Definition
Literary fiction prioritizes character interiority, language, and thematic depth over plot-driven entertainment. It often explores human experience with stylistic ambition and open-ended meaning.
Example
A novel about a family reunion told through shifting perspectives and quiet moral tension is often shelved as literary fiction.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Assuming literary fiction must be slow, plotless, or inaccessible to general readers.
- Using the label to mean "better writing" instead of a different set of reader expectations.