Elmore Leonard, best known for gritty crime novels including Get Shorty and the short story 3:10 to Yuma, died Tuesday morning from complications from a stroke. He was 87.
a great american writer who has left a literary catalog few could achieve and many will envy.
“Elmore Leonard's Ten Rules of Writing
1. Never open a book with weather. 2. Avoid prologues. 3. Never use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue. 4. Never use an adverb to modify the verb "said”…he admonished gravely. 5. Keep your exclamation points under control. You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose. 6. Never use the words "suddenly" or "all hell broke loose." 7. Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly. 8. Avoid detailed descriptions of characters. 9. Don't go into great detail describing places and things. 10. Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.
My most important rule is one that sums up the 10.
Wrong writer, I think. Maybe you were thinking of the guy who wrote LA Confidential, The Black Dahlia, etc.? His mother was murdered and he wrote an amazing book about it, as well as a true crime masterpiece trying to prove who actually murdered the young woman called The Black Dahlia AFTER having written the masterpiece titled TBD. I think!
OK, looked up his name: James Ellroy. Totally different kind of writer than Elmore Leonard, who focused on fast paced, funny page numbers. The difference between them is champagne and rotgut hootch distilled in the backwoods.
I have never read anything from him because I don't like translations and I can only get them here. Hopefully I can buy some of his books in my next trip to an English speaking country in September.
I don't read much fiction but Elmore was one of my favorites. His books were delicious, (cue the "you're not supposed to eat them" jokes). He was as gifted as Mario Puzo. No wait, he was better.
In a class by himself. I'll miss his eloquent voice and ability to create dramatic tension so gracefully. I've read everything he has written that I have been able to get my hands on.
I used to manage a bookstore and one year at our annual conference Elmore Leonard was one of the guest speakers. He was hilarious. So dry. He explained that he has a big fan base in prison and so, instead of delivering some speech to us, he decided to read fan letters from inmates and offer commentary. Spectacular!
Noooo.....RIP, Mr. Leonard.
ReplyDeleteWhat is that gonna do to the SHOW?
excellent writer..
ReplyDeleteThanks you for giving me Rayland Givens, Mr. Leonard.
ReplyDeleteRip. good journey.
ReplyDeleteAmen, @Carrie.
ReplyDeletea great american writer who has left a literary catalog few could achieve and many will envy.
ReplyDelete“Elmore Leonard's Ten Rules of Writing
1. Never open a book with weather.
2. Avoid prologues.
3. Never use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue.
4. Never use an adverb to modify the verb "said”…he admonished gravely.
5. Keep your exclamation points under control. You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose.
6. Never use the words "suddenly" or "all hell broke loose."
7. Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly.
8. Avoid detailed descriptions of characters.
9. Don't go into great detail describing places and things.
10. Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.
My most important rule is one that sums up the 10.
If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.”
Fantastic list. I have broken every one of them. To my detriment.
Delete@TimC : cool list, thanks for sharing it.
DeleteElmore Leonard wrote some of the master pieces of my book collection. RIP.
He will be missed. Rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteSad. He's one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteDammit. First Vince Flynn, now Elmore.
ReplyDeleteRIP, Elmore Leonard.
ReplyDeleteThanks, @TimC, for posting that. He was a great writer and mentor.
Ditto that Carrie, and thank you Timothy Olyphant for bringing him to life.
ReplyDeleteI hope he is with his mother now and she finally tells him who murdered her.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize that he was that old. He lived a long and interesting life but seemed tortured for it.
Wrong writer, I think. Maybe you were thinking of the guy who wrote LA Confidential, The Black Dahlia, etc.? His mother was murdered and he wrote an amazing book about it, as well as a true crime masterpiece trying to prove who actually murdered the young woman called The Black Dahlia AFTER having written the masterpiece titled TBD. I think!
DeleteOK, looked up his name: James Ellroy. Totally different kind of writer than Elmore Leonard, who focused on fast paced, funny page numbers. The difference between them is champagne and rotgut hootch distilled in the backwoods.
Timebob, you're thinking of James Ellroy.
ReplyDeleteRIP, I enjoyed his books.
ReplyDeleteThanks @TimC for the list.
RIP.
ReplyDeleteI have never read anything from him because I don't like translations and I can only get them here. Hopefully I can buy some of his books in my next trip to an English speaking country in September.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI don't read much fiction but Elmore was one of my favorites. His books were delicious, (cue the "you're not supposed to eat them" jokes). He was as gifted as Mario Puzo. No wait, he was better.
ReplyDeleteIn a class by himself. I'll miss his eloquent voice and ability to create dramatic tension so gracefully. I've read everything he has written that I have been able to get my hands on.
ReplyDeleteohhh, lol mixed them up thanks for the clarification
ReplyDeleteI used to manage a bookstore and one year at our annual conference Elmore Leonard was one of the guest speakers. He was hilarious. So dry. He explained that he has a big fan base in prison and so, instead of delivering some speech to us, he decided to read fan letters from inmates and offer commentary. Spectacular!
ReplyDelete@TimC nice list, thanks.
ReplyDeleteNow I have to reread 52 Pickup. Great book.
RIP, Mr. Leonard.
ReplyDelete@8=====D, Maybe you could find English versions on eBay and/or Amazon?