Thread by @thomasjbevan1

//THREAD\\

In which we discuss Elmore Leonard’s 10 Rules for writers

(essential for all #writinglife #amwriting people)

Full of #writingtips

CC @ryanstephens @AwareIntegrate @Sociopathlete

Elmore Leonard wrote 45 novels and innumerable short stories

They feature some of the clearest, most propulsive and memorable writing of the 2nd half of the 20th century & beyond

Leonard achieved this by ‘remaining invisible’ on the page.

Here’s the 10 rules he used...

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.
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.

Let’s examine each of them...

1\ Never open a book with weather.

(Though he notes there are exceptions to all rules)

E.L. believed that starting a book by creating atmosphere was less effective than beginning by drawing us in with *character*

E.L. would often begin by having two characters talking...

This has the effect of drawing the reader in, similar to how you lean in closer to eavesdrop on an intriguing conversation

Your mind is working from the very beginning to create images and piece the situation together.

The reader is interested in *people*

2\ Avoid prologues.
A prologue, Leonard notes, is backstory

This can go anywhere in the work

Placing it at the very beginning has a similar effect to opening with atmosphere in that it can distance the reader rather than draw them in

I personally nearly always skim prologues

3\ Never use a verb other than ”said” to carry dialogue

EL says:
‘Since “dialogue belongs to the character,” anything else is simply “the writer sticking his nose in.”’

For EL using words like ‘grumbled, gasped’ etc is a distraction
It pulls the reader out of the story

Also

Verbs like ‘cautioned’ ‘lied’ etc *tell* the reader what's happening

The context placed around the words should *show* the reader that a lie is being told

Gestures, movements, internal dialogue- there are 1k ways to show rather than outright tell

Watch good actors to learn

4\ Never use an adverb to modify the verb ”said.”
… Leonard admonished gravely.

Do you see how the above spoils the rhythm of the prose and distracts the reader?

This is the pattern among all of these rules.
Do not do anything to pull the reader out of the story.

5\ Keep your exclamation points under control.

A simple one this.

Leonard said: “You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose.”

Why?

You guessed it: They are distracting to the reader

6\ Never use the words ”suddenly” or ”all hell broke loose.”

Leonard argues that this rule doesn’t even require an explanation.

But I’ll give one:

Cliches are lazy, they distract the reader and they show a lack of effort and ability

amazon.com/War-Against-Cl…

7\ Use regional dialect, patois sparingly

Again, it can be distracting if not done subtly

Regional dialect will give the work flavour and authenticity &-if done right- will make the characters seem more ‘real’
Patois is easy to overdo and it can (drumroll) distract the reader

8\Avoid detailed descriptions of characters

The pleasure of reading is that it activates the imagination

Leave some blanks for the reader to fill in

Of course certain writers (e.g. Ron Hansen) have a great talent for descriptive lyricism

But even they keep the story moving

9\ Don’t go into great detail describing places and things.

Exactly the same idea in principle as Rule 8
(with the same caveat attached)

Leonard: ‘Even if you're good at it, you don't want descriptions that bring the action, the flow of the story, to a standstill.’

10\ Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.

A summation of every step, this.

Readers tend to skip dense paragraphs of prose and generally anything where the writer is trying to show off how clever/lyrical they are

E.L. ‘But I bet you don’t skip the dialogue’

So Leonard’s Ultimate rule is is:

*If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.*

Leonard's success is based on the idea that the writer should remain invisible.

Every rule here allows the writer to disappear and leave only the story

This is why his work seems effortless

The lesson then is to remember that the reader is more important than you showing off how clever you are.

The writing is more important than your ego

Communication, intent, clarity and humility are what will get the message across

That, and style…

If you enjoyed this thread RT it on to your egomaniac #amwriting friends whose prose is as purple as a Prince video

Also look out for my contribution to @StoicGoatFarmer 's upcoming #99things book

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