Earlier this year, I launched a literary fiction survey to get feedback from independent authors about the kinds of books they had written. The survey was made up of only a few questions, the most intriguing of which asked each author about which category they believed their stories belonged in. For example, was the literary story they had written about family? Was it about abuse? Or was it about the nature of meaning, etc.? The survey was short and directed.
I then offered authors who had participated in the survey the chance to expand on their views by responding to a series of more open-ended questions about literary fiction. The result was 17 author interviews out of 27 survey responses.
Read on for the survey responses as well as my argument about what I think a logical next step is to make these results valuable.
First of all, the 17 interviews are already posted on my blog.
2016 Literary Fiction Survey Results
But here we go. Let’s review the different categories of stories identified as literary fiction by their authors according to the 2016 literary fiction survey. (A print-friendly copy of the survey results is available by clicking here.)
4 authors wrote coming-of-age novels. Two offered clarifications to their choices: one coming-of-age novel was about sexual identity. The other was about letting go of the past. Two authors offered no clarification.
4 authors wrote novels about family. No clarifications about the stories were given.
3 authors wrote novels about the nature of home and the struggle of the individual to find their place in a fragmented world. No clarifications were given.
3 authors wrote novels about oppression and discrimination. Two offered clarifications to their choices; one novel about oppression and discrimination was about the human ability to overcome terrible tragedy. The other was about cultural misappropriation.
2 authors wrote novels about failure and redemption. No clarifications were given.
2 authors wrote novels about forbidden and destructive passion. No clarifications were given.
Now, here is something interesting: 9 authors could not classify their novels under any of the pre-defined categories but simply identified their stories according to these themes:
- What it means to be human
- Nature of narrative meaning and how we construct it from meaningless events in our and other people’s lives
- Grief, despair, healing, the search for love, the nature of obsession, how we live secondhand, spiritual charlatanry, superstition, belief and the nature of belief
- Small town life
- Oppression and discrimination about a disability
- The beauty, horror, mirth and complexities of our individual human quests to inhabit life as richly and passionately as possible
- Abuse and trauma (two book listings by the same author)
- Oppression and discrimination as it concerns sexual orientation
So what does this mean? And why are these results important?
If you ask me, some of the above-mentioned story categories are likelier to resonate with readers more than “literary fiction”. A story marketed under a category about abuse and trauma will attract readers who have suffered some form of abuse themselves or who are simply interested in the topic.
If the same story is marketed as a work of literary fiction?
Maybe not so much, since readers must find a listing of works of literary fiction, perhaps in Amazon’s Kindle store, and then work to find stories among many books that might have that theme. If readers choose not to do the work, it is a missed opportunity for both the author (who could otherwise have sold a book) and the reader (who could have enjoyed reading it).
The same would be true for literary stories that fall under other categories, such as families and coming-of-age stories. Authors with the ability to market their books under those more specific categories will find readers.
Marketing Works of Literary Fiction
I’m not an iconoclast. I have no intent of toppling institutions or of grabbing a washcloth and scrubbing the term “literary fiction” off the blackboard. But, following my flirtation with becoming an English professor years ago, I moved into marketing, and that’s the field where I work now.
Let’s face it. Independent authors operate in a tough environment. One day certain tactics work, the next they don’t. Maybe guest blogging worked two years ago. Maybe now it doesn’t as much. InstaFreebie is all the rage right now. Maybe next month, it will be a wasteland.
But we can certainly help ourselves on an ongoing basis by finding the most appealing calls to readers, and perhaps that means marketing themes most likely to attract them.
I’ve already touched on the hazards of relying on aggregators such as Amazon to find worthwhile literary novels. Readers just won’t put the time into that kind of work. And most of what you find in the literary fiction category, anyway, is traditionally published novels and a few sponsored works of independently published fiction. I’m generalizing but I’m not too far off the mark.
So a new model may be helpful to authors for marketing literary fiction.
A New Model for Marketing Literary Fiction
The survey results above demonstrate how a number of attractive categories already exist that could be brought to market. The clarifications also offer ways to subdivide each genre.
Such subdivisions already happen in other genres. You know ripped bodices appear in romance novels. Vampire lovers might appear in a sub-category that might be called romantic horror. Vampire lovers on Planet X: a romantic, horror sci-fi novel. Vampire lovers on Planet X wearing Sauron’s One Ring of Power? Well, you get the idea.
No intuitive sub-categories exist for “literary fiction”; all the term does is remove readers one degree from really meaningful categories such as novels about families, or small-town life or abuse.
