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 โฆ Interviewers have said, you like jazz, donโt you? Because we can hear it in your writing. And I thought that was a compliment.
Elmore LeonardNever use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue... I once noticed Mary McCarthy ending a line of dialogue with "she asseverated" and had to stop reading and go to the dictionary.
Elmore LeonardIf you take a few days to write an outline, you're just making up scenes that you think will work, that you think will be interesting. But as you write it, other ideas occur - better ideas that have to do with what you're writing.
Elmore LeonardI think any writer is a fool if he doesn't do it for money. There needs to be some kind of incentive in addition to the project. It all goes together. It's fun to sit there and think of characters and get them into action, then be paid for it. I can't believe it when writers tell me 'I don't want to show my work to anybody'.
Elmore Leonard