As readers, we often find ourselves drawn to genre first and
story second- not that this is a bad thing, per se, but it surely limits our
interaction with other voices in print. We may have a taste for fantasy, a
penchant for romance, or a titillating desire to be immersed in the far flung
adventures found in science fiction.
Then there is literary fiction.
Not a genre exactly, but a way of interpreting the quality
of the story and the message behind it. And there must be a message, a quiet
little reminder deep between the lines that surrenders itself only upon close
reading.
Traditionally, these messages are found amongst the writings of
Steinbeck and Hemmingway, within the pages of Harper Lee and Thomas Hardy, and
part and parcel of Fitzgerald and O’Conner.
Without argument, each of these is a writer of serious
thoughts and deep philosophical content, pinnacles of the high literary arts.
But literary fiction does not reside solely within the tales
of reality-based fiction. There are others who have completed the meld of
social consciousness and somber message that live themselves in genres away
from the stoic and reflective. These voices rise from the ranks of fantasy,
with the work of Shirley Jackson’s The
Lottery, and in Ursula LaGuinn’s The
Ones Who Walk Away From Omalas. The voice of these works rise above genre
to smack the reader on the head with a 2x4… be careful, they warn. Do the right
thing.
The heavy message lies also in the works of Bradbury’s
science fiction, and within the romances of DeFoe’s Moll Flanders and Flaubert’s Madame
Bovary.
The point is, a novel’s true voice is dictated by the
message shared with the reader, that little lesson or series of lectures within
the pages that share a greater depth of meaning beyond the tale. Genre by
itself doesn’t do that.
We need only to look toward Disney for formulaic examples-
how Beauty and the Beast shares the
lesson of finding love behind the façade and accepting the person within. Or of
Finding Nemo, with the timeless lesson
of how family will always find you no matter how far you run.
In your own work, look to share the message and meaning with
your readers to give them their money’s worth. They are investing time with
your tale, and they should be rewarded with a kernel of learning, a deeper
meaning garnered from deeper meaning.
Say for example your protagonist is taking a journey from
their childhood home to the big city. This trip may easily be rendered
literarily by mirroring the choices they make to bring about personal growth,
even if they aren’t aware of it themselves.
Now, does it matter the genre? Of course not- Luke finds himself while
discovering the force. Dekker embraces his true self while hunting rogue
androids, Frodo struggling toward Mount Doom with Sam by his side yet forever
alone, or Peter as he subjugates Narnia.
Start every sentence with a thought- what does this mean
beyond the face value of the words. Bring your characters to places that change
them. Enjoy sharing your message with those who care to dig a little to find
it.
Let your novel’s true voice come forward without being tied
to traditional genre writing.
It will most certainly be worth your time.
