Writing a Novel: Absurdist Fiction as a Genre

We all enjoy the absurd, whether it's funny, tragic, or simply pure nonsense. This is where absurdist fiction comes in. Absurdist fiction is that type of literature focusing on the experiences of characters in a situation where they cannot find any inherent purpose in life at all. This is often expressed through a series of meaningless and unrelated events. This type of fiction may seem easy to write on the surface, but it is really one of the most difficult of genres to master.

Writing Absurdist Fiction

While absurdist fiction takes many forms, there are some common elements. Dark humor, satire, incongruity, the abasement of reason, and controversy regarding the philosophical condition of being nothing all play a part when crafting absurdist fiction. Literary works of this nature often explore agnostic or nihilistic topics, though any topic is a possibility.

Much of fiction that is absurd in nature involves comedy, hilarity, and the irrational. However, the defining trait of absurdist fiction is not any of these. Instead, it is the study of the human behavior under a variety of circumstances that appear purposeless. These circumstances may be realistic or pure fantasy. It doesn't really matter, since the purpose of this type of fiction is exploration of the human condition.

Another defining trait is the complete lack of judgment. So if you're writing absurdist fiction, you have to be careful not to judge the characters or their actions. This should be left to the reader. Let your audience decide for themselves. Also, leave the moral of the story deliberately vague. You should let your readers take from your story what they will. Possibly there is no moral, especially if the events in your novel are truly absurd in nature.

Unlike most other fiction genres, the absurdist novel does not necessarily have a traditional plot structure. Because it is absurd, you don't necessarily have to worry about your rising action, climax, and falling action. In fact, none of these things may be present in an absurdist novel. If, however, you are going to use a different structure, you have to do it well. Calling your book absurdist simply so you can avoid a traditional plot structure won't fool anyone, least of all your readers.

This type of fiction is almost exclusive to the 20th century and beyond and rose in direct opposition to the Victorian literature that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th century. Most absurdist novels also fit into other categories of fiction. In fact, many novels are categorized as absurdist simply because they fail to fit into another, more appropriate, category.