fictioneer

American  

[fik-shuh-neer] / ˌfɪk ʃəˈnɪər /

noun

1. a writer of fiction, especially a prolific one whose works are of mediocre quality.

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Usage

What does fictioneer mean? A fictioneer is a fiction writer, especially one who puts out a lot of work considered mediocre or low quality.The word fictioneer is most often applied to writers who churn out the kind of stories usually found in cheap, mass-market paperbacks, especially ones that snobs consider lowbrow “genre fiction,” such as romance novels, mysteries, or science fiction. However, it can also be used in a more neutral way as simply another (more fun) word for a fiction writer.Example: Many highly regarded novelists started their careers as fictioneers who wrote under pseudonyms and published anything they could to scrape together a living.

Other Word Forms

• fictioneering noun

Etymology

Origin of fictioneer

First recorded in 1920–25; fiction + -eer

Example Sentences

He's also a prolific blogger; an essential criteria for today's ambitious pulp fictioneer, when your readership are only ever a tweet away.

From The Guardian • May 29, 2012

If a novelist invented a character like Lord Byron, he would be set down as an opportunistic fictioneer with an eye on the bestseller list.

From Time Magazine Archive

In his 80s, Philosopher Bertrand Russell suddenly turned fictioneer to write: 1.

From Time Magazine Archive

But Playwright Franken, a veteran ladies' magazine fictioneer, either does not know or thinks it would not be nice to reveal that what she is handling is the very serious subject of adult infantilism.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Hollywood, his uncle, Rupert Hughes�a prosperous fictioneer and biographer�had been writing and directing pictures.

From Time Magazine Archive