Elmore Leonard Quotes

Quotes about:

• 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

• 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

• 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.

  22 Copy quote

• 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

• Try not to write the parts that people skip.

  Elmore Leonard

  Writing, People, Trying

  15 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

• 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 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

• 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

• Don't worry about what your mother thinks of your language.

  Elmore Leonard

  Mother, Thinking, Worry

  6 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

  16 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

• All the information you need can be given in dialogue.

  Elmore Leonard

  Writing, Confusing, Needs

  15 Copy quote

• These are rules I've picked up along the way to help me remain invisible when I'm writing a book, to help me show rather than tell what's taking place in the story.

  Elmore Leonard

  Book, Writing, Stories

  Elmore Leonard (2009). “Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing”, Harper Collins

  4 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

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