--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's perceived as an accolade to be…" description: "\"It's perceived as an accolade to be published as a 'literary' writer, but, actually, it's pompous and it's fake. Literary fiction is often nothing more..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/neil-cross-23838_actually_it-s-perceived-as-an-accolade-to-be-publ_776819.png" --- # It's perceived as an accolade to be published as a… ![“It's perceived as an accolade to be published as a 'literary' writer, but, actually, it's pompous and it's fake. Literary fiction is often nothing more than a genre in itself.” quote by Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/neil-cross-23838_actually_it-s-perceived-as-an-accolade-to-be-publ_776819.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/neil-cross-23838_actually_it-s-perceived-as-an-accolade-to-be-publ_776819.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/neil-cross-23838_actually_it-s-perceived-as-an-accolade-to-be-publ_776819.png) > “It's perceived as an accolade to be published as a 'literary' writer, but, actually, it's pompous and it's fake. Literary fiction is often nothing more than a genre in itself.” [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques the pretentiousness of literary fiction, arguing it can become a self‑serving genre rather than genuine art. **In simple terms:** Literary fiction can be pretentious and self‑indulgent. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity over status. Themes authenticity literature pretension genre critique Mood analytical skeptical Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - publishing - creative writing - book clubs - academic curricula Key Concepts cultural criticism artistic integrity market dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What makes a literary work authentic? - How do we balance artistic ambition with sincerity? A Different Perspective May dismiss valuable works that appear pretentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/) [Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fake/) [Fake Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fake-literary-3780970/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [Itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/itself/) [Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary/) [Literary fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-fiction/) [Literary Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-writer-2132592/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Often](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/often/) [Perceived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceived/) [Pompous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pompous/) [Published](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/published/) [Published Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/published-literary-1515797/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The Booker thing was a catalyst for me in a bizarre way. It’s perceived as an accolade to be published as a ‘literary’ writer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/the-booker-thing-was-a-catalyst-for-me-in-a-bizarre-way-it-s/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [I read everything I could find in English - Twain, Henry James, Hemingway, really everything. And then after a while I started writing shorter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/i-read-everything-i-could-find-in-english-twain-henry-james-hemingway/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [I like to think I've grown as a writer and taken some risks, but I still consider myself to be a literary writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-edwards/i-like-to-think-i-ve-grown-as-a-writer-and-taken-some-risks-but-i/) [Kim Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-edwards/) > [I wanted to be a literary writer, so I wrote story after story and sent them to 'The New Yorker.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-mott-davidson/i-wanted-to-be-a-literary-writer-so-i-wrote-story-after-story-and/) [Diane Mott Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-mott-davidson/) > [I never wanted to be a literary writer. I wanted to be an entertainer. All I wanted was to give what a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-beaton/i-never-wanted-to-be-a-literary-writer-i-wanted-to-be-an-entertainer/) [M.C. Beaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-beaton/) > [I'd always read omnivorously and often thought much literary fiction is read by young men and women in their 20s as substitutes for experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/i-d-always-read-omnivorously-and-often-thought-much-literary-fiction/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [Everyone thinks I'm a nice guy, which is not a bad way to be perceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-morrison/everyone-thinks-i-m-a-nice-guy-which-is-not-a-bad-way-to-be-perceived/) [Matthew Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-morrison/) > [If a company is second rate, the logo will eventually be perceived as second rate. It is foolhardy to believe that a logo will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rand/if-a-company-is-second-rate-the-logo-will-eventually-be-perceived-as/) [Paul Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rand/) > [The atmosphere of Catholicism in Korea is quite different to the way it is practised and perceived in Europe or the U.S.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-chan-wook/the-atmosphere-of-catholicism-in-korea-is-quite-different-to-the-way/) [Park Chan-wook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-chan-wook/) > [I think I was perceived in one fashion. A video is based on a song. I think you can get glimpses of people's presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-dane/i-think-i-was-perceived-in-one-fashion-a-video-is-based-on-a-song-i/) [Taylor Dane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-dane/) > [Fish cakes are perceived as being quite British, and they're always a bit brown and a little dull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/fish-cakes-are-perceived-as-being-quite-british-and-they-re-always-a/) [Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/) > [Ultimately, the problem is that sex is perceived as a personal, intimate thing, not in the realm of science. But that's not true. