What is Upmarket Fiction?

Added: 2026-05-16

[00:00:00]Hi there. I am John Bond from Riverwinds  Consulting, and this is Publishing Defined.

[00:00:04]This video is part of my  series on writing fiction.

[00:00:08]Today I am going to be talking about Upmarket  Fiction. Think of it as the genre between commercial and literary fiction. It is Accessible  with strong writing with rich prose and depth.

[00:00:19]Upmarket fiction isn’t a genre like crime,  romance, or fantasy. It’s a spot between commercial and literary fiction. On one end  you have commercial fiction: propulsive, easy to summarize in a sentence, written for  broad appeal. On the other end you have literary fiction: stylistic, ambitious, character  or theme-driven, interior, and open-ended.

[00:00:42]Upmarket is in the middle. Some characteristics include -A clear, engaging premise,  sometimes a “what if” hook.

[00:00:51]-Strong plots that keep you turning pages. -Carefully crafted language, deeper characterization, and more nuanced themes  than typical commercial genre fiction.

[00:01:04]-It crosses genres, sometimes  it is undefinable.

[00:01:08]A couple examples that come to mind include -The Time Traveler’s Wife -Everything I Never Told You -Station Eleven -Life of Pi and -Gone Girl.

[00:01:21]In publishing, “upmarket” tells agents  and editors that a book should appeal to a broad readership while still satisfying more  demanding, craft-conscious readers. For writers, aiming for upmarket fiction often means  asking: Do I have a compelling premise and am I doing something interesting with language  or theme? For readers, it’s a useful shorthand: if you like your momentum in the story  with a side of thoughtful perspective, than this is your spot. Well, that’s it.

[00:01:54]I have a new novel out called, “To the End  of Reckoning.” It is speculative fiction.

[00:02:00]What if a film existed of every major historical  event? Would footage of Caesar's assassination or Columbus landing in the Americas be accepted  as real? And if such films were genuine, who could have created them--and what  would their existence mean for the future of humanity? The novel is due out in August  2026. Check out the link in the notes below for more information or to pre-order a copy. Hit the Like button below if you enjoyed this video. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Reach out to meat RiverwindsConsulting.com with your questions. And make comments  below. Thanks so much and take care.