Elmore Leonard
author profile
born
October 11, 1925
gender
male
place of birth
New Orleans, Louisiana, The United States
website
genre
Mystery & Thrillers
about this author
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avg rating: 3.54
| 15,825 ratings
| 1,211 reviews
| 113 distinct works
|
78 fans
More books by Elmore Leonard…
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Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard avg rating 3.74 — 1,251 ratings — published 1990 29 editions |
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Out of Sight by Elmore Leonard avg rating 3.75 — 824 ratings — published 1996 17 editions |
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Rum Punch by Elmore Leonard avg rating 3.68 — 724 ratings — published 1992 25 editions |
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Be Cool by Elmore Leonard avg rating 3.29 — 710 ratings — published 1999 25 editions |
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Maximum Bob by Elmore Leonard avg rating 3.53 — 623 ratings — published 1991 18 editions |
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Tishomingo Blues by Elmore Leonard avg rating 3.49 — 623 ratings — published 1975 20 editions |
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Freaky Deaky by Elmore Leonard avg rating 3.49 — 568 ratings — published 1988 12 editions |
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Pagan Babies by Elmore Leonard avg rating 3.43 — 541 ratings — published 2000 16 editions |
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Cuba Libre by Elmore Leonard avg rating 3.42 — 515 ratings — published 1998 18 editions |
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Killshot by Elmore Leonard avg rating 3.55 — 489 ratings — published 1989 19 editions |
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upcoming events
No scheduled events.
interviews
May 2009,
Elmore Leonard
"I don't have a computer. I order about 50 unlined yellow pads at a time from a print shop. I like them, because you don't have to be orderly about the writing without the lines. Some of my longhand is barely decipherable, because I'm just writing fast as I think about it, as the characters talk back and forth. " ...More
"I don't have a computer. I order about 50 unlined yellow pads at a time from a print shop. I like them, because you don't have to be orderly about the writing without the lines. Some of my longhand is barely decipherable, because I'm just writing fast as I think about it, as the characters talk back and forth. " ...More
more interviews »
"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."
— Elmore Leonard
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."
— Elmore Leonard
""Psychopaths... people who know the differences between right and wrong, but don't give a shit. That's what most of my characters are like." elmore leonard"
— Elmore Leonard
— Elmore Leonard
topics mentioning this author
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constant Reader: Summer Mystery Suggestions | 40 | 101 | Jul 13, 2009 10:29AM | |
| The Next Best Boo...: Bridget Book Challenge | 34 | 246 | Aug 20, 2009 05:24PM | |
| Historical Fictio...: Last Letter | 76 | 23 | Aug 23, 2009 08:07AM | |
| tbr-reading-chall...: Heather's TBR List | 24 | 217 | Sep 30, 2009 10:00AM | |
| 75 Books 2009: Bookreadera's 75 in 2009 | 32 | 133 | 27 days ago, 01:20PM | |
| M/T Reading Friends: Barry's incredbily typical list for October | 8 | 30 | 3 days ago, 01:43PM |





























