What is the reason that science fiction is considered "literature" despite the poor writing quality of much of it? (Quora answer)

Bad writing is not usually considered literature, no matter what its genre.

Science fiction writing, like writing in other genres, is only usually considered literature if it is good writing.

Most writing is bad writing. Some writing is good writing. Good writing is good writing no matter what its genre, though what makes writing good is not necessarily the same in all genres.

A writer who can’t write but enjoys writing is not all that different from someone who enjoys singing but can’t sing or who enjoys painting but can’t paint. If someone enjoys doing it, then the art has served a purpose. When someone enjoys reading what you have written, you have made an important step forward. Your close friends and relatives who tell you how good your writing is do not count.

In the modern age a lot of bad writing is self-published. Some good writing is self-published. Some bad writing is commercially published. Being commercially published is not proof that your work should be considered literature, but it’s a start.

The chances that someone will enjoy reading what you have written are better if your writing is good. The chances that your writing will be considered literature depend upon a whole host of other factors, but reader enjoyment is where everything starts.

The Protest Diaries

 

Quite how I managed to get a story into this anthology, I'm not sure.  To begin with, I didn't submit a story to it. 

I did however submit two stories to 'Alternative War,'  which appeared some months ago. Since the longer of those two stories, AWOL, made it into that volume, it may be that the shorter one was transferred in this direction.  Or not.

Anyway,  'Interrogation for Beginners' is a story I like, and I hope you will like it too.  As the title suggests, it concerns a veteran interrogator who has to take time out of his regular business to interview a new recruit who is still very wet behind the ears. I hope this inevitable culture clash may contain a few useful thoughts.

Protest is often about culture clashes. Sometimes we tend to support the protesters and sometimes our sympathies lie with the authorities.  The point, in the case of this story, is that both the veteran and the recruit are on the same side; they just come from generations that differ over both ideals and methodology.  

Can we achieve desirable change without fragmenting society?  Eliminate the bad without destroying the good?  Are youthful ideas best, or do they need tempering by the wisdom of age?

These are among the things that I hope we may be inspired to think about.