Stanley Elkin's formation as a literary artist crossed many genres. His most influential writing instructor in college was the poet, Randall Jarrell. Elkin wrote essays, reviews and short plays in college, and started publishing short stories then too. However, his primary ambition was the novel, and it is where he established his literary reputation, publishing eight in his lifetime and one posthumously. The longer format gave him the space he needed to let his verbose characters and convoluted narratives play out to his satisfaction. 

Elkin most of all wished to avoid being categorized in any way, whether as a Jewish writer, a metafictional writer, a satirist or a black humorist. His novels were very popular and influential among other writers and highly regarded by critics but their sales never lived up to his expectations. Despite this fact, he never compromised his artistic vision by simplifying his narrative style, toning down his morally questionable protagonists, or tacking on happy endings with life lessons.