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How to Become a Better Writer: Ten Tricks.

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A reader sent me a copy of those famous tips from the extraordinary Elmore Leonard:

1 Never open a book with weather.
2 Avoid prologues.
3 Never use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue.
4 Never use an adverb to modify the verb "said"…he admonished gravely.
5 Keep your exclamation points under control. You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose.
6 Never use the words "suddenly" or "all hell broke loose."
7 Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly.
8 Avoid detailed descriptions of characters.
9 Don't go into great detail describing places and things.
10 Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.

Mr. Leonard, "My most important rule is one that sums up the 10.
If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it."

My favorite, and I imagine it's so for a number of other would-be writers, is # 10. Numbers 8 and 9 are interesting - - avoid details. Hmm, I'll have to think on that one.

The problem with any list of writing rules is, of course, that a talented writer can ignore them and still produce a remarkable piece of work. The flip side can apply too. An untalented hack can follow Mr.Leonard's tips devotedly and end up with dreck.

Paige

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