172 Quotes by Elmore Leonard

My most important piece of advice to all you would-be writers: When you write, try to leave out all the parts readers skip.

I started out of course with Hemingway when I learned how to write. Until I realized Hemingway doesn't have a sense of humor. He never has anything funny in his stories.

It's my attempt to remain invisible, not distract the reader from the story with obvious writing.

I'm very much aware in the writing of dialogue, or even in the narrative too, of a rhythm. There has to be a rhythm with it … Interviewers have said, you like jazz, don’t you? Because we can hear it in your writing. And I thought that was a compliment.

The shots left a hard ringing sound within the closeness of the brick walls. Terry held the pistol at arm's length on a level with his eyes--the Russian Tokarev resembling an old-model Colt .45, big and heavy--and made the sign of the cross with it over the dead. He said, "Rest in peace, motherfuckers," turned, and walked out of the beer lady's house to wait at the side of the road.

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.

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.

Do you want me to tell you what I give a shit about at age sixty-five', Cullen said, 'and what I don't give a shit about?'(page 262)

I don’t think writers compete, I think they’re all doing separate things in their own style.