Literary Fiction vs Contemporary Fiction: Which Should You Write
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Literary fiction and contemporary fiction are two terms that get thrown around a lot in the writing world. However, a lot of writers struggle to understand where their own work fits between these two labels. Is literary fiction just “fancy” fiction? Is contemporary fiction less valuable? These are questions I see come up constantly, and today I’m going to break it all down for you. Understanding the difference between literary fiction and contemporary fiction isn’t really about prestige or which one is “better.” It’s about understanding intention. These categories signal different priorities, different narrative approaches, and different reader expectations. Once you understand these differences, you can make smarter decisions about your own writing. So, for today’s post, I’ll be explaining the difference between literary fiction and contemporary fiction and which one is right for you to write.
I’ve been writing fantasy and sci-fi for a long time (check out my series, The Fallen Age Saga) and I find that understanding genre distinctions is one of the most important things for writers to grasp early on. It helps you position your work, find your audience, and write with clarity about what you’re actually trying to create.
Before we dive in, if you’re working on a novel, I’ve got a free character backstory cheat sheet that you can use to help you figure out the basics of what makes your character who they are today by putting a lens on their past. It’s completely free and you can grab it below:
What is Literary Fiction?
Literary fiction is a category of fiction that prioritizes depth over momentum.
The primary focus in literary fiction is often character psychology, internal conflict, language, and theme rather than plot progression. In literary fiction, you may find that the story unfolds slowly, lingers on introspection, and resists clear resolutions. If you’ve ever read a book where not much “happens” but you still feel deeply moved by the end, you’ve probably read literary fiction.
Literary fiction is often characterized by:
- Strong emphasis on style and voice
- Exploration of complex emotional or philosophical themes
- Ambiguous or open ended conclusions
- Character driven narratives
- Lower external stakes and higher internal stakes
Literary fiction often asks the reader to sit with discomfort, uncertainty, or moral complexity rather than offering catharsis or closure. It’s the kind of fiction that makes you think long after you’ve finished reading. Think of authors like Donna Tartt.
The thing about literary fiction is that it often values the journey over the destination. The “plot” might be secondary to exploring what it means to be human, to grieve, to love, to fail. The point of literary fiction is pretty much to portray introspection into the human condition.
What is Contemporary Fiction?
Contemporary fiction is defined more by time period than by technique.
It refers to stories set in the modern world, typically reflecting current social norms, technologies, and cultural concerns. Unlike literary fiction, contemporary fiction often places a greater emphasis on plot, pacing, and accessibility. The goal is usually to keep the reader engaged through forward momentum and emotional investment in what happens next.
Contemporary fiction is often characterized by:
- Clear narrative structure
- Relatable, present day settings
- Emotional arcs
- Broader appeal and readability
- Focus on story over style
Contemporary fiction can absolutely be serious, emotional, or experimental. However, it usually aims to keep the reader turning pages. The prose serves the story rather than the other way around. These tend to be more for entertainment and can be pretty good as movies or shows where their value is in keeping the reader/viewer interested.
One thing to understand is that “contemporary” doesn’t mean “lesser.” Some of the most impactful books of our time fall into the contemporary fiction category. It’s simply a different approach with different goals.
Key Differences Between Literary Fiction and Contemporary Fiction
While these two categories frequently overlap, their priorities often differ in some important ways.
Narrative Focus
Literary fiction tends to ask why characters feel the way they do. Contemporary fiction tends to ask what happens next. Both questions are valid, but they lead to very different kinds of stories.
Clarity vs Ambiguity
Literary fiction often values ambiguity. Contemporary fiction typically values clarity. In literary fiction, you might finish the book without knowing exactly what happened or what it all meant. In contemporary fiction, you usually will get answers.
Reader Experience
Literary fiction may challenge the reader. Contemporary fiction usually guides the reader. Literary fiction might require more effort, more patience, and more willingness to sit with uncertainty. Contemporary fiction tends to be more accessible and immediately engaging.
Pacing
Literary fiction often lingers on moments, descriptions, and internal states. Contemporary fiction tends to move steadily forward with a focus on plot progression and keeping the reader hooked.
Endings
Literary fiction frequently leaves things open ended or ambiguous. Contemporary fiction typically resolves major questions and provides emotional closure.
These distinctions are not rules but are instead identifiable patterns. Plenty of books blend elements of both categories, and that’s perfectly fine.
Is Your Story Lit Fic or Contemporary Fic?
If you’re trying to figure out whether your work in progress leans more literary or contemporary, here’s a step by step breakdown to help you think through it.
Step 1: Examine Your Narrative Focus
Ask yourself what drives your story forward. Is it primarily internal change within your characters, or is it external events and plot points? If your story is mostly about a character’s psychological journey, it might lean literary. If it’s about things happening and characters reacting, it might lean contemporary.
Step 2: Look at Your Prose Style
Does your writing draw attention to language itself, or does it prioritize clarity and flow? Literary fiction often features prose that is beautiful, layered, and worth reading twice. Contemporary fiction often features prose that is more accessible so the reader can focus entirely on the story. Prose doesn’t matter as much to contemporary fiction. However, purple prose is not what literary fiction is about. A reader can tell when the writer is trying too hard to sound sophisticated.
