I skimmed through the rest of the threads, and I didn't see one like this. If I missed it, feel free to correct me.

I figured we could use a thread to discuss genres in general, and to debate the genre of books currently on the market or the genres of our own works. For example, I'm not quite sure what genre to peg my own stories some of the time, and I figured we could have a place for anybody else in the same predicament to get advice or help.

So, yes. Genre, generic conventions, and everything else pertaining to that lovely little "G" word. Take it away, y'all.

I think alot of writing actually consists of a mix of genres and although it is helpful for the buyer (readers) and seller of books - i don't think its good for a writer to have to pin themselves with a certain label.

But the above sentiment is very much fantasy, you have to know who your readers are and who your market is, while remaining true to yourself. which is a hard balance to maintain.

I know that even the literary vs. genre thing is pretty confusing, with many genre pieces which are very well written being categorised as literary? so where is the line?

Hundreds of folks weighed in on this literary vs. genre debate on Nathan Bransford's blog this week, but nothing much was resolved. My own personal theory is the difference between pop (genre) fiction and literary fiction is often simply TIME. Shakespeare, Austen, Dickens, Vonnegut, etc, all wrote for the masses (and a paycheck.) When they were still being read 100 years later, they became "literary." And it doesn't have to take 100 years. Stephen King is now published in the New Yorker, and Elmore Leonard is spoken of with reverence. Maybe someday the marvelous lines from Star Trek 4 will really be said: "20th Century American Literature? Yes. Jackie Collins, Danielle Steel: the greats."

But when an agency says they want "literary fiction" that is shorthand for "make sure you have an MFA"--it's about a particular self-conscious style in vogue in academia at the moment. If you've got those moves, go for it. Otherwise, stick to genre. You'll have a better chance of breaking in.

That was too broad a statement--saying you need an MFA to get a literary novel published. It's only true inside the narrow world of New York publishing--and there it's because most agents can't sell adult literary fiction--because it doesn't make much money--so they discourage submissions from non-insiders. But Young Adult literary fiction is a wide open genre. So are sci-fi literary and literary mystery. (If the Handmaid's Tale had been written by somebody without Atwood's cred, I'm sure it would have been published as genre sci-fi.)

Agreed- i think the entire literary genre -as a genre seems very vague or ill-defined.

Works like Life of Pi etc. could be categorised differently if 'literary' didn't exist.

Personally though, although i enjoy reading literary fiction, i'd as soon pick up genre fic as well.

Good writing is good writing, no matter what label is attached to it

I've just blogged about the whole genre vs. literary issue. Definitions are mighty slithery.
http://annerallen.blogspot.com/2009/11/literary-or-genre.html#comments

Thanks ann, i'll definitely go check it out! Labels eh - such a complex issue