Women's fiction

Women's fiction edition of Ms. magazine in 2002

Women's fiction is an umbrella term for women centered books that focus on women's life experience that are marketed to female readers, and includes many mainstream novels. It is distinct from Women's writing, which refers to literature written by (rather than promoted to) women. There exists no comparable label in English for works of fiction that are marketed to males.

The Romance Writers of America organization defines women's fiction as, "a commercial novel about a woman on the brink of life change and personal growth. Her journey details emotional reflection and action that transforms her and her relationships with others, and includes a hopeful/upbeat ending with regard to her romantic relationship."^[1]

The Women's Fiction Writers Association guiding statement is broad and comprehensive: An inclusive organization of writers creating layered stories that are driven by the main character’s emotional journey. These stories may have romance. Or they may not. They could be contemporary. Or historical. But what binds them together is the focus on the main character's emotional journey.^[2]

See also

• Gynocriticism
• List of modernist women writers
• List of women's magazines
• List of women writers
• Women's writing (literary category)
• Chick lit

References

External links

• The International Women's Fiction Festival
• Craig, Lisa. "Women's Fiction vs. Romance: A Tale of Two Genres."