbrella term that refers to genre fiction like science fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery, and some thrillers.

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It was at http://www.agentquery.com/genre_descriptions.aspx

Duzzat help?

JeanneTGC said:

Ah, yes, Bruce, it does! At least the last sentences made it clear -- what it is NOT is (again) anything I write. LOL!

Thanks much for this -- everyone else seems to find things by Googling that remain hidden to me. I must have my Google filter set on "upid-stay".

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Glad it helps, Jeanne...'cuz I'm still kinda lost. I can read the words but I'm still not sure where the lanes in the road are between commercial and genre fiction. I'm glad you asked the question. Maybe you can explain my answer to me. My brain must have the same filter loaded as your Google does.

Yeah, and I want to know: how do I "elevate" my writing style?

I want my style elevated, dagnabbit. (I guess using words like "dagnabbit" isn't going to do it, huh?)

ltd.

(but seriously, what does that mean?)

Dagnabbit?

I believe it's a cousin to "gosh golly" and "flibbertygibbit". Though you're required to smoke a pipe while saying it.

wyntermoon said:

Dagnabbit?

I believe it's a cousin to "gosh golly" and "flibbertygibbit". Though you're required to smoke a pipe while saying it.

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LOL. No, sorry. I meant, "What does 'commercial fiction' mean?"

oh.

This is all quite arguable, but I am told the following: and it makes sense to me

Commercial fiction = plot and/or character driven stories which will appeal to the masses.

In commercial fiction the story itself is what is most important.



Literary Fiction = visual and/or emotion driven story written to appeal to those who love melting into the dream they are reading.

In Literary fiction the story is secondary to the beautiful way it is told.


Hope this helps.


Renee'

JeanneTGC said:

Then again, I could be wrong. I have been wrong before. Once. In '83. But I WAS wrong. So it could happen again.

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No, I think you're wrong, Jeanne. I'm sure it was '84...

(still puzzling over this) So, the consensus here seems to be that none of us are completely sure, but we think Commercial Fiction means "as well-written as literary fiction, but not as boring." Is that it, you think??

ETA: I was kidding.

ltd.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literary_fiction

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.

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Woo-hoo! We have an answer! Our new member and guest right now over in Ask The Agent, Nathan Bransford, gave a great explanation of the difference between commercial and literary fiction. I was so excited when I read it, I wanted to run on over here and post it for everyone.

He said some GREAT things about plot in the same post, but I snipped it to just the Commercial/Literary aspect:

Nathan Bransford said:

...This even applies to literary fiction. People often make the mistake of thinking that the main elements of literary fiction are unique prose and insight. To be sure those are important, but to me, the difference between commercial/genre fiction and literary fiction (which I understand was the topic of a recent dsicussion here) is that with commercial fiction the plot tends to happen above the surface (action, dialogue, confrontation) and with literary fiction the plot tends to happen below the surface (in the mind, heart, etc.)...

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To me, that just fits. What do you guys think?

ltd.

Commercial fiction = The Stuff You Find In Bookstores.

That's it.

As oppose to academic fiction (from university presses) and literary fiction (the stuff you find in little magazines that come out two to four times a year and are called The [Name of nearest body of water] Review.

James D. Macdonald said:

Commercial fiction = The Stuff You Find In Bookstores.

That's it.

As oppose to academic fiction (from university presses) and literary fiction (the stuff you find in little magazines that come out two to four times a year and are called The [Name of nearest body of water] Review.

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Well, sure, literally maybe. But is that what agents mean when they give a list of what they represent, and it includes, let's say, horror, YA, romance, and commercial fiction?

ltd.

limitedtimeauthor said:

Well, sure, literally maybe. But is that what agents mean when they give a list of what they represent, and it includes, let's say, horror, YA, romance, and commercial fiction?

ltd.

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I like UJ's definition. If Random House is willing to give you money for rights to publish your book, you've just written commercial fiction. Commercial fiction includes different genres--horror, YA, romance, etc.

Thread has been inactive for a while and I really still have no clue. Basicly when querying agents I notice many say something along these lines, " I represent romance, chic-lit, western and commercial fiction." This confuses me because I thought commercial fiction was a term that included a wide variety of genres. In my mind I thought commercial fiction referred to western, romance, ect. Now I'm getting the impression it's a genre in and of itself. So heres my question to get to the point, whould I be wrong if in my query letter I wrote, "My book is a work of commercial fiction." Would the agent be like, "Well yeah, but what kind?"

In that case, "commercial fiction" means "literary fiction that someone might actually want to read."

Then maybe commercial fiction could also mean "high concept", wot?