Books Quote by 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 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.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Writing Advice, 1995
Writing should be clear, concise, and avoid unnecessary flourishes; let dialogue speak naturally.
In simple terms: Write simply and let dialogue drive the story.
Key Takeaway
Eliminate excess words and adverbs.
Themes
clarity
dialogue
writing technique
Mood
practical
direct
Type
instructional
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- scriptwriting
- editing workshops
Key Concepts
narrative economy
voice
editing
Questions to Reflect On
- Which rule feels most restrictive to you?
- How can you balance simplicity with style?
A Different Perspective
Strict rules may stifle creativity for some writers.
