Skyring's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing"
Leonard's Rules
The local library is a good source of writing tips. Whole books are devoted to advice, and I could easily spend a year assimilating and understanding all the good guff.
But sometimes the best things come in small packages and I was charmed by this slender volume: Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing
Eighty nine pages, and most of them are blank or chapter headings or artwork. Amazingly witty and enjoyable artwork, to be sure, but the meat of the book is twenty-six paragraphs. That's it. One paragraph, often just one sentence, alone on a page.
Here's how he begins his ten rules,
Here's the one I like most of all:
He concludes:
Now, I've long been conscious of my own quirky "voice", and I kind of like it. Sometimes I write something that I just love. I read and re-read it and tell myself that I've nailed it.
But here's a hugely successful and respected author telling me to get rid of all that guff, and if I can't, post a warning.
Funny thing is that in the twenty-six paragraphs of sparse advice, some of which quotes other writers, Leonard sounds just like himself, with his own unmistakable voice.
He nails it.
But sometimes the best things come in small packages and I was charmed by this slender volume: Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing
Eighty nine pages, and most of them are blank or chapter headings or artwork. Amazingly witty and enjoyable artwork, to be sure, but the meat of the book is twenty-six paragraphs. That's it. One paragraph, often just one sentence, alone on a page.
Here's how he begins his ten rules,
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. If you have a facility for language and imagery and the sound of your voice pleases you, invisibility is not what you are after, and you can skip the rules. Still, you might look them over.
Here's the one I like most of all:
Never use a verb other than “said” to carry dialogue.
The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in. But said is far less intrusive than grumbled, gasped, cautioned, lied. I once noticed Mary McCarthy ending a line of dialogue with “she asseverated,” and had to stop reading to go to the dictionary.
He concludes:
My most important rule is one that sums up the 10.
If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.
Now, I've long been conscious of my own quirky "voice", and I kind of like it. Sometimes I write something that I just love. I read and re-read it and tell myself that I've nailed it.
But here's a hugely successful and respected author telling me to get rid of all that guff, and if I can't, post a warning.
Funny thing is that in the twenty-six paragraphs of sparse advice, some of which quotes other writers, Leonard sounds just like himself, with his own unmistakable voice.
He nails it.
