Books Quote by Paul Auster
“While I was writing poems, I would often divert myself by reading detective novels, I liked them. And there was a period when I read many of them. I absorbed the form, and I liked it, it was a good one, mostly the hard-boiled school, you know, Chandler, Hammett, and their heirs. That was the direction that interested me most.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Art of Writing, Paul Auster, 1995
He balanced poetry with detective fiction, learning structure and style from hard‑boiled novels to enrich his own writing.
In simple terms: He studied mystery novels to improve his craft.
Key Takeaway
Learn from other genres to sharpen your voice.
Themes
creativity
genre blending
learning
literature
influence
Mood
curious
inspired
reflective
Type
advice
literary
process
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- reading for technique
- cross‑genre experiments
Key Concepts
hard‑boiled fiction
narrative structure
stylistic adaptation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you integrate lessons from other genres without losing your unique style?
- What genre offers the most growth for your current work?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on another genre may dilute original voice.
