Elizabeth (H.) Bonesteel on Nostr: There’s a question flying around today on one of the writer hashtags: are some ...
There’s a question flying around today on one of the writer hashtags: are some genres taken more seriosuly than others?
While I think the answer is “yes,” the question makes me want to ask “taken seriously by who?” Lit reviewers? MFA programs? The NYT? Your grandparents? Your high schoolers?
I think there’s a vague cultural feeling that the only “serious” books are litfic. But the truth seems to be that most readers take their favorites very seriously.
Genres are for marketing and can help a book find readers. Being outside the MFA culture, maybe I’m unaware of hairsplitting done to separate “serious” books from the rest.
While I think the answer is “yes,” the question makes me want to ask “taken seriously by who?” Lit reviewers? MFA programs? The NYT? Your grandparents? Your high schoolers?
I think there’s a vague cultural feeling that the only “serious” books are litfic. But the truth seems to be that most readers take their favorites very seriously.
Genres are for marketing and can help a book find readers. Being outside the MFA culture, maybe I’m unaware of hairsplitting done to separate “serious” books from the rest.