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[miles]

Really too bummed to say much else. Not just because he is a literary hero to me, but also because he was still writing worthwhile stuff.

Here is something interesting he wrote though:

Elmore Leonard's ten rules of writing: http://www.freep.com/article/20101106/FEATURES05/130820014/Elmore-Leonard-s-ten-rules-of-writing

[wombat]

I hate to speak ill of the dead but seriously.

Writers of genius offer rules so silly they must surely be joking ("Never open a book with weather", "Never use a verb other than 'said' to carry dialogue" – Elmore Leonard).
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/apr/30/this-column-change-your-life-rules

 

‏@jamiesont
My best writing tip is stop reading writing tips and finish the bloody thing you're writing.

Another good writing tip is not to spend time posting to messageboards about how you've got a bee in your bonnet about "writing tips" instead of writing, but it's the end of August and business is slow.

[pmcd9]

Elmore Leonard's work has been adapted into a lot of pretty decent movies, but I found his writing to be simplistic, dull, and predictable.

Elmore Leonard's ten rules of writing: http://www.freep.com/article/20101106/FEATURES05/130820014/Elmore-Leonard-s-ten-rules-of-writing

Man, that was almost like a primer on how to be a simplistic, dull and predictable writer.

There's obviously something about his writing that a lot of people found appealing and when translated to motion picture could be highly entertaining.

[miles]

I hate to speak ill of the dead but seriously.

It's probably pretty useless as a writing guide and should have been titled something like "ten things writers do that really irritate Elmore Leonard". And I find it kind of amusing read as that. Also, it's funny that pretty much every tip is "don't do this" followed by "unless you are a really good writer and know how to do this artfully."

[wombat]

Top of the list "ten things writers do that really irritate wombat" is "write lists of writing tips." In case that wasn't obvious.

I think number two is that thing in a mystery where the reader is told that the character finds out something crucial but the reader is not told what it is. That's much worse than any of the things he complains about on that list.

[wombat]

You know what's the dumbest rule on that list? "Leave out the part that readers tend to skip." Because different readers skip different things. For instance, I skip fight scenes and chase scenes and all violence and most sex. As I vaguely recall his writing, he didn't leave out the things this reader skips.

[KeithHernandez]

That is a different issue though.  Like, does art have a target market?  As an "artist" I'd like to say no, but I am also pragmatic enough to know that if anyone at all likes what I do it is going to be people in one of a few groups.  I would imagine this dude was aware of what his market was and left out the things they would be most likely to skip.  People following writing tips probably have a market in mind?  In other words, they aren't doing what they have to do, they are doing something just to get it published or whatever? 

I kinda lost the plot there for a bit, but I guess I am putting down authors who follow any writing tips?

[Choop]

I skip all the fun parts.

[KeithHernandez]

I skip the same parts as wombat I think.

[pmcd9]

The only thing I skip is bad writing and by skip I mean put the book down and not pick it up again. I guess that's not entirely true. I made it through the first Game of Thrones book. I haven't felt compelled to read the second one however.

[CortJstr]

I think I skipped anything in italics in Lord of the Rings.

[AugustWest]

I think I skipped anything in italics in Lord of the Rings.

I know I did.

[Choop]

before diving in to LotR i picked up the Hobbit, and skipped everything in italics or otherwise verse-formatted. i still haven't bothered with the trilogy because i read the dang Hobbit and enjoyed it so very little.

[miles]

Apparently Tolkien could have used some of those tips.

[pmcd9]

Miles gets a can.