Artist Quote by Zadie Smith
“The choices a writer makes within a tradition - preferring Milton to Moliere, caring for Barth over Barthelme - constitute some of the most personal information we can have about him.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: 2015, The New Yorker, “The Writer’s Tradition”
She notes that a writer’s literary influences reveal personal identity and creative choices.
In simple terms: A writer’s influences show who they are.
Explore and articulate your literary lineage.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- creative workshops
- literary analysis
- author interviews
- writing curricula
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance homage with innovation?
- What can readers learn from a writer’s influences?
Focusing too much on influences may limit originality.