How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
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How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
My question is as the topic states: how would YOU define mainstream fiction? What elements must it have, or might it have, or definitely doesn't have (probably the easiest)?
I know my novel isn't the my usually scifi/fantasy or any sub-genres there of so I'm hunting for identity, if you will.
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
I define it as current fiction, set in current time period, with every day characters, doing every day things.
If I was going to take a TV show and say a novel version of it would be the perfect example of Mainstream Fiction, I'd pick one of these shows: The Simpsons, All In the Family, Everybody Loves Raymond, Standford and Son, The Cosby Show, Momma's Family, Family Ties, Friends, ...
You get the picture, right? Every day people doing every day things. Mainstream people doing mainstream things. It could be sweet, or dramatic, or heartwrenching, or funny, but it's always realistic and things you could expect to have happen to you in your life.
A family, a couple, or a single person who is the standard mainstream family, couple, or person you would expect to pass on the sidewalk or see shopping at WalMart.
A day to day look at the life of the person(s) above. They may not have the best job and they may be miles from reaching their goals, but they are people you can identify with, people you can connect too, people you can look at and say: "Hey! That 's the same thing I would have done!" or "I know how she feels, that's the same thing my boss said to me."
They watch TV, they mess up, they make mistakes, they burp and poop, and laugh and cry, they attend weddings of people they barely know, they get to work late, they eat chocolate when no one is looking, they get speeding tickets, they have hopes and dreams. The girls aren't skinny toothpicks and the guys aren't rolling in muscle. They wear glasses and play video games. They turn off the lights and pull down the blinds and hope the inlaws think they aren't home. In other words, they live life, just as you would expect any other mainstream person to be living their mainstream life.
No future time periods.
No past time periods.
No alternate time periods. (Example: What the world would be like if Hitler had won.)
No star ships, space ships, etc.
No talking cats, faeries, wizards, witches, gremlins, unicorns, trolls, hobbits, elves, etc.
No magic.
No big romances. If it does have romance, it's not the main point of the story, and the couple are every day people: the woman juggling family, school, and 2 jobs vs the "Homer Simpson" guy who ain't are Harliquin hottie, but he's the guy who does it for her.
No action. No adventure. The most action these characters get is a mugging on the subway or a bill collector at the front door. The most adventure they see is watching Indian Jones on DVD over pizza.
There's no "big story" to tell, it's just a look inside the life of these people. Stories are small and about every day things.
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
This sounds very much like my book. Maybe I belong here after all!
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
I figure mainstream fiction has a bit of everything in it. It doesn't concentrate on one specific genre. My book has some adventure, love, fantasy, comedy, and more. None of those are overpowering any of the others. That's how I define Mainstream.
Good luck!
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
I think the same that Kellyjene... At first I didn't know what is Mainstream, but I'm investigate and I've come to that conclusion, It doesn't concentrate on one specific genre. Isn't classifiable into one genre.
I read that mainstream fiction is a genre fiction that breaks the rules, not follow the typical conventions of the genres, and it becomes a bit non-classifiable when it comes to be cataloged.
(Sorry for my english...)
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
Yeah mainstream to me is not genre consistent and also, personally, not concerned with niche markets appealing to broader audiences and usually covers quite universal concepts set in worlds not drastically different from the one we inhabit and usually more plot based and often times more simplistic in story telling/themes than literary fiction . I think defining what a mainstream novel is NOT is much easier than what it is since it is decidedly NOT following conventions of other genre novels.
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
To me, mainstream fiction is more about the characters than what they do. Mainstream fiction doesn't include magical faeries, or futuristic technology and aliens. It's about people or a person and what they do.
And, like other people have said, it doesn't focus on the aspect of a particular genre. It may have a bit of adventure, even in another world, but I think the most important part of mainstream fiction is the characters. It's about them and what they go through and how they change.
At least, that's what I think.
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
Now see, I would've said that was a description literary fiction. The way I interpreted the two genres is literary fiction focuses on the characters and what's going on in their heads, whereas mainstream fiction is more about the plot. Mainstream fiction is the stories you want to vicariously live out yourself, hence it's appeal to the mainstream.
