Types of Short Fiction by Style

Up until this point in my life most of my writing was literary. I was invested heavily in character and language and didn’t think much of or have any interest in other styles.

This year I’m still keeping my affinity for character and language (regardless of style or format or purpose character always reigns supreme in every story), but am playing in the sandboxes of genre, specifically fantasy and history, and experimental.

Literary Fiction

Focuses on character, theme, and language rather than plot.

Example: Alice Munro’s short stories.

Genre Fiction

Includes specific genres like science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, crime, and mystery.

Example: Ray Bradbury’s The Veldt (science fiction).

Experimental Fiction

Breaks traditional rules of narrative, often using fragmented structure or unconventional formats.

Example: Lydia Davis’s minimalist flash fiction.

Magical Realism

Blends realistic settings with magical elements presented as ordinary.

Example: Gabriel García Márquez’s short stories.

Surrealist Fiction

Features dream-like, bizarre, or illogical elements.

Example: Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis.