I once saw Dizzy Gillespie at a live show, and it made me want to go home immediately and start writing. — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
I want the reader to know what's going on. So there's never a mystery in my books. — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
I never see my bad guys as simply bad. They want pretty much the same thing that you and I want: they… — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
I get letters. I get several a week, I think. A lot of people want a picture, a lot of people just… — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
At the time I begin writing a novel, the last thing I want to do is follow a plot outline. To know… — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
If I have several bad guys and I only want to end up with one of them, then I have to decide… — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
To me, writing is the most fun. It's not always fun, but finally when you make it come out the way you… — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
I don't want to write any more screenplays, I'll tell you that right now. It's a waste of time. You've got too… — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
Don't go into great detail describing places and things, unless you're Margaret Atwood and can paint scenes with language. You don't want… — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
I think any writer is a fool if he doesn't do it for money. There needs to be some kind of incentive… — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
Never open a book with weather. There are exceptions. If you happen to be Barry Lopez, who has more ways to describe… — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the… — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
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… — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
“There’s something happening here, I know it. It’s right in front of my face, but I just can’t see it.” — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in. — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
I have fun writing. I don't make it a chore. I don't have to struggle with it. — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
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… — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
I don’t think writers compete, I think they’re all doing separate things in their own style. — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
After 58 years you'd think writing would get easier. It doesn't. If you're lucky, you become harder to please. That's all right, it's still… — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
“He saw Harvey and Edgar catch each other's eye as he looked off toward the strains of "Alley Cat," Jesus, hoping they'd rush it… — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
I'm not going to write for posterity. I'm going to write to make a buck. — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
“A wife's faithful to her husband, subject to him. It's in the bible.” — Elmore Leonard Copy Share Image
