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Elmore Leonard’s Ten Rules of Writing

Started by doolols, February 23, 2006, 05:19:08 PM

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doolols

Spotted this in a link from a link from ... you inveterate web surfers know how it goes.

http://www.elmoreleonard.com/index.php?/forums/viewthread/20

The best bit: after the rules (which mostly make sense, especially when you know who's writing them).

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. It's my attempt to remain invisible, not distract the reader from the story with obvious writing. (Joseph Conrad said something about words getting in the way of what you want to say.)


I like this guy!  :afro:
My name is Gerald, and I am a writer (practicing for AA - Authors Anonymous)

Geoff_N

In general I agree with all of those rules, but I am glad he also said rules are to be broken cos I have trouble with one or two. I knew we should avoid suddenly, but sometimes I have this overpowering urge to let the reader know that somehing sudden has happened. I scratch around for a way for the reader to know this without using the dreaded adverb but usually it is the best way. Having said that, I know that it's one of the words I use Word's Edit and Find for, to delete them all :)

The other rule I have trouble with is his rule about the writing being invisible. OK, in general - yes, obviously. But sometimes a phrase is so terrific it has to stay. My main inspiration for humorous thriller writing came from reading Tibor Fischer's The Thought Gang. It's one of the few books I keep rereading for the pure joy of the way he has so much fun with words - and yes I had to reach for the dictionary, but it enriched me so much.

A good list though.

Geoff

Ed

Yep - I agree with what he's saying, with the possible exception of the exclamation marks.  Three doesn't sound a lot in 100,000 words, especially if there are a lot of arguments, or commands. 

Funny that he mentions Hemingway in connection with not describing physical appearance of characters, after the conversation we've just had in the crit section :afro:

As with all adverbs, 'suddenly' has its uses - if it didn't it wouldn't be in the dictionary :smiley:
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

doolols

There are so many 'rules of writing' now - just about everyone has them. I do wonder whether Elmore Leonard was trying too hard to live up to his cut down style of writing  :scratch:
My name is Gerald, and I am a writer (practicing for AA - Authors Anonymous)

Ed

I know what you mean.  The thing I've come to understand is there are different styles of writing that suit different markets/genres and readerships.  So there's never going to be one set of rules to cover the whole lot adequately.  That would be too simple, wouldn't it? :grin:  Why's everything got to be so complicated? ::)
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

doolols

Quote from: blunt on February 24, 2006, 11:21:18 PM
So there's never going to be one set of rules to cover the whole lot adequately.  That would be too simple, wouldn't it? :grin:  Why's everything got to be so complicated? ::)
I don't know if you've ever read the "Dramatica Theory Book" http://www.dramatica.com/theory/theory_book/dtb.html. There seems (according to them, anyway) such a lot of theory behind what makes a good story. Complicated? There's that and more ...  :scratch:
My name is Gerald, and I am a writer (practicing for AA - Authors Anonymous)

Ed

Jeysus :o  I read one paragraph of that and got a headache :cheesy: won't be reading any more of it, that's for sure.  I'll wait for the abridged version in plain English. :grin:
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

doolols

If you struggle through some of it, it actually makes sense, but it is such hard work. I think they're making their theories fit the stories. I can't imagine creating a blockbuster with their software.
My name is Gerald, and I am a writer (practicing for AA - Authors Anonymous)

Geoff_N

This weekend I was obliged to read John Fowles book, A Maggot. (He wrote the French Lieutenant's Woman). He breaks all the rules - starts with extended descriptions, including the weather, people, their clothes... Has a prologue... no discernible POV then has one but it darts all over. Difficult to read sections, and many pages of a coroner's reporting with Q and A starting each dialogue made the whole thing so remarkable that it ever was published.

Of course, Donna will now tell me how I missed the point! :)  And I probably have. I don't mind experimentation with format and style - encourage it - but when it gets painful to read...


Geoff

SharonBell

He must have had a best-seller before that one, no?  :scratch: Otherwise, how could he have published it? Writers get more slack when they have a track record.
"Be good and you'll be lonesome." Mark Twain

www.sharonbuchbinder.com

Ed

Yep, but it's not always a good thing to be given enough slack to hang yourself with :grin:  You only have to listen to OMD's experimental album to know that :afro:  Even their track record couldn't stop that one bombing like a B52 with its wings shot off :grin:
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

doolols

Even well-respected authors can write stinkers. The publishers have to publish it, 'cos they might make sales on previous works. I would imagine it might make them a little more cagey at contract renegotiation time, though  :afro:
My name is Gerald, and I am a writer (practicing for AA - Authors Anonymous)