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/ultimately-the-problem-is-that-sex-is-perceived-as-a-personal/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [Although I'm perceived as very optimistic and upbeat, it comes out of being the opposite of that - feeling isolated or lonely, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/although-i-m-perceived-as-very-optimistic-and-upbeat-it-comes-out-of/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [The absence of God in most spheres of life is perceived to be normal, and even Christians feel it as normal - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-absence-of-god-in-most-spheres-of-life-is-perceived-to-be-normal/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Like funny men, skilled diners are apparently perceived to have an evolutionary advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/like-funny-men-skilled-diners-are-apparently-perceived-to-have-an/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) ## More by Neil Cross > [I'd always read omnivorously and often thought much literary fiction is read by young men and women in their 20s as substitutes for experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/i-d-always-read-omnivorously-and-often-thought-much-literary-fiction/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [People often express surprise that I'm not a psychopath. But it's not about what I want to do to other people, it's that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/people-often-express-surprise-that-i-m-not-a-psychopath-but-it-s-not/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [I don't want to repeat myself. I hate the idea of coasting and of recycling the same ideas. Then, you're just subject to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/i-don-t-want-to-repeat-myself-i-hate-the-idea-of-coasting-and-of/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [And by the right thing, I mean that whatever step we take next, the first criteria we should consider is the people who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/and-by-the-right-thing-i-mean-that-whatever-step-we-take-next-the/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [I am very interested in theology. In fact, my first degree was in theology, so it's something that interests me greatly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/i-am-very-interested-in-theology-in-fact-my-first-degree-was-in/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [“Okay then. That's what I'll do. I'll tell you a story. Can you hear them? All these people who lived in terror of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/okay-then-that-s-what-i-ll-do-i-ll-tell-you-a-story-can-you-hear-them/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [I don't get on with novelists, don't enjoy their company. Once you've worked for a publisher, you understand the species, see them in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/i-don-t-get-on-with-novelists-don-t-enjoy-their-company-once-you-ve/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [The thematic bucket of vomit that I've been chained to since I was about 9 is the moral complexity of anti-heroism. I have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/the-thematic-bucket-of-vomit-that-i-ve-been-chained-to-since-i-was/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [The Booker thing was a catalyst for me in a bizarre way. It’s perceived as an accolade to be published as a ‘literary’ writer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/the-booker-thing-was-a-catalyst-for-me-in-a-bizarre-way-it-s/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [I love to see heroes who fuel some kind of moral furnace inside them, who are driven to take on the evils of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/i-love-to-see-heroes-who-fuel-some-kind-of-moral-furnace-inside-them/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [The fictional character with whom I most profoundly identified was Yossarian in Catch-22. Always did, still do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/the-fictional-character-with-whom-i-most-profoundly-identified-was/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [Because this exact leaf had to grow in that exact way, in that exact place, so that precise wind could tear it from that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/because-this-exact-leaf-had-to-grow-in-that-exact-way-in-that-exact/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [Writing a novel is an intense and lonely business, but you have the reward at the end of a very direct dialogue between you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/writing-a-novel-is-an-intense-and-lonely-business-but-you-have-the/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > ['Luther' is absolutely a monster-of-the-week show. Although it's post-watershed and is rendered in intense graphic novel-style images, it's inspiration is not that different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/luther-is-absolutely-a-monster-of-the-week-show-although-it-s-post/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [“I have lived a long life, and I have seen a few things. I walked away from the Last Great Time War. I marked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/i-have-lived-a-long-life-and-i-have-seen-a-few-things-i-walked-away/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) [Explore all 25 Neil Cross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) ## More Actually quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [Failure actually makes you strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/failure-actually-makes-you-strong/) [Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [I actually do sing sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-harket/i-actually-do-sing-sometimes/) [Morten Harket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-harket/) > [I've actually got quite a good memory. I've good recall. It's often things which other people might not notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/i-ve-actually-got-quite-a-good-memory-i-ve-good-recall-it-s-often/) [Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/) > [Because there is actually something very interesting in Goodfellas, how the style of the film changes as time goes by and based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/because-there-is-actually-something-very-interesting-in-goodfellas/) [Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) [Browse all 4,248 Actually quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's perceived as an accolade to be published as a 'literary' writer, but, actually, it's pompous and it's fake. Literary fiction is often nothing more than a genre in itself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Cross" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/it-s-perceived-as-an-accolade-to-be-published-as-a-literary-writer/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actually" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/it-s-perceived-as-an-accolade-to-be-published-as-a-literary-writer/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/neil-cross-23838_actually_it-s-perceived-as-an-accolade-to-be-publ_776819.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/neil-cross-23838_actually_it-s-perceived-as-an-accolade-to-be-publ_776819.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/neil-cross-23838_actually_it-s-perceived-as-an-accolade-to-be-publ_776819.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's perceived as an accolade to be published as a 'literary' writer, but, actually, it's pompous and it's…” — Neil Cross", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Neil Cross", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's perceived as an accolade to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/it-s-perceived-as-an-accolade-to-be-published-as-a-literary-writer/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/it-s-perceived-as-an-accolade-to-be-published-as-a-literary-writer/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```