Never use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue... I once noticed Mary McCarthy ending a line of dialogue with "she asseverated" and had to stop reading and go to the dictionary. 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 ocean cities views I spent most of my dough on booze, broads and boats and the rest I wasted. Elmore Leonard dough boat broads 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 important writing advice 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 narrative writing may What do you tell a man with two black eyes? Nothing, he's already been told twice. Elmore Leonard eye men two I don't believe in writer's block or waiting for inspiration. If you're a writer, you sit down and write. Elmore Leonard block inspiration believe The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in. Elmore Leonard verbs writing character 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 destiny dream night It doesn't have to make sense, it just has to sound like it does. Elmore Leonard make-sense sound doe Try not to write the parts that people skip. Elmore Leonard writing trying people Using adverbs is a mortal sin. Elmore Leonard adverbs sin writing All the information you need can be given in dialogue. Elmore Leonard confusing writing needs 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 fun character believe 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-much writing book 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 nuts writing fun Everyone has his own sound. I'm not going to presume how to tell anybody how to write. Elmore Leonard sound writing 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 writing attitude character 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 jazz narrative writing 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 writing fun book 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 men two thinking
