--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After I started writing crime fiction, I…" description: "\"After I started writing crime fiction, I said to myself, 'I may be limited, but the genre's not. There's no reason to change genres if I'm happy writin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/laura-lippman-7439_change_after-i-started-writing-crime-fiction-i_1960850.jpg" --- # After I started writing crime fiction, I said to myself… ![“After I started writing crime fiction, I said to myself, 'I may be limited, but the genre's not. There's no reason to change genres if I'm happy writing what I write.' And I am.” quote by Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/laura-lippman-7439_change_after-i-started-writing-crime-fiction-i_1960850.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/laura-lippman-7439_change_after-i-started-writing-crime-fiction-i_1960850.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/laura-lippman-7439_change_after-i-started-writing-crime-fiction-i_1960850.jpg) > “After I started writing crime fiction, I said to myself, 'I may be limited, but the genre's not. There's no reason to change genres if I'm happy writing what I write.' And I am.” [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative freedom thrives when a writer embraces a genre they love, regardless of perceived limits. **In simple terms:** Love the genre, ignore limits. Key Takeaway Stay true to your passion. Themes creativity genre selfacceptance Mood content confident Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - writing a novel - career decisions - overcoming self‑doubt - publishing Key Concepts literary freedom personal fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel genre loyalty hinders experimentation? - How does joy in writing outweigh commercial concerns? A Different Perspective Sticking to one genre may limit market reach or growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Crime fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime-fiction/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I wrote 'Knots and Crosses,' the first of the Rebus books, not even realising that I was writing crime fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-rankin/i-wrote-knots-and-crosses-the-first-of-the-rebus-books-not-even/) [Ian Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-rankin/) > [For a long time, I missed being in the courtroom every day. I missed trial work. It was so much a part of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-clark/for-a-long-time-i-missed-being-in-the-courtroom-every-day-i-missed/) [Marcia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-clark/) > [As a person who has a pretty short attention span I think of music like that, completely. That's why I can quite happily change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thighpaulsandra/as-a-person-who-has-a-pretty-short-attention-span-i-think-of-music/) [Thighpaulsandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thighpaulsandra/) > [In everything I've written, the crime has always just been an occasion to write about other things. I don't have a picture of myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/in-everything-i-ve-written-the-crime-has-always-just-been-an-occasion/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [I love crime fiction, and I'm proud to be part of it, but I'm not without criticism for my own genre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/i-love-crime-fiction-and-i-m-proud-to-be-part-of-it-but-i-m-not/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [The competition for the future of crime fiction is fierce, as it should be, but don't take your eyes off Craig McDonald. He's wily,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/the-competition-for-the-future-of-crime-fiction-is-fierce-as-it/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [For me, crime fiction was an opportunity to sneak up on readers with social issues, something they won't go out of their way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/for-me-crime-fiction-was-an-opportunity-to-sneak-up-on-readers-with/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [ The built-in form is a window frame. You can use this genre \[crime fiction\] to go where you want to go, and explore what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/the-built-in-form-is-a-window-frame-you-can-use-this-genre-crime/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [“You spill a lot of beans in historical fiction. Crime fiction is about spilling no beans at all. You spill the least beans you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/you-spill-a-lot-of-beans-in-historical-fiction-crime-fiction-is-about/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Scandinavian crime fiction has become a great success all across the world and rightfully so. Sjowall and Wahloo ushered in a whole generation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camilla-l-ckberg/scandinavian-crime-fiction-has-become-a-great-success-all-across-the/) [Camilla Lackberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camilla-l-ckberg/) > [“At that exact moment, 6-0-0, the sun climbed over the skyline of oaks, revealing its full summer angry-god self. Its reflection flared across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/at-that-exact-moment-6-0-0-the-sun-climbed-over-the-skyline-of-oaks/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [There is sometimes a feeling in crime fiction that good writing gets in the way of story. I have never felt that way. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/there-is-sometimes-a-feeling-in-crime-fiction-that-good-writing-gets/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“Payne sought clarification. “Vertical or horizontal?” “Horizontal, of course.” “Sorry but I can’t help you.” “Will you pipe down for a minute? Naturally she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-lynskey/payne-sought-clarification-vertical-or-horizontal-horizontal-of/) [Ed Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-lynskey/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [“We saved the lives of a whole family that night. Children, parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents, all sailed to safety in Sweden inside a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steen-langstrup/we-saved-the-lives-of-a-whole-family-that-night-children-parents/) [Steen Langstrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steen-langstrup/) ## More by Laura Lippman > [“Relationships are chess for women," he said. "They can see the whole board, plan way ahead. They're the queens, after all. We're the kings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/relationships-are-chess-for-women-he-said-they-can-see-the-whole/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [People still struggle with this notion of gifted writers somehow being in touch with a higher power, but it's all about showing up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/people-still-struggle-with-this-notion-of-gifted-writers-somehow/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [Every person you meet has a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/every-person-you-meet-has-a-story/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [If I waited to be inspired to go to the gym, I'd never get there. I schedule my exercise time; I schedule my work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/if-i-waited-to-be-inspired-to-go-to-the-gym-i-d-never-get-there-i/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [“I hate to think how many minutes of my life I've spent on goddamn hold. I want those minutes back. When death comes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/i-hate-to-think-how-many-minutes-of-my-life-i-ve-spent-on-goddamn/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [I've long believed that the work-out life has lessons for the writing life. I've 'solved' a lot of books while at the gym, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/i-ve-long-believed-that-the-work-out-life-has-lessons-for-the-writing/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [...Baltimore. It's imperfect. Boy, is it imperfect. And there are parts of its past that make you wince. It's not all marble steps and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/baltimore-it-s-imperfect-boy-is-it-imperfect-and-there-are-parts-of/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [“She was furious, with the kind of fury peculiar to the nonpaying client. Those who can't afford private attorneys . . . assumed legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/she-was-furious-with-the-kind-of-fury-peculiar-to-the-nonpaying/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [We become comfortable saying that there's nothing new, and then something like Malarky comes along, which is new and old and different and familiar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/we-become-comfortable-saying-that-there-s-nothing-new-and-then/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [My husband, David Simon, and I make our livings using our imaginations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/my-husband-david-simon-and-i-make-our-livings-using-our-imaginations/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [I think Baltimore suffers from nostalgia and it keeps us from being honest in talking about what really happened here. A place doesn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/i-think-baltimore-suffers-from-nostalgia-and-it-keeps-us-from-being/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [Baltimore has been a punchline/punching bag for years - I've landed a few blows, to be fair - but those old jokes are out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/baltimore-has-been-a-punchline-punching-bag-for-years-i-ve-landed-a/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [“Working on the editorial page had sharpened Whitney's mind and coarsened her feelings, so she treated every subject as theoretical and abstract. Devil's advocate?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/working-on-the-editorial-page-had-sharpened-whitney-s-mind-and/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [“There it was again, another strange usage. 'We had words.' Everyone has words...What a useless euphemism. The phrases that people used to make things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/there-it-was-again-another-strange-usage-we-had-words-everyone-has/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [I don't know where my phone is half the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/i-don-t-know-where-my-phone-is-half-the-time/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) [Explore all 91 Laura Lippman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After I started writing crime fiction, I said to myself, 'I may be limited, but the genre's not. 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