“Never use a verb other than ‘said’ to carry dialogue.” SaidUseDialogueVerbs Book:10 Rules of Writing Source: 10 Rules of Writing
“A friend of mine who is in the publishing business knew I was writing a book, and he said, 'Have you said anything yet about the good guy? Because I know you spend so much time with the bad guys.' Because they're fun. So then you have to make the good guy fun, in order to compete. That's the challenge.” KnowsWritingSaidBookGuyOrderFunChallengesMinesPublishingBad GuysWriting A BookGood Guy Author:Elmore Leonard
“I'm very much aware in the writing of dialogue, or even in the narrative too, of a rhythm. There has to be a rhythm with it … Interviewers have said, you like jazz, don’t you? Because we can hear it in your writing. And I thought that was a compliment.” WritingSaidJazzDialogueRhythmNarrativeComplimentInterviewers Author:Elmore Leonard
“Never use an adverb to modify the verb 'said' . . . he admonished gravely. To use an adverb this way (or almost any way) is a mortal sin. The writer is now exposing himself in earnest, using a word that distracts and can interrupt the rhythm of the exchange.” WayWritingSaidUseSinRhythmMortalsEarnestVerbsExposingAdverbsMortal Sin Author:Elmore Leonard
“Never use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue... I once noticed Mary McCarthy ending a line of dialogue with "she asseverated" and had to stop reading and go to the dictionary.” WritingSaidUseReadingLinesDialogueMaryDictionaryVerbs Author:Elmore Leonard