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
See I've read a lot of fantasy and science fiction that was character focused, and some that was not. So I can't really see that as defining a genre.
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
I like that phrasing. I consider mainstream something that has strong characters, but is much more plot driven than literary fiction. The "transcontinental plane ride" bit in the forum description hits it on the mark pretty well too!
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
i could repost the qoute, as it seems to answer the question.
as far i can see - mainstream fiction is that fiction set in real world, with situations that might actually occur in real life. it may be a matter of Twenty Minutes in the Future (for those not familiar with tvtropes: near future that is close enough to "right now" to be achievable soon, either through politics, technology, etc), but still real and actually happening things.
literary fiction is more about the words and rambligs, the thoughts of characters, while mainstream focuses more on the events, interaction between characters and the world arond them.
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
This is what I've found as consistent with several sources online (*gasp, shock, and awe that I'm accepting something I found online as truth.*)
Mainstream and genre fiction . . .
- generates entertainment for the reader by allowing them to escape life's trivialities
- casts the world and humanity in predictable terms of good and evil
- satisfies the reader's expectations of easily anticipated story paths and resolutions
- fulfills a traditional understanding between writer and reader concerning formal story elements
- provides a recognizable and forward moving narrative
- challenges characters with temporary problems requiring easy resolutions
- depicts stereotypical and satisfying characters that display predictable actions/decisions
- offers detailed settings and/or interesting facts, about the story's world and its inhabitants
- employs an active plot-driven structure
- affords a fast pace, with strategic breaks in the action
- commonly adopts a stylistic and moral tone
- typically concludes with a happy ending
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
"- typically concludes with a happy ending"
Gah, I just got "kicked out" of Romance because my novel (as far as I know so far!) isn't going to end happily.
Identity crisis.
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
I'm also without a happy ending. Is there an identity crisis genre? Haha.
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
How ironic that I feel the same way, having gotten kicked out of romance because my characters die and don't end up together. LOL Where is my home? Still figuring that out.
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
I got kicked out of the Romance forum last year for the very same reason! I killed off the girl and the guy went off and became a raving lunatic! I pulled and Edgar Allan Poe on them! LOL!
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
Similarly to what a lot of people have said already, I think mainstream fiction is plot-driven and literary is character-driven. But these definitions are pretty wishy-washy by themselves, so if it helps think of it like this:
Literary fiction uses original or unusual literary techniques and narrative styles. A novel about two characters and their intertwining thoughts that goes back and forth in time and/or uses lots of pretty words and phrases would be a typical literary novel example. Think Ian McEwan or Douglas Coupland (though McEwan veers into the mainstream from time to time, so he's probably not the best example).
Mainstream fiction usually plays out in linear time, and it's about the story that plays out between these two characters. It's about finding out what happened, and the writing can be great but it's not necessarily strange - the point isn't to wow the readers with your incredibly innovative narrative style, but to tell them a story in the best possible way.
... or at least that's the way I see it after having had quite a few arguments with one of my creative writing teachers at university.
(Writing out this post has helped me figure out what genre my book's gonna be in... It's mainstream, yayyy :D!! *high fives everyone here*)
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
This description helped me nail my novel down to mainstream. Thanks! I was jumping back and forth between genre forums trying to figure out where I should be this year.
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
You're welcome, glad it helped! I was going back and forth between litfic and mainstream myself, so I feel you. Good luck!!
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
This helped me too, although I'm still rebelling against the happy ending part! :)
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
I really like the definition of mainstream fiction as more plot/event focused than literary fiction, and less tied to reader expectations than genre fiction. That's what the "happily ever after" ending is in romance fiction, a very strong reader expectation. In a mainstream novel, I'm pretty sure all you need is a "satisfying" ending. Think "Cyrano de Bergerac." The ending of the play is awesome, though anything but "happy."
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
So true! Thank you!
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
Agreed! Mainstream isn't about conforming to codified genre expectations. It's got less formula, and maybe that's why it's difficult to define.
