Elmore Leonard

I try to leave out the parts readers skip.

— Elmore Leonard

Using adverbs is a mortal sin.

— Elmore Leonard

Skip the boring parts.

— Elmore Leonard

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.

— Elmore Leonard

“But when you begin with bullshit the conclusion you reach is still bullshit.”

— Elmore Leonard

I don't want the reader to be aware of me as the writer.

— Elmore Leonard

Try not to write the parts that people skip.

— Elmore Leonard

I don't have any of the modern stuff. I don't have e-mail. I don't have a computer!

— Elmore Leonard

Never use the words 'suddenly' or 'all hell broke loose.'

— Elmore Leonard

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

— Elmore Leonard

I want the reader to know what's going on. So there's never a mystery in my books.

— Elmore Leonard

I have fun writing. I don't make it a chore. I don't have to struggle with it.

— Elmore Leonard

I do have fun writing, and a long time ago, I told myself, 'You got to have fun at this, or it'll…

— Elmore Leonard

“She wondered what he looked like with his hat off and wondered again if he knew he was funny.”

— Elmore Leonard

I can write anywhere. But I don't use a computer, and I could never write on a laptop. I hate the sound…

— Elmore Leonard

“And she thought if you don't have the desire to fight or wait for something there's no reason for being on earth.”

— Elmore Leonard

A man can be in two different places and he will be two different men. Maybe if you think of more places…

— Elmore Leonard

Not dreams but night changes, not destiny but path changes, always keep your hopes alive, luck may or may not change, but…

— Elmore Leonard

I won't read a book that starts with a description of the weather. I don't read books over 300 pages, though I'll…

— Elmore Leonard

It's my attempt to remain invisible, not distract the reader from the story with obvious writing.

— Elmore Leonard

I decided to write Westerns because there was a terrific market for Westerns in the '50s. There were a lot of pulp…

— Elmore Leonard

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

People ask me, 'Why are you still writing books?' Like I'm still only writing to make money and as soon as I…

— Elmore Leonard

A friend of mine who is in the publishing business knew I was writing a book, and he said, 'Have you said…

— Elmore Leonard

The truth is that the writers who most influenced me weren't people categorized as crime writers. I'd say I learned more from…

— Elmore Leonard

When I get an idea for a book, something appeals to me, it's usually a character. I'll see a picture of a…

— Elmore Leonard

The bad guys are the fun guys. The only people I have trouble with are the so-called normal types. Their language isn't…

— Elmore Leonard

Never use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue... I once noticed Mary McCarthy ending a line of dialogue with "she…

— Elmore Leonard

“You know what people who go to nude beaches look like?" "Tell me." "People who shouldn't go to nude beaches." "Is Chili…

— Elmore Leonard

“See, there was the hard way to do things and there was the easy way. The hard way looked good at the…

— Elmore Leonard

“There are cities that get by on their good looks, offer climate and scenery, views of mountains or oceans, rockbound or with…

— Elmore Leonard

“Elmore Leonard's Ten Rules of Writing 1. Never open a book with weather. 2. Avoid prologues. 3. Never use a verb other…

— Elmore Leonard

“He walked back into the living room, looking again at the illuminated photo of the man with the brown beard and long…

— Elmore Leonard

I've quit writing screenplay [adaptations]. It's too much work. I don't look at writing a novel as work, because I only have…

— Elmore Leonard

“Well, does it make sense to you?" He said, "It doesn't have to, it's something that happens. It's like seeing a person…

— Elmore Leonard

“The shots left a hard ringing sound within the closeness of the brick walls. Terry held the pistol at arm's length on…

— Elmore Leonard

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

— Elmore Leonard

“I try to leave out the parts that people skip.”

— Elmore Leonard

A pen connects you to the paper. It definitely matters.

— Elmore Leonard

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

— Elmore Leonard