Claire Thompson
Chick lit is a genre of literature that focuses on female protagonists. These stories are usually targeted at younger women and are described as popular fiction. Chick lit is often associated with a light, humorous tone and typically features a female protagonist in her 20s or 30s dealing with career, family, and relationship issues. While some writers and readers embrace the term chick lit, others view it as derogatory or sexist. The term suggests that this type of literature appeals primarily to women and is, therefore, considered inferior to other genres. To avoid having your book classified as chick lit, you can focus on human issues rather than women's issues and create well-rounded, relatable characters regardless of their gender.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Not chick lit, women's fiction, humorous women's fiction, romantic humour, funny women's fiction, light women's fiction, contemporary women's fiction, romantic comedy, speculative fiction, auto fiction, experimental fiction |
| Target Audience | Not just women, men too |
| Protagonist | Not necessarily female, not one-dimensional |
| Tone | Not light, breezy, fast-paced, funny, personal |
| Plot | Not a woman living in a big city aspiring after "cute" shoes and having a boring happy-ever-after heterosexual romance |
| Cover | Not candy-bright, heavy in pink and fluorescence |
| Title | Not candy-bright |
| Story | Not only about women's issues, not only about relationships among friends, family and spouses |
| Seriousness | Not devoid of serious topics, not instantly forgettable |
| Ending | Not necessarily a happy ending |
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What You'll Learn
Avoid a female protagonist
Chick lit is a genre of literature that focuses on female protagonists. These stories are usually targeted at younger women and are described as "popular fiction". The typical chick lit plot involves a woman in her 20s or 30s living in a big city, dealing with career, family, and relationship issues, and often having a happy heterosexual romance.
If you want to avoid your book being classified as chick lit, one key element to consider is the gender of your protagonist. Here are some tips to avoid having a female protagonist:
- Create a male protagonist instead. This is a simple yet effective way to distance your work from the chick lit genre. However, be careful not to fall into the trap of making the female characters one-dimensional or serving a specific purpose in the story. Well-developed and multi-dimensional characters are key to a good story.
- If you want to maintain a female protagonist, you can try to shift the focus of the story. Instead of centering on typically "feminine" issues or topics, explore universal or human issues that transcend gender. This could include themes such as self-discovery, personal growth, or social and political issues that are not specific to women.
- Consider a different genre or subgenre. If your story has elements of science fiction, mystery, or another genre, lean into those elements and emphasize them in your narrative. This can help to shift the focus away from the gender of your protagonist and towards the specific genre conventions and tropes you are utilizing.
- Create a diverse range of characters. By including characters with varying genders, races, sexual orientations, religions, and backgrounds, you can enrich your story and offer a wider range of perspectives and experiences. This can help to avoid the "chick lit" label by creating a more complex and diverse narrative that explores a variety of themes and issues.
- Focus on writing good characters. Instead of worrying about writing female characters "well," shift your focus to creating well-developed and compelling characters, regardless of their gender. Spend time developing their unique personalities, backgrounds, and outlooks on life. This can help to create a more engaging and memorable story that transcends gender stereotypes and expectations.
By considering these strategies, you can avoid having a female protagonist and potentially steer your work away from being classified as chick lit.
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Avoid a light, breezy tone
Chick lit is a genre of literature that focuses on female protagonists. These stories are usually targeted at younger women and are described as “popular fiction”. Chick lit is often associated with a light, breezy tone, and there are several ways to avoid this in your writing.
Firstly, it is important to note that the term "chick lit" has fallen out of favour in recent years, with some writers and publishers opting for terms like "women's fiction" or "funny women's fiction" instead. This shift in terminology may be a result of the perception that "chick lit" carries a negative connotation and is considered by some to be “un-feminist” or “trashy”. By using alternative terminology, you can distance yourself from the stereotypes associated with "chick lit".
Secondly, to avoid a light and breezy tone, consider the depth and complexity of your characters and their issues. Instead of focusing solely on "women's issues", explore universal human issues that transcend gender boundaries. This will add depth and seriousness to your story and make it more relatable to a wider audience. Avoid one-dimensional characters and stereotypes by creating well-rounded, dynamic characters with diverse backgrounds, outlooks on life, and complex motivations.
Additionally, you can experiment with narrative structure and voice. Consider using multiple points of view or a non-linear narrative structure to add complexity to your story. Play with language, tone, and style to create a unique and distinct voice that sets your work apart from the perceived lightness of "chick lit".
Finally, challenge the conventions of the genre. If your story includes romantic relationships, consider subverting the typical "happy ever after" ending by exploring more complex resolutions. By tackling serious topics, incorporating diverse themes, and presenting multifaceted characters, your work will transcend the limitations of a light, breezy tone.
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Avoid a focus on relationships
Chick lit is a genre of literature that focuses on female protagonists. These stories are usually targeted at younger women and are described as "popular fiction". The genre emerged in the 1990s and rapidly became a global publishing phenomenon.
Chick lit is often associated with light, humorous writing that explores the everyday lives and relationships of women, including friendships, romantic relationships, and career issues. The term "chick lit" is considered by some to be derogatory or sexist, and there is debate over whether the genre is inherently "un-feminist" or "trashy".
To avoid having your book classified as chick lit, it is important to avoid a narrow focus on relationships, particularly romantic relationships. While relationships can be a part of your story, ensure that they do not become the central theme. Here are some tips to achieve this:
- Develop well-rounded characters with diverse backgrounds, personalities, and interests. This will help to create a rich and complex narrative that goes beyond relationship dynamics.
- Explore a range of themes and issues that go beyond relationships. Consider themes such as personal growth, career ambitions, family dynamics, social issues, or other topics that are relevant to your characters and story.
- Create multidimensional female characters whose lives do not revolve solely around their relationships. Portray them as having interests, passions, and goals that extend beyond their romantic pursuits.
