Declining Writer

I can't say that I have paid particular attention to this phenomenon because I read very little modern fiction because it fails to meet the bar of satisfying and unique for me, but it is true now that I think about it. 

This article is right about the sharp decline of young white male writers in American literary fiction, as evidenced by their near-absence from major prize lists, fellowships, and year-end “notable fiction” lists over the past decade. The change is attributed not only to diversity initiatives and a desire to spotlight previously marginalized voices, but also to a broader cultural climate that has turned against the archetype of the “litbro” or ambitious young white male novelist. 

There is a sense that writing directly about their own experience has become fraught: white male writers are wary of being seen as either victims or aggressors, and fear accusations of appropriation or toxic masculinity. As a result, many young white male writers have shifted to genre fiction, autofiction, or historical novels, often avoiding direct engagement with contemporary social realities or their own identities. The few who do attempt to tackle these subjects often do so with a tone of disavowal or irony, reflecting a broader uncertainty about their place in the current literary landscape.

But in the 2010s, the literary world was less interested in straight men. I think you have a general lack of the heterosexual male perspective in newer fiction. There’s a long history of writers portraying toxic masculinity and rough male characters — and it feels like you see less of that today.

I also think at the same time, young male writers, white and nonwhite, were taking less of an interest in fiction. It’s a chicken-and-egg challenge: Is it the publishing industry deciding this is no longer something we’re going to push or take a real interest in, or is it market forces as well?