Romance, Women's Fiction, or Chick Lit?

Dear Mighty AG, What's the difference between Contemporary Romance and Women's Fiction?


I think this question is best answered with a quiz. Are we working with stereotypes here? Yes, absolutely. Your work may not fall into any of these categories. But, in an effort to "inform and/or entertain" (which is exactly what many imprints are now looking for), here you go:

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Let's say your book was written/published by someone else, you read it, and really liked it. Would you share this work with your mother?

A) Yes. Absolutely. But, then again, Mom's got three tattoos and a motorcycle.
B) Yes, but only to help her write her own novel.
C) Yes. She's a great shopping buddy, and would appreciate the details.
D) Not sure. The writing is excellent and "justifies" the steamy bits, though.
E) Of course! I think a lot of mothers would like it and consider it good reading for their daughters.

What would be most fitting on the cover of your work?

A) A shirtless hunk/scantily clad woman.
B) A shoe, stemmed beverage, purse, lipstick, or car.
C) A vase of flowers, a boat, a set table, a room, a forest, an ocean, a watercolor.
D) A text-only cover, but with exciting fonts.

What's your protagonist up to in the first scene?

A) Some ridiculous errand for her boss/supervisor/job.
B) She's in bed with her love interest.
C) She's hanging out with her mother/sister/a friend.
D) Bungee jumping, surfing, traveling.

Is your work:

A) Highbrow
B) Middlebrow
C) Mid- to Lowbrow
D) Overplucked brow

Would a reviewer describe your work as "steamy"?

A) I sure hope so!
B) Perhaps, but they'd emphasize other elements, too.
C) No.

Would euphemisms like "her mound" appear anywhere in your work?

A) Yes, but they're tasteful.
B) Yes, but they're more explicit.
C) Yes, but the characters make fun of them over drinks.
D) Only if it refers to a literal mountain, which the protagonist is climbing.

Now, let's analyze. 

First, let's note that there is a fair amount of overlap. There's women's fiction with a romantic element (though a lot of it does involve romance to some degree), sophisticated romance, and--well, that whole other beguiling beast, chick lit.

I think of chick lit as a lighter subset of women's fiction, which usually involves more in the way of handbags, beauty treatments, shopping, and stemmed drinks. I would consider Sex and the City chick lit, not romance, for example--even though there are steamy sections--simply because the emphasis is on friendships and analyzing these encounters, rather than the mere having of them.

That said, a lot of women (and female agents) are put off by the term "chick lit"--so, unless they use the term themselves, I would advise you to stick with "women's fiction."

First question: this depends, obviously, on your mother. I, for one, would not share romance novels with my mother (not that I read them that often, but when I do). Women's fiction, however, is just fine. Literary fiction is more than fine. So if you answered A or B, I have no idea. If you answered C, you're edging toward chick lit. D & E imply women's fiction.

Let's talk covers. A implies romance. B looks like chick lit. C & D are women's fiction. D may be just plain literary fiction.

First scene: A sounds like chick lit or women's fiction. B, romance. C & D, women's fiction.

Brows: A & B are women's fiction. C is romance. D is chick lit.

Steam: A is romance. B & C are women's fiction.

Euphemisms: amusing as they are, they aren't often used seriously in women's fiction. A could be women's fiction. B is romance. C is chick lit, and D is women's fiction.