I used to be able to write five pages a day, every day, no problem. Now a good day is five or four pages, and that’s from 9:30 A.M. until 6 P.M. Elmore Leonard Read Quote
The bad guys are the fun guys. The only people I have trouble with are the so-called normal types. Their language isn’t very colorful, and they don’t talk with any certain sound. Elmore Leonard Read Quote
When you are developing your style, you avoid weaknesses. I am not good at describing things, so I stay away from it. And if anyone is going to describe anything at all, it’s going to be from the point of view of the character, because then I can use his voice, and his attitude will be revealed in the way he describes what he sees. Elmore Leonard Read Quote
I have fun writing. I don’t make it a chore. I don’t have to struggle with it. Elmore Leonard Read Quote
I left advertising as fast as I could in 1961. And I haven’t ever thought about going back. Elmore Leonard Read Quote
I think the best advice I give is to try not to write. Try not to overwrite, try not to make it sound too good. Just use your own voice. Use your own style of putting it down. Elmore Leonard Read Quote
People ask me, ‘Why are you still writing books?’ Like I’m still only writing to make money and as soon as I have enough I’ll quit and go fishing? I like to write books. It’s the most satisfying thing I do. Elmore Leonard Read Quote
Really, when I write a book I’m the only one I have to please. That’s the beauty of writing a book instead of a screenplay. Elmore Leonard Read Quote
Writing screenplays is not my business. I’ve written half a dozen, and maybe half of those were made. But it was never a satisfying experience. It was just work. You’re an employee. You would be told what to do. Studio execs would cross out my dialogue and put in their dialogue. Elmore Leonard Read Quote
I don’t have any of the modern electronics at all. I know the Internet would be a distraction. I would see things that interested me and never get back to writing. Elmore Leonard Read Quote
