Though many similarities exist between the literary and journalistic writings of America’s literary journalists, there are also many marked distinctions.  Both styles of writing present a view of people, events, and locations; the literary style, however, presents these people, events, and locations oftentimes in a much more interesting and insightful way.  For example, a journalistic approach to Bill Clinton’s notorious affair with Monica Lewinsky might just present the facts leading up to and consequences surrounding his affair.  A literary approach, on the other hand, might delve into Clinton’s psychological struggles, the heated discussions between he and Hilary, and the “romantic” interludes he experienced with Lewinsky.  The literary approach would most likely use dialogue created specifically to catch the attention of the author’s intended audience and would probably fabricate scenes that are characteristic of a steamy New York Times best-seller.  Such literary liberties are not allowed in straight news journalism.  An author would be granted much more freedom to express his interpretations and slants in a literary setting as opposed to a journalistic setting. 

Generally, there is also a difference in which a writer would employ specific quotes and dialogue from subjects presented in their work.  A journalistic writer might quote a local sheriff with a strong deep southern dialect as though he were a native of Boston or New York.  Though the audience gets the gist of what the sheriff is saying, his speech is not presented the way in which he actually speaks.  In literary writing, the author is able to use such strong dialects in his writing and the character is not necessarily construed as an ignorant because the reader is able to know more of the character’s background and see how he or she interacts with others in a normal everyday setting.  Tom Sawyer, for example, is seen as a very clever and witty boy who is able to con his way out of some of the most impossible situations although Mark Twain gives him an English dialect that is most definitely less than standard.  Yet, if a person with Sawyer’s accent was quoted in The New York Times, the readership would probably perceive him as an uneducated, backwoods moron.