Elmore Leonard Quotes

Quotes about:

Books Character Dialogue Fun Writing Writing A Book

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

Writing, Advice, Important

41 Copy quote
I spent most of my dough on booze, broads and boats and the rest I wasted.

Elmore Leonard

Boat, Broads, Dough

Elmore Leonard (2009). “Labrava: A Novel”, p.16, Harper Collins

44 Copy quote
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, Views, Cities

"We’re Not in New York Anymore" by Ian Crouch, www.newyorker.com. January 8, 2014.

53 Copy quote
It doesn't have to make sense, it just has to sound like it does.

Elmore Leonard

Sound, Doe, Make Sense

20 Copy quote
What do you tell a man with two black eyes? Nothing, he's already been told twice.

Elmore Leonard

Eye, Men, Two

"Fictional character: Darryl". "Be Cool", www.imdb.com. 2005.

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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

Writing, May, Narrative

"Seven deadly sins" by Robert McCrum, www.theguardian.com. July 21, 2001.

34 Copy quote
The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in.

Elmore Leonard

Writing, Character, Verbs

Elmore Leonard (2007). “Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing”, William Morrow

25 Copy quote
If work was a good thing, the rich would have it all and not let you do it.

Elmore Leonard

Rich, Good Things, Ifs

Split Images ch. 1 (1981)

9 Copy quote
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

Dream, Night, Destiny

14 Copy quote
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, Believe, Inspiration

7 Copy quote
Try not to write the parts that people skip.

Elmore Leonard

Writing, People, Trying

15 Copy quote
My purpose is to entertain and please myself. I feel that if I am entertained, then there will be enough other readers who will be entertained, too.

Elmore Leonard

Purpose, Enough, Reader

5 Copy quote
I don't get in a position to be frightened. I don't do anything dangerous, and I always pay my bills.

Elmore Leonard

Pay, Bills, Frightened

"This much I know: Elmore Leonard". Interview with John O'Connell, www.theguardian.com. December 11, 2010.

5 Copy quote
I never see my bad guys as simply bad. They want pretty much the same thing that you and I want: they want to be happy.

Elmore Leonard

Guy, Want, Want To Be Happy

"Elmore Leonard’s Secret: 'Clean Living, and a Fast Outfield'". Interview with Jon Wiener, lareviewofbooks.org. August 20, 2013.

5 Copy quote
Using adverbs is a mortal sin.

Elmore Leonard

Writing, Sin, Adverbs

"Elmore Leonard's rules for writers" by Elmore Leonard, www.theguardian.com. February 24, 2010.

19 Copy quote
There's nothing like work to take your mind off your worries.

Elmore Leonard

Worry, Mind

"Out of Sight". Book by Elmore Leonard, 1996.

5 Copy quote
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

Fun, Writing, Nuts

"The Most Important Writing Tip the Late Elmore Leonard Ever Gave" by Asawin Suebsaeng, www.motherjones.com. August 20, 2013.

14 Copy quote
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

Book, Writing, Too Much

17 Copy quote
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

Attitude, Writing, Character

Source: www.writersdigest.com

7 Copy quote
Don't worry about what your mother thinks of your language.

Elmore Leonard

Mother, Thinking, Worry

6 Copy quote
My characters have to talk, or they're out. They audition in early scenes. If they can't talk, they're given less to do, or thrown out.

Elmore Leonard

Character, Auditions, Scene

"Elmore Leonard's Secret: 'Clean Living, and a Fast Outfield'". Interview with Jon Wiener, lareviewofbooks.org. August 20, 2013.

6 Copy quote
All the information you need can be given in dialogue.

Elmore Leonard

Writing, Confusing, Needs

15 Copy quote
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, Believe, Character

"Biography/ Personal Quotes". www.imdb.com.

12 Copy quote
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, Thinking, Two

Elmore Leonard (2009). “Valdez Is Coming: A Novel”, p.20, Harper Collins

10 Copy quote
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

Fun, Book, Writing

14 Copy quote

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Elmore Leonard

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Born: October 11, 1925
Died: August 20, 2013
Occupation: Novelist
Cite this Page: Citation

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