Step 3: Consider Pacing
Does the story linger on moments, or does it move steadily forward? If you find yourself spending pages on a single conversation or a character’s thoughts, you might be writing literary fiction. If you’re constantly pushing toward the next plot point, you might be writing contemporary fiction.
Step 4: Evaluate Resolution
Does the ending resolve major questions, or leave them intentionally open? Most of the time, literary fiction doesn’t care to resolve things neatly and perfectly. Many times, they leave off on ambiguous situations and leave the interpretation to the reader or imply certain things that may or may not happen in the future. Contemporary fiction typically follows the structure of having a neat, concise resolution.
Step 5: Identify Reader Expectations
What kind of experience do you want the reader to have? Do you want them to be entertained and emotionally satisfied? Or do you want them to be challenged, provoked, and left thinking? Neither answer is wrong, but they suggest different categories.
Step 6: Assess Market Positioning
How would this book be described to a reader or bookseller? Think about where it would sit in a bookstore. Think about what comparison titles you might use. This practical consideration can help clarify where your work fits.
Step 7: Accept Overlap
Many novels exist comfortably between categories. You don’t have to choose one or the other. Some of the best books blend literary depth with contemporary accessibility. A book can be both literary fiction and contemporary fiction in the same beat.
Where Literary Fiction and Contemporary Fiction Overlap
Not all literary fiction is slow, and not all contemporary fiction is simple.
Many contemporary novels use literary techniques like rich prose, complex characters, and thematic depth. Many literary novels employ strong plots that keep readers engaged. The distinction lies in emphasis rather than exclusion.
Writers should not feel pressured to strip depth for accessibility or abandon clarity for complexity. You can have both. The key is knowing what you’re prioritizing and why. You want to think about what your message is and what you want readers to take away when they close the last page of your book.
Common Misconceptions About Literary Fiction vs Contemporary Fiction
There are several myths floating around about these categories that I want to address directly.
Misconception 1: Literary fiction is inherently superior
This is simply not true. Literary fiction and contemporary fiction serve different purposes and appeal to different readers. One is not better than the other. They’re just different.
Misconception 2: Contemporary fiction lacks depth
Contemporary fiction can absolutely explore deep themes, complex characters, and meaningful ideas. The difference is usually in how these elements are presented, not whether they exist.
Misconception 3: A book must fit neatly into one category
Most books don’t fit perfectly into any single category. Genres and labels are marketing tools more than creative constraints. Write the story you want to write.
Misconception 4: Market labels determine artistic value
How a book is categorized for sales purposes has nothing to do with its artistic merit. Don’t let labels make you feel like your work is less valuable.
These assumptions often create unnecessary anxiety for writers. Focus on writing a good story rather than worrying about where it fits on a bookstore shelf.
Which One Should You Write?
The honest answer is that you should write whichever one calls to you.
If you love prose that lingers, characters who think more than they act, and endings that leave questions unanswered, literary fiction might be your home. If you love forward momentum, emotional payoffs, and stories that keep readers turning pages, contemporary fiction might be your calling.
I think the best approach is to read widely in both categories and pay attention to what resonates with you as a reader. The books you love to read are probably the kinds of books you should be writing.
Also, don’t be afraid to blend elements from both. Some of the most interesting work comes from writers who refuse to stay in a single lane.
You can take these elements and apply them to your story planning process through my workbook, Sprint to a Novel in 30 Days. It helps you go from outline to story with trackers, reflection pages, sheets for you to break down your story by chapter, and even writing prompts in case you need a bit of extra freewriting time! Grab a copy today → Sprint to a Novel in 30 Days.
Conclusion
Literary fiction and contemporary fiction are not opposing camps. They are frameworks that describe how stories communicate with readers. Literary fiction prioritizes depth, language, ambiguity, and internal exploration. Contemporary fiction prioritizes accessibility, plot, clarity, and emotional resolution. Each serves its own goal and the existence of one does not mean the other is better/worse.
Don’t forget to grab a free copy of my character backstory cheat sheet! Whether you write literary fiction or you write contemporary fiction, both require strong, interesting characters.
FAQs
Literary fiction is defined by its emphasis on prose style, character psychology, thematic depth, and often ambiguous or open ended conclusions. The focus is typically on internal experience rather than external plot.
Contemporary fiction is defined by its modern day setting and emphasis on plot, pacing, and accessibility. Stories typically feature clear narrative structures and move toward emotional resolution.
No. Literary fiction and contemporary fiction serve different purposes and appeal to different readers. Quality exists in both categories, and neither is inherently superior.
Absolutely. Many books blend elements of both, featuring beautiful prose and complex themes alongside engaging plots and accessible storytelling.
Prose style matters in contemporary fiction, but it typically serves the story rather than drawing attention to itself. Clarity and readability are usually prioritized over linguistic experimentation.
Worrying too much about categories instead of focusing on the story. Write the book you want to write first, then figure out how to position it for the market.