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Elmore Leonard Quotes

Novelist

Elmore Leonard, born on October 11, 1925, was a renowned American novelist. Known for his hard-boiled detective novels and Westerns, his distinctive style and concise writing have won him a dedicated following.

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Famous Elmore Leonard Quotes

“I still read Hemingway. I still read his short stories because they're so good. He doesn't waste any words.”

Stills Stories Waste Short Story

Author:Elmore Leonard

“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 descriptions that bring the action, the flow of the story, to a standstill.”

Want Stories Action Language Scene Flow Paint Details Description Describing Standstill

Book:Get Shorty: A Novel

Source: Get Shorty: A Novel

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

Writing Stories Reader Obvious Invisible

Book:Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing

Source: Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing

“I started out of course with Hemingway when I learned how to write. Until I realized Hemingway doesn't have a sense of humor. He never has anything funny in his stories.”

Writing Stories Courses I Realized Sense Of Humor

Author:Elmore Leonard

“I don't judge in my books. I don't have to have the antagonist get shot or the protagonist win. It's just how it comes out. I'm just telling a story.”

Writing Book Stories Winning Judging Shots Protagonists Antagonist

Author:Elmore Leonard

“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 than tell what's taking place in the story.”

Way Writing Book Helping Stories Shows Invisible Help Me Writing A Book

Book:Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing

Source: Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing

About the Author

Born: October 11, 1925
Died: August 20, 2013
Known for: Novelist
Quotes: 76

Books & Sources

Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of WritingRelated source material

10 Rules of WritingRelated source material

A Coyote's in the HouseRelated source material

BanditsRelated source material

Get ShortyRelated source material

Get Shorty: A NovelRelated source material

Labrava: A NovelRelated source material

Last Stand at Saber RiverRelated source material

Valdez Is Coming: A NovelRelated source material

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