I have a question: Does the genre of Women’s Fiction exist anymore?
There was a time when it was a genre in the publishing world, but I recall it was a problem for bookstores to shelve. I believe the major debate was whether it should be shelved under General Fiction or Romance. If anyone is mildly curious, I thought they belonged in General Fiction because the stories didn’t have the same romantic relationship focus with a happy, or at least hopeful, ending that is generally accepted in romance.
But now I don’t know if the Women’s Fiction genre exists on it’s own anymore, or it’s been absorbed into something else?
Does anyone know?
Okay that’s my question. In other news, my week has been set to cranky. Nothing is truly wrong, but a bunch of ant-sized irritations mixed with this heat have set the dial to cranky. Maybe today I’ll coax that setting into something more positive!
July 20th, 2022 at 11:25 am · Link
I feel your crankypation.
My question is, why is Nicholas Spark’s books shelved in romance? They aren’t! They are novels with romantic elements, ie. either women’s fiction or general fiction.
As for an actual designation of women’s fiction? My google-fu shows that Penguin-Random House has a category called “women’s fiction.” Amazon has two–women’s fiction and women’s literary fiction (said while miming tipping a cup to my lips with a haughty expression and my pinky finger extened). There’s also a page for it on Wikipedia. So yeah, I guess there is still a category called that.
Of course, I suspect it gets snarked with only slightly less sneering than romance, though both categories often keep a publishing house’s lights on.
July 20th, 2022 at 2:45 pm · Link
Sorry, I didn’t even know there was a Women’s Fiction genre. I guess I just never look at things that way so it never occurred to me.
I think we are all feeling the crank factor this week. It’s just too blasted hot and humid. If we had some good rain I could deal with it but it’s SO dry. I sure hope you were able to push the crank back today.
Last night youngest came by and took me out to dinner. Just the two of us. Hubs is in TN and Courtney was busy. We went to this place owned by one of his friends family. They are farmers and supply many places with fresh veggies and meat. The poor guy is having a terrible time getting help at the restaurant. Last night he only had two workers, a cook and a server. Regardless, the food was fresh and very good.
Hope the heat breaks soon. Have a great afternoon!
July 20th, 2022 at 5:02 pm · Link
Silver, I’m still cranky
I agree on Nicholas Sparks. They belong in general fiction. Readers are smart enough to find him in any section, so why play that game? But moving on…
Thanks I saw some of that in my prelim research, and you’re confirming what I suspect — It’s used more in some publishing areas, but not really in reader’s lexicon (Lexicon is the word that leapt into my mind and I went with it, LOL).
I know it’s still popular in a big way, I’m just trying to figure out how it’s marketed. Stuff like this random springs into my mind and doesn’t necessarily mean anything. I’m not writing right now.
And oh yeah, I did see the Women’s Lit Fic. Sigh…okay I like Literary Fiction and happen to be reading one that is Literary Women’s Fiction (according to Amazon) BUT I had an interesting experience as a new author with a literary writer. She got up on the stage, and with a room full of authors of different genres, she told us with verbal superiority that she was a literary writer and monetary gains or considerations were beneath her. Her writing is artistic. I’m paraphrasing, but it made an impression. Um…I may have laughed out loud too as she was there to sign and **gasp** sell her book just like the rest of us greedy mortals.
So true about romance!!
July 20th, 2022 at 5:11 pm · Link
Viki, and that helps more than you think! There’s really no reason you would know about Women’s Fiction. Very few bookstores had a section for Women’s Fiction. But as authors pitching to publishers, we had to know which specific genre the book was.
I’m sure you’re right about widespread crankiness with the heat everywhere. I feel for all of us!
I made cookies today. I did it partly as we may have company tomorrow, but also just because it’s been one of those weeks.
It’s great that you and youngest had dinner. But I’m sorry about about struggles at the restaurant. I’m hoping that gets better soon. So many places are struggling with trying to get help.
Hope the heat breaks for all of us. Happy Wednesday!
July 21st, 2022 at 5:53 am · Link
Sorry you’re feeling cranky. :hugs: With all you’ve got going on and the heat on top of it, I totally get it. I hope it passes soon. I hate that feeling.
As for Women’s Fiction, I’m not sure if it’s gone or what. I was never really into it, so I didn’t notice. Eh, sometimes genres (or sub-genres) are all fluid-like. They ebb and flow. Women’s Fiction… didn’t that term replace Chick Lit? I think it’s still out there in whatever name they’re calling it now. Romance, but not, with drama… and a slant more toward issues effecting women and how a woman would deal with them than universal issues? :shrug: I could be wrong. It’s been known to happen.
July 21st, 2022 at 11:23 am · Link
B.E., the cranky continues over here, LOL.
I think chick lit was a subcategory, but I’m not really sure. It’s all changed so much, I’m clearly not keeping up!
Hope the heat is bearable in your neck of the woods.