My most important rule is one that sums up the 10: If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. Elmore Leonard More Quotes by Elmore Leonard More Quotes From Elmore Leonard There are cities that get by on their good looks, offer climate and scenery, views of mountains or oceans, rockbound or with palm trees. And there are cities like Detroit that have to work for a living. Elmore Leonard oceancitiesviews I spent most of my dough on booze, broads and boats and the rest I wasted. Elmore Leonard doughboatbroads My most important piece of advice to all you would-be writers: when you write, try to leave out all the parts readers skip. Elmore Leonard importantwritingadvice If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. Or, if proper usage gets in the way, it may have to go. I can't allow what we learned in English composition to disrupt the sound and rhythm of the narrative. Elmore Leonard narrativewritingmay What do you tell a man with two black eyes? Nothing, he's already been told twice. Elmore Leonard eyementwo I don't believe in writer's block or waiting for inspiration. If you're a writer, you sit down and write. Elmore Leonard blockinspirationbelieve The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in. Elmore Leonard verbswritingcharacter Not dreams but night changes, not destiny but path changes, always keep your hopes alive, luck may or may not change, but time definitely chages. Elmore Leonard destinydreamnight It doesn't have to make sense, it just has to sound like it does. Elmore Leonard make-sensesounddoe Try not to write the parts that people skip. Elmore Leonard writingtryingpeople Using adverbs is a mortal sin. Elmore Leonard adverbssinwriting All the information you need can be given in dialogue. Elmore Leonard confusingwritingneeds I think any writer is a fool if he doesn't do it for money. There needs to be some kind of incentive in addition to the project. It all goes together. It's fun to sit there and think of characters and get them into action, then be paid for it. I can't believe it when writers tell me 'I don't want to show my work to anybody'. Elmore Leonard funcharacterbelieve At the time I begin writing a novel, the last thing I want to do is follow a plot outline. To know too much at the start takes the pleasure out of discovering what the book is about. Elmore Leonard too-muchwritingbook I do have fun writing, and a long time ago, I told myself, 'You got to have fun at this, or it'll drive you nuts.' Elmore Leonard nutswritingfun Everyone has his own sound. I'm not going to presume how to tell anybody how to write. Elmore Leonard soundwriting I focus on characters as individuals with attitudes and write each scene from a particular character's point of view. That way, even narrative passages take on the character's sound. I don't want the reader to be aware of me, writing. Elmore Leonard writingattitudecharacter I'm very much aware in the writing of dialogue, or even in the narrative too, of a rhythm. There has to be a rhythm with it … Interviewers have said, you like jazz, don’t you? Because we can hear it in your writing. And I thought that was a compliment. Elmore Leonard jazznarrativewriting A friend of mine who is in the publishing business knew I was writing a book, and he said, 'Have you said anything yet about the good guy? Because I know you spend so much time with the bad guys.' Because they're fun. So then you have to make the good guy fun, in order to compete. That's the challenge. Elmore Leonard writingfunbook A man can be in two different places and he will be two different men. Maybe if you think of more places he will be more men, but two is enough for now. Elmore Leonard mentwothinking
