Sometimes female characters start out as the wife or girlfriend, but then I realize, 'No, she's the book,' and she becomes a main character. I surrender the book to her. Elmore Leonard bookcharacterfemale Change image and share on social
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 bookfishmake share on social
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 daygoodpage Change image and share on social
I never know what I'm going to write next. If I'm still writing the book but I'm very near the end, and I begin to think of what I'd like to do next, then I'll know that what I'm writing is in hand. I'll think of an ending and it will be fine. Elmore Leonard beginbookend share on social
I don't have any of the modern stuff. I don't have e-mail. I don't have a computer! Elmore Leonard computermailmodern Change image and share on social
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 backdistractionelectronic Change image and share on social
Everyone has his own sound. I'm not going to presume how to tell anybody how to write. Elmore Leonard presumesoundwrite Change image and share on social
I decided to write Westerns because there was a terrific market for Westerns in the '50s. There were a lot of pulp magazines, like 'Dime Western' and '10 Story Western' that were still being published. The better ones paid two cents a word. And I thought, 'I like Westerns.' Elmore Leonard 50scentdecide share on social
When people ask me about my dialogue, I say, 'Don't you hear people talking?' That's all I do. I hear a certain type of individual, I decide this is what he should be, whatever it is, and then I hear him. Well, I don't hear anybody that I can't make talk. Elmore Leonard decidedialoguehear share on social
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 beautybookscreenplay Change image and share on social