A big difference I've noticed between mainstream and literary is literary fiction writers are more likely to be masters of prose and poetics than mainstream writers. Mainstream for me feels easier and quicker to read, easier to digest, but then also easier to forget.
As for plot, I think excellent plot and developed characters make the kind of literary fiction we keep reading whatever the trends. Think Doestoevsky. Or J.M. Coetzee, Michael Ondaatje. Oh, and Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Literary and with wide appeal (mainstream).
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
My view is that a mainstream or a genre novel is one that has fairly straightforward and easy to perceive appeal -- it's not an acquired taste, you don't have to struggle to get into it or enjoy it.
But I would say that plenty of mainstream/genre novels are _also_ literary fiction, in that they have deeper themes and characters, or more pleasing or graceful or beautiful or engaging or amusing writing, or in some other way transcend ordinary fiction.
So I don't see the two as separate at all. And the literary fiction that is entirely an acquired taste, where the appeal is difficult for the average reader to perceive... I tend to distrust that fiction and to seriously consider the possibility that it's not literary fiction, it's just pretentious. :)
ShinyPebbles
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
I originally thought my story was going to be Chic-Lit only because I was thinking of it in terms of "something a woman would probably read." The defining factor that sort of dropped me from that genre though was the "female MC". I have three central characters and if I had to choose one to be the "Main Character" I'd really want it to be the man. I plan to have a really strong female character though.
I like what a lot of you are saying about this genre though and it seems broad enough to encompass what I hope to do. Are there any elements that would exclude you from this genre? My story might have a slight paranormal element, but by no means will be the theme or overriding factor. Just an interesting unexplained element to keep things interesting and drive the characters together.
Sorry to ramble. Your thoughts?
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
I believe that the 'paranormal' element in no way rules it out of Mainstream. My novel is pretty grounded in recognizable elements/rules/ideas but is also chockful of other, new conceots key to the story. A bit of fantasy infusing the known, perhaps. If it is not considered Mainstream Fiction, then i do not know where it falls!
My thoughts. Definitely open to replies!
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
Actually, I'm wondering if there's a separate thread on your idea of three central characters. I have the same and I've been struggling with whether I need to redefine the story in terms of one main character. Has this been discussed elsewhere?
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
I think I found the right genre also. It has romance but not a traditional happy ending. I'm glad what happens to the main character but others might not. It is a little bit chick lit because it is about dating and relationships. There is a mystery in that a secret is revealed. It is set in the recent past 25 to 30 years ago. I'm don't consider my self literary because this is absolutely the hardest activity I have ever tried. I have much to learn about the mechanics of writing.
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
I thought I was writing lit-fic, but *looks at prose*, I think it is more suited to here.
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
All right, I'm claiming my story is mainstream with literary elements. What do you think:? I started with a central premise but things keep happening and changing on me.
Melinda (I hate that name but haven't picked anything better) finds out she's pregnant after six years of trying with her husband. He decides he's not ready to be a father and disappears. She's left, pregnant and alone, to figure out how to hold on to the family organic pumpkin farm. They had just signed up to join the Farmer's Market and sell their other crops there so she goes herself and meets some good people. (Turns out there is a romantic interest for her there that I wasn't planning on.) I'm thinking they may help her with the work on the farm. There will be pregnancy complications. She also substitute teaches and won't be able to do that over the summer or in the fall. Her brother and his wife want to buy her out and move in (with a mother-in-law who has Alzheimer's.) They would allow her to live there but it would no longer be "her home" so she is fighting against it.
As I said, still evolving.
Thanks!
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
Something that's a bit of everything yet somehow doesn't fit into any other genres...............
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
When I think of mainstream fiction, I think of any book that may possibly be optioned by Hollywood.
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
I don't know about that. There are a lot of literary fics that have been co-opted by Hollywood, such as Gone With the Wind, Lolita, Anna Karenina, Dickens, etc.
Re: How do YOU define mainstream fiction?
Darn.......now I am more confused about what my book is =/ right now I have it listed as YA but that was because I couldn't think of anything else