Continuing my quest to find every writer's advice on writing, here's Elmore Leonard's top rules. I read these once a while ago, and although I don't find them as inspirational as Vonnegut's, I do admire what he says. It's simplicity he goes for and it really, really works.
Elmore Leonard's Ten Rules of Writing
(abridged)
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'' . . .
5. Keep your exclamation points under control.
4. Never use an adverb to modify the verb ''said'' . . .
5. Keep your exclamation points under control.
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.
7. Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly.
8. Avoid detailed descriptions of characters.
9. Don't go into great detail describing places and things.
And finally:
10. Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.
My most important rule is one that sums up the 10.
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.
2 comments:
Interesting! But I'm bummed that I can no longer use the term "all hell breaks loose". I like that one.
the first thing i thought when reading these is "stephanie meyers broke every damn last one of these rules!" hah
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