The agent research begins

nobody@vox.com(Stephanie) — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:29:04 -0500

I found this info at Agent Query:

Commercial fiction:
Commercial fiction uses high-concept hooks and compelling plots to give it a wide, mainstream appeal. Commercial fiction often has the “ouuuh” factor: summarize what happens in your novel is a single, succinct sentence, and you invariably get, “ouhhh, that sounds interesting!” Plot (the events) and story (the overall tale) are first and foremost; characters’ choices and actions create heightened drama that propels the reader forward with urgency.
Like literary fiction, the writing style in commercial fiction is elevated beyond generic mainstream fiction; but unlike literary fiction, commercial fiction maintains a strong narrative storyline as its central goal, rather than the development of enviable prose or internal character conflicts. Commercial fiction often incorporates other genre types under its umbrella such as women’s fiction, thriller, suspense, adventure, family saga, chick lit, etc. Commercial fiction is not the same as "mainstream" fiction, which is an umbrella term that refers to genre fiction like science fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery, and some thrillers.

...versus...

Literary Fiction:
If you marvel at the quality of writing in your novel above all else, then you’ve probably written a work of literary fiction. Literary fiction explores inherent conflicts of the human condition through stellar writing. Pacing, plot, and commercial appeal are secondary to the development of story through first-class prose.
Multi-layered themes, descriptive narration, and three-dimensional characterization distinguish this genre from all others. Literary fiction often experiments with traditional structure, narrative voice, and storylines to achieve an elevated sense of artistry. Literary fiction often merges with other fiction types to create hybrid genres such as literary thrillers, mysteries, historicals, epics, and family sagas.

I'm leaning more toward lit fic. RFM is character driven (so is WS), not plot driven. These stories couldn't happen to just anyone. It's b/c of who the narrators are and their choices that these are their stories.

The thing holding me back from calling it lit fic is the emphasis on the brilliance of the prose, the "elevated sense of artistry." First of all, that sounds pompous. Second, I don't know that RFM (or WS) is chock full of brilliant prose. I didn't sit back after a session, look at the writing and marvel at my brilliance. Not to say I'm not confident in the quality of what I produced but is it a staggering work of literary genius? Probably not.

When it comes down to it, I'd less like it to be labeled "commercial" not b/c I have some kind of artist's attitude toward selling my work (hell, that's what I want to do) but b/c I think of shiny covers with the author's name in a bigger font than the title, embossed in gold. That's not RFM. That's not WS. That's not me.

I'll probably query agents who represent both but I have to pick one for the query. If they ask for it & say "this isn't lit fic," then I'll know.

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