This article attempts to demonstrate the influence that Guillaume Apollinaire has had on the development of modern French literature (both of the 20th century and of the present day). Creative principles formulated by Apollinaire in the treatise "New consciousness and poets" remain fundamental for the most important writers of modern France. Analyzing artistic methods of surrealists, newborns, ULIPO group members, writers united around the publishing house "Minyui", representatives of women's and children's French literature, we can conclude that all the main authors of the last century and of the present day follow the principles of Apollinaire: they experiment, mix genres, forms, styles and seek to amaze readers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]