Elmore Leonard's Rules For Writing

[R Nitelight]

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/16/books/16LEON.html

 

[christo]

The Master

Everyone who posts on this site should read that article. Elmore Leonard is one of the best writers out there, his books are so much fun to read, the writing is so crisp, his skill with dialogue is legendary.

I read the rules and I'm surprised that I try to follow most of them when I write. And, I'm afraid, I break a lot of them, too often. I'm going to print that out and hang it over my desk.

I have an autographed copy of "Get Shorty" that a friend got from me. The inscription said, "Good Luck, and Never Stop Trying". Sound advice for all writers. That's also on my desk, a constant inspiration to work.

He's the man.

 

[Alex De Kok]

First published in 1954 and still writing. Way to go!

He's one of my favourites, too.

Alex

 

[Natalie Nessus]

 

[XMistressMimiX]

Agreed!

Wonderful advice! Passing it on to another writer friend as we speak.
ahem...type.
~Mistress Mimi

 

[peterpan]

Do you agree about the "said" advice? For a while I have done the opposite.

I get lost in lines of dialog that don't say who said what, and rely on you counting odd-even. but I also find the repetition of 'said' tedious.

Often what I do is just put the phrase in a paragraph that identifies the person

eg
...
Peter piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. "Hmmm.. how many pickled peppers in a peck anyway?"
...
(OK, bad example. Just by itself I guess adding 'he said' is fine)

I hadn't thought about it, but a question mark AND 'he asked' is a bit redundant..

 

[KillerMuffin]

Elmore Leonard disinterests me. Strunk and White is THE "Writer's Rule" book to follow. Leonard basically expounded on what they said anyway. As far as the said thing goes, I think that applies only to when you need to tag dialog, use said rather than all of those smarmy words like muttered, replied, stated, errata. I try to never use tag words. I prefer to use props.

"Hello." Mishka straightened her fork.

"Hello." Lavender sat down across from her.

"Well, whose going to open it?" Mishka eyed the letter sitting between them.

That sort of business. It lends more than

"Hello," Mishka said nervously.

"Hello," lavender said.

"Well, whose going to open it?" Mishka asked.

 

[Natalie Nessus]