Now I can’t ask Amazon to change how it classifies works of literary fiction. They’re too big and I’m too small. But the marketer in me cringes at the difficulties facing independent writers as they work to find readers so I am proposing a two-pronged strategy to help do something to rectify this issue.
1. Create a survey for self-identifying readers of literary fiction to determine how they find independently published works that they are willing to pay for and read. The survey should include a question about whether they would find a classification system of novels based on a breakout of categories (such as those included in the literary fiction survey) attractive. (I recently blogged about the development of such a survey and the questions it will contain are under development).
2. So step one is market research. And the results may very well fly in the face of my argument. Readers may say: You know what, Jay, we like the category Literary Fiction, so leave it alone. Okay, that’s fine. Not every argument has much merit and, if that’s the case here, there will be no Step 2. BUT…if the idea of having a classification system is of interest to readers, I advocate starting something like a marketing newsletter where independent authors of literary fiction contribute works under a new classification system, and readers can subscribe to review works under topics of more immediate interest.
So there’s my argument and my proposal. How does this sound to those authors and readers of independent fiction reading this post? I welcome your comments below.
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For the purpose of assembling a detailed list of subdivisions of the literary fiction category, to be supplied to readers if appropriate, I wonder whether there’s any existing list that someone has already put together, perhaps in a professional marketing publication or context? Being always somewhat clueless about professional marketing resources myself, I’m not sure where this kind of list might be found, but you’d think there’d be one somewhere, for the avoidance of wheel-reinventing. An intelligent list of different aspects of life, in effect. I suppose the number of potential subdivisions constituting such a list might ideally be a few dozen, perhaps? (Which probably means they’ll have to be a tad less specific than the one I supplied for myself in your bullet-pointed list here above, which I’m happy to own up to – “The beauty, horror, mirth and complexities of our individual human quests to inhabit life as richly and passionately as possible”. Maybe that’ll end up being a sub-sub-subdivision…)
Rohan, I’m sure you’re right regarding a pre-existing list of subdivisions. Once the questions are developed (and vetted, edited and improved upon by our good community), I expect to spend time directly soliciting interest from readers with the hopes someone can point out such a list. I, myself, have found none to date. The subdivisions I have found relate mostly to prose, poetry, narrative verse, iambic pentameter, etc. etc. rather than by theme. And your level of specificity is welcome; there will be readers who thank you for it.
The world has a tradition of great work being written by authors outside the mainstream – many of whom are discovered only after they leave this world. Emily Dickinson, John Kennedy Toole, the Brontës, are easy examples of the writer who either couldn’t get connected to the mainstream or didn’t want to be.
Nothing has changed. There is such a clamoring that the small voices – with the definition of ‘small’ being roughly equivalent to ‘no clue in the marketing department’ and having no access to the traditional accolades such as awards – are lost.
The books would stand on their own merit – if they could get read.
We need a few champions, people who can tell the difference between pyrite and gold, and will then use their influence to promote those works.
I wish I could figure out how to find them.
Alicia, I think you hit an important point. Marketing and writing often belong to such different universes that strength in one area doesn’t necessarily mean strength in the other area. You might have one individual whose products are not of sufficiently high quality but whose marketing talents are such that they can convert readers into buyers. The result will be unsatisfied customers. On the other hand, and I think this is what you’re getting at, there are probably some really great works of literature out there that haven’t seen much light of day because the writers don’t have all the marketing talents needed to get ahead of others in terms of visibility. Trying to solve this problem is something I’d like to try via the survey. Find out where people are looking and go there with promotions of great books. And if there is no place, then darn it, one needs to be created. Keep an eye out for the survey – a draft version with a solicitation for feedback is coming soon. Thanks for stopping by. Jay
Quality is subjective, literary merit more so. But most people love To Kill a Mockingbird, which has both.
From the comments and reviews on Amazon, a great many people find some novels which are highly publicized – such as The Goldfinch – books they buy because of the hype (probably not doing their due diligence by reading the description and the sample) impossible to finish. Those are your unsatisfied customers – and some of them will never try a ‘literary’ book again because of it.
I’m looking forward to the results of your survey. But also be prepared for anything that tells people where to go to be overwhelmed immediately by writers who move fast – and may not write the quality you’re looking for.
I don’t know what the answer is (or rather, I do: go viral however you can). If you know the story of Laura Hillenbrand (Seabiscuit, Unbroken), you know mine – except I write fiction. She was marketed traditionally, in narrative non-fiction; I’m aiming for the indie way.
