What does it mean for a work of fiction to be “experimental?”

It means to depart from the norm and try something new. In every generation of writers, 90% just follow the conventions, while 10% are experimenting with new approaches, new techniques–some of which become conventions and then are imitated by 90% of the next generation. Those who want to be professional writers look to see what’s selling, and try to imitate those; those who want to be experimental writers avoid what’s selling and look to the other arts or disciplines for ideas on how to expand the novel’s repertoire.

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