--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In everything I've written, the crime has…" description: "\"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 as writing crime n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05e/peter-temple-30274_about_in-everything-i-ve-written-the-crime-has_1805554.jpg" --- # In everything I've written, the crime has always just been… ![“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 as writing crime novels. I like fairly strong narratives, but it's a way of getting a plot moving.” quote by Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05e/peter-temple-30274_about_in-everything-i-ve-written-the-crime-has_1805554.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05e/peter-temple-30274_about_in-everything-i-ve-written-the-crime-has_1805554.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05e/peter-temple-30274_about_in-everything-i-ve-written-the-crime-has_1805554.jpg) > “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 as writing crime novels. I like fairly strong narratives, but it's a way of getting a plot moving.” [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Crime serves as a vehicle for exploring broader themes rather than an end in itself. **In simple terms:** Crime is a tool for deeper storytelling. Key Takeaway Use genre to explore larger ideas. Themes narrative genre purpose Mood reflective analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - creative workshops Key Concepts metafiction storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How can you use genre conventions to subvert expectations? - What deeper themes can crime reveal? 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There's no reason to change genres…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/after-i-started-writing-crime-fiction-i-said-to-myself-i-may-be/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [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/) > [I think Melbourne is by far and away the most interesting place in Australia, and I thought if I ever wrote a novel or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/i-think-melbourne-is-by-far-and-away-the-most-interesting-place-in/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [Once I've done a crime, I just forget it. I go from crime to crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-lee-lucas/once-i-ve-done-a-crime-i-just-forget-it-i-go-from-crime-to-crime/) [Henry Lee Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-lee-lucas/) > [So here I pray for another life in another time where everything is fine theres no such thing as crime where you just rewind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-beasley/so-here-i-pray-for-another-life-in-another-time-where-everything-is/) [Brianna Beasley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-beasley/) > [“Raping a woman who did not belong to any man was not considered a crime at all, just as picking up a lost coin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/raping-a-woman-who-did-not-belong-to-any-man-was-not-considered-a/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Being single is never a crime…is just that we are not ready for the task ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justiceogali/being-single-is-never-a-crime-is-just-that-we-are-not-ready-for-the/) [Justiceogali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justiceogali/) > [Crime is just unvarnished capitalism, after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/crime-is-just-unvarnished-capitalism-after-all/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) ## More by Peter Temple > [For some men, life seems to be one long attempt to escape childhood and all the fears of childhood. That's what many of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/for-some-men-life-seems-to-be-one-long-attempt-to-escape-childhood/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [I think Melbourne is by far and away the most interesting place in Australia, and I thought if I ever wrote a novel or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/i-think-melbourne-is-by-far-and-away-the-most-interesting-place-in/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [I suppose most crime writing is urban. There's not a lot... certainly not in Australia, people don't often set books in the countryside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/i-suppose-most-crime-writing-is-urban-there-s-not-a-lot-certainly-not/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [The real difference between literature and pulp is the kind of emotional responses they elicit. Dan Brown can't pierce your heart. Patricia Cornwell can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/the-real-difference-between-literature-and-pulp-is-the-kind-of/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [I like having a plot; I like characters with a reason to get up in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/i-like-having-a-plot-i-like-characters-with-a-reason-to-get-up-in-the/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [“I said, "Thank you. Go the Saints. Goodbye." Go the Saints; I'd said it. The first time. It felt like...coming out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/i-said-thank-you-go-the-saints-goodbye-go-the-saints-i-d-said-it-the/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [A lot of people like cabinet making; people are intrigued by it. Women in particular like cabinet making. They like it more than men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/a-lot-of-people-like-cabinet-making-people-are-intrigued-by-it-women/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [There's a high point in your career, and then people get bored; they want something else to come along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/there-s-a-high-point-in-your-career-and-then-people-get-bored-they/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [No book of mine is complete without a dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/no-book-of-mine-is-complete-without-a-dog/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [In writing, I'm totally anti-plans of any kind. All my attempts to plan and plot novels have come to grief, and in expensive ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/in-writing-i-m-totally-anti-plans-of-any-kind-all-my-attempts-to-plan/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [“Man near entrance is shot in the head at close range from behind. The other two, multiple stab wounds, genitals severed, other injuries. Also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/man-near-entrance-is-shot-in-the-head-at-close-range-from-behind-the/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [Football makes nonsense of class. It may make nonsense of colour in some circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/football-makes-nonsense-of-class-it-may-make-nonsense-of-colour-in/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [A lot of crime fiction writing is also lazy. Personality is supposed to be shown by the protagonist's taste in music, or we're told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/a-lot-of-crime-fiction-writing-is-also-lazy-personality-is-supposed/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [A lot of crime fiction writing is also lazy. Personality is supposed to be shown by the protagonists taste in music, or were told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/a-lot-of-crime-fiction-writing-is-also-lazy-personality-is-supposed-2/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [As far as I am concerned, I write novels, and other people can do the labelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/as-far-as-i-am-concerned-i-write-novels-and-other-people-can-do-the/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) [Explore all 17 Peter Temple quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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 as writing crime novels. 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