Years ago, when I was about to go on a book tour for…
““Years ago, when I was about to go on a book tour for Someplace to Be Flying , my editor at the time Terri Windling and I sat down to figure out what to call what I was writing for the interviews that were to come. Terri came up with the term mythic fiction and I think that sums it up perfectly. There are almost invariably mythic elements in my fiction (as well as bits of folk and faerie lore) and the term doesn’t lock me into writing only in an urban setting since many of my stories take place in rural areas. It never caught on, but when I don’t describe what I do as simply fiction, I’ll go with mythic fiction.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author coined “mythic fiction” to describe stories blending myth, folklore, and fairy elements, not limited by setting.
In simple terms: A label for stories mixing myth and folklore, flexible in setting.
Key Takeaway
Use “mythic fiction” to convey genre blend.
Themes
genre labeling
mythology
folk tales
creative identity
Mood
reflective
informative
Type
explanatory
descriptive
When to use this quote
- author interviews
- marketing pitches
- genre discussions
Key Concepts
mythic fiction
genre theory
narrative flexibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How does genre labeling affect reader expectations?
- When is a specific label more helpful than “fiction”?
A Different Perspective
The term may be too niche for mainstream marketing.