Her subjects were easy for a mainstream publisher to get behind; I’ve always been sure mine isn’t – disability itself as the way we judge humans. Indie is the only way I can say what I mean – without receiving rejections that say ‘lovely writing, but not for us.’ To be fair, I never tried submitting these novels. But trad pub doesn’t have the reputation of being a champion.
I’m glad I signed on to follow. And I’m going to have a grand time digging into your archives.
An excellent discussion and proposition, Jay, and I hear you loud and clear, Ms. Butcher Erhardt: “I think there are literary masterpieces in the indie world …
should they become willing to self-publish …”
I’m just finishing my debut novel that ticks all the boxes for lit fic (all five of your pre-defined categories, jJay, and many of the more specified ones! Actually, it’s an immersive, wide-ranging but homogeneous tale. I’m both excited and concerned about marketing; leaning toward self-publishing, but …
So I’ll appreciate seeing the results of your further efforts. And thank you for your generosity of spirit!
Alicia, please.
Congratulations on getting your debut novel finished (finishing that first novel that’s publishable is a huge milestone – most people don’t make it).
Will you be self-publishing?
I’m always durious to hear how people make the decision.
Marketing, so far, is the hardest part of writing.
Thank you, Alicia. I explain on my website/blog – charlere.wordpress.com – how I came to write the novel. Like Jay (I read his interview and post about Billy Maddox), I connected strongly in some aspects with my main character. As Jay put it, I think, it was a visceral connection; and when I would be away from the writing for awhile I would miss all the characters, the entire literary setting: the relationships, their issues, the drama. Many times I wanted to quit because it was consuming my entire focus.
But I could never stay away for long. I still have a few things to wrap up, but I do believe it is a work of some substance and merit (we’re told not to say so ourselves, but if we don’t have self-belief, will we ever pursue and finish said projects? There you go.
As for your question about publishing, I really don’t know yet. That’s how I reached this site – I’m still investiquiring. But Jay is onto something, so I plan to stick around. 🙂
I get the impression you’re very passionate/emotionally invested in your own novel, but seem concerned about the reception it will get based on the subject matter (?). I believe your engagement on this site will eventually give you the conviction to press on.
Best wishes! Sincerely.
It’s on sale for Christmas – and you’re correct. I am passionate about the things that led to picking this particular kind of book.
It took me fifteen years to get it to where I though it was publishable. I’m working on Book 2 of what will be a mainstream literary love story that ‘spans three continents,’ and I’m also have a wonderful time with it.
Good to know! Good on you!
“Spans three continents” sounds like Mr. Bond himself … James Bond. Lol.
Hello, Jeh. Thanks or stopping by. I would echo Alicia’s words of congratulations, first of all. Secondly, I’d love to keep you informed of my progress. I’m using the form at the top of this page to capture the contact information for writers who wish to receive updates. So please feel free to subscribe. Have a happy holiday. Jay
Thank you, Jay, happy to be here too. I’ve already subscribed.
Thank you also for your holiday well-wishing. But I don’t celebrate, so please forgive me if I don’t offer “many happy returns”. I will, though, admonish you to be safe whatever you do!
Thank you again for sharing all things …
Jeh’
The idea of a marketing newsletter is great (and sounds like a lot of work). Sub-categories would keep it usable for readers with different definitions of ‘literary,’ while still giving us a common place.
Who chooses? Whose standards?
Having had a couple of brushes already with indie ‘standards’ which were essentially an attempt to use business English on a literary novel, I’m very skittish about who gets to decide what is appropriate.
I think there are literary masterpieces in the indie world (including the possibility of traditionally-published authors’ rejected novels, should they become willing to self-publish despite the current stigma). I support your efforts to drag them into the spotlight.
I’ve signed up for your next survey, Jay. As an indie author, it’s a dilemma slotting my books on Amazon. I’ve had to write them a number of times as my books aren’t always categorized the way they need to be. I’m one of these writers who can’t be pigeonholed. Because I read almost every genre, I write that way too. I’ve written a cross genre debut novel (romance, mystery, adventure), a coming-of-age novelette, and a psychological fiction (not thriller). I’m also now pitching a historical fiction and writing a non-fiction inspirational book. I know I’m not helping myself by writing all over the planet but that’s who I am.
That has to be a tough position when your work crosses so many genre boundaries, Diana, and it is more likely to stymie an author in the traditional publishing world. However, the good news is that indie publishing lets you share with the world whatever you think is worthwhile. I’m sure you’ve found loyal readers. Also, I’m glad to hear you signed up but I did not receive an email notice about your subscription to the survey so be sure to click the confirmation email you (hopefully) received to make sure I can keep you up-to-date. Happy holidays to you. Jay