R.I.P. Elmore Leonard

[Calidore]

One of the great mystery/crime writers. His Ten Rules of Writing is worth framing and keeping over your desk.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-elmore-leonard-dies-20130820,0,4195644,full.story

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/feb/24/elmore-leonard-rules-for-writers

[qimissung]

I have enjoyed many, many of his books over the years. He is simply superb at writing dialog, not to mention his outstanding characterization and plotting.

And this:

http://www.writingclasses.com/InformationPages/index.php/PageID/304

[JBI]

I think Tolkien broke most of those rules:p

[mal4mac]

I think Tolkien broke most of those rules:p

Any other good reasons to obey them? :)

[qimissung]

Lol, I'm sure many of them have been broken by good writers over the years. The first few paragraphs of "The Lottery" are a banal description of the weather.

[JBI]

Lol, I'm sure many of them have been broken by good writers over the years. The first few paragraphs of "The Lottery" are a banal description of the weather.
But that is irony. Clearly it was meant to ironize the form!

[qimissung]

Of course it was. The point is that these rules are simply guidelines, and if it serves your writing, then break the rule.

[AuntShecky]

Mike Lupica, the distinguished New York sports columnist, says that when Elmore told him that there had been too many distractions in the writing of his book, "Blue Dreams," Lupica gave him a tee shirt with a message on the front: "Not now. I'm writing."

Lupica's favorite Elmore Leonard quote: "If you're not having fun writing, you're doing it wrong."