Maybe I'm too concerned with the literary/genre divide, but I think it does matter. In ways both small and big.
Readers of genre fiction may have trouble finding books that are shelved in the literary section of the bookstore or library. It becomes a matter of knowing that someone like Marge Piercy or Margaret Atwood or Gregory Maguire is writing works that could be categorized as science fiction or fantasy, should the author and publisher so desire. You only find their works if you're in the club, or stumble across them by accident.
Plus, in my current community, I've discovered that the kind of writing I do is sneered at by the academic community of which I am sometimes a part. I know of creative writing students working on their MFA at the university here who feel they have to hide the work that's closest to their heart, because it's not acceptable. I chose not to pursue a writing degree (going instead for English Lit.) when getting my BA a few years ago, in part because I didn't feel I would be comfortable in that enviroment. There were other reasons for pursuing the English Lit, but it bothers me that the writing option didn't feel open had I wanted it.
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Readers of genre fiction may have trouble finding books that are shelved in the literary section of the bookstore or library. It becomes a matter of knowing that someone like Marge Piercy or Margaret Atwood or Gregory Maguire is writing works that could be categorized as science fiction or fantasy, should the author and publisher so desire. You only find their works if you're in the club, or stumble across them by accident.
Plus, in my current community, I've discovered that the kind of writing I do is sneered at by the academic community of which I am sometimes a part. I know of creative writing students working on their MFA at the university here who feel they have to hide the work that's closest to their heart, because it's not acceptable. I chose not to pursue a writing degree (going instead for English Lit.) when getting my BA a few years ago, in part because I didn't feel I would be comfortable in that enviroment. There were other reasons for pursuing the English Lit, but it bothers me that the writing option didn't feel open had I wanted it.