Columns: Tag – Elmore Leonard
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Writing Quips and Tips
If it sounds like writing, drop the grand theme
“If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it,” says Elmore Leonard in his 10 Rules of Writing.
This is the rule he says defines all the others. His book is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. I love that one. It cuts through all writing pretension.If I had to think up my favourite rule, it would probably be: Don’t start with a message. Any number of writing students come to Richard and me with a story idea – or they think it’s a story idea. It’s really a theme or a message.
You know the kind of thing: “I want to write a story about the inhumanity of men”, or “I want to expose the way women are treated in …”
And we say: “Okay … but what’s your story?”
“That’s our story,” they say.
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