Stephen > Stephen 's Quotes

“There is no trap so deadly as the trap you set for yourself.”
― Raymond Chandler, Long Goodbye

“To say goodbye is to die a little.”
― Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye

“Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. ”
― Raymond Chandler

“My most important piece of advice to all you would-be writers: When you write, try to leave out all the parts readers skip.”
― Elmore Leonard, Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing

“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'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

“It is not the purpose of this book to instruct you in the performance of these exercises. Although these exercises can be learned by motivated individuals through reading, study and practice, the movements are best learned on the platform under the direction of a competent coach.”
― Jonathon M. Sullivan, The Barbell Prescription: Strength Training for Life After 40