- Include a diverse cast of characters, including male characters with well-developed arcs and storylines. This can help to avoid the perception that male characters are merely serving a purpose in the story.
- If your story includes romance, consider making it a subplot rather than the main focus. Explore other aspects of your characters' lives and how they navigate non-romantic challenges and experiences.
- Focus on human issues rather than solely women's issues. This can help to broaden the appeal of your story and avoid it being typecast as chick lit.
By following these suggestions, you can avoid a narrow focus on relationships and create a more nuanced and multidimensional narrative that transcends the boundaries of chick lit.
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Avoid a happy ending
Chick lit is a genre of fiction that emerged in the 1990s, primarily in the UK and US, and rapidly became a global publishing phenomenon. The genre typically features a female protagonist living in a big city, aspiring after material possessions, and experiencing a heterosexual romance. While some chick lit books delve into serious topics, the genre is often criticised as being "instantly forgettable" and inherently sexist.
To avoid your book being classified as chick lit, you can try the following strategies:
- Focus on human issues, not just women's issues: By broadening the scope of your story's themes, you can make it more relatable to a wider audience. Explore universal human experiences that transcend gender boundaries, such as siblinghood or friendship.
- Diversify your characters: Create well-rounded characters with diverse backgrounds, personalities, and perspectives. Consider their gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, social status, and outlook on life. This adds depth to your story and helps avoid the one-dimensional portrayal of characters, which is often a pitfall of gender-focused literature.
- Avoid the "happy ever after" ending: Chick lit is often associated with happy endings that tie up all loose ends. To differentiate your book, consider a more realistic or open-ended conclusion. Leave your characters with consequences and rewards that match what they've experienced in the story. This adds a layer of realism and avoids the appearance of arbitrary happiness or sadness.
- Foreshadow the ending: Whether your ending is happy or not, it's important to lay the groundwork for it throughout the story. Drop subtle hints and build towards the conclusion in a way that makes sense within the context of the narrative. This will make the ending more satisfying and avoid the feeling of deus ex machina.
- Avoid introducing new characters or plots towards the end: Stick to the familiar characters and storylines that your readers have come to know. Introducing new elements in the final act can disrupt the flow of the story and may feel unsatisfying or confusing.
By incorporating these strategies, you can help ensure that your book avoids the chick lit label and appeals to a broader audience.
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Avoid a pink cover
Chick lit is a genre of fiction that emerged in the 1990s, primarily in the UK and US, and rapidly became a global publishing phenomenon. It is often associated with female authors and protagonists, and covers of chick lit books are typically candy-bright, heavy in pink and fluorescence, with titles and taglines hinting at easy digestion and a good laugh.
However, the colour pink on a book cover is not exclusive to chick lit, and there are ways to avoid having your book classified as such, simply because of a pink cover. Firstly, it is important to recognise that the issue is not with the colour pink itself, but with the stereotypes and assumptions associated with it. Pink covers on books have been linked to the notion of "women's fiction" or "chick lit", implying that the content is cheesy, shallow, or not intellectually stimulating. This is a problematic assumption, as it suggests that literature geared towards women cannot be taken seriously or offer valuable insights.
To avoid having your book cover perpetuating these negative stereotypes, consider the following strategies:
- Request alternative colour options: While you may not have full control over the cover design, you can express your concerns to the publisher and request alternatives. For instance, author Helen Phillips specifically asked for her book "The Beautiful Bureaucrat" not to have a pink cover, and while pink was included in one of the alternatives, the final image retained a style that stepped away from the typical 'garden parties and designer clothes' aesthetic.
- Embrace the colour but challenge the stereotypes: Own the colour pink and use it to make a statement about the content of your book or your pride in writing literature that brings happiness and comfort to people. Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes, two successful authors in the chick lit genre, initially distanced themselves from the term but later embraced it, with Keyes stating: "I'm very proud of what I write about and I know that the books I write bring happiness and comfort to people."
- Diversify the cover design: Ensure that the cover design goes beyond stereotypical feminine imagery and reflects the depth and complexity of your story. Avoid relying solely on images of women, and consider including other visual elements that represent the themes and messages of your book.
- Focus on the content: Ultimately, the best way to avoid your book being classified as chick lit based on its cover is to ensure that the content of your writing speaks for itself. Write compelling, three-dimensional characters that transcend gender stereotypes and focus on universal human issues rather than solely women's issues. This will help your work transcend gender-based categorisation and appeal to a broader audience.
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Frequently asked questions
Chick lit is a genre of literature that focuses on female protagonists and their everyday problems, including career, family, and relationship issues. The term was introduced in the mid-1990s and has been associated with popular fiction targeted at younger women. Chick lit is often criticised as being "un-feminist" or "trashy", and some writers and publishers now use terms like "women's fiction" or "romantic humour" to avoid the negative connotations of the chick lit label.
Chick lit books often feature female protagonists in their 20s or 30s living in big cities and dealing with romantic relationships, careers, and friendships. The tone is typically light and funny, and the plot usually ends happily, with the female lead finding love and living happily ever after.
The controversy around chick lit centres on the literary value of books in this genre and whether the concept is inherently sexist. Some critics argue that chick lit portrays women as man-crazed and one-dimensional, while others defend it as a form of post-feminist literature that covers serious topics and brings happiness and comfort to readers.
To avoid having your book classified as chick lit, you can focus on human issues rather than women's issues and create well-rounded, relatable characters regardless of gender. You can also consider the tone and content of your book, ensuring it does not conform to the typical characteristics of chick lit, such as a light-hearted tone and a focus on romantic relationships. Additionally, you may want to avoid using certain colours and designs on your book cover that are typically associated with chick lit, such as pink and fluorescent colours.
