Leonard's famous dictum, "Try to leave out the parts that people skip" has saved me endless frustration. It's also taught me a lot about why I enjoy certain books, writers, and genres and am indifferent to others.

"If you want to be a writer, all I can do is wish you luck." He pretty much summed it up. I've met a lot of people through 79 years who I've heard say, "I want to be a writer", "I want to be an artist.", "I want to be a musician.", or "I want to have my own business." No, they really don't. It's like the coed who got an "F" on a test and said to her professor, "I'll do anything to pass this class, professor. Anything." And the professor said to her, "Would you study?"

@MemphiStig

7 ай бұрын

I've known a guy for 30 years and all he's ever said is "I wish I could play guitar" but he's never done a single thing. His son-in-law who played guitar died several years ago and he got the guitar, and he's never touched it. All he has are excuses. He'd be a good player now if just once in his whole life he had picked up a guitar and learned something. He'd do anything to play guitar, except actually learn to. All I know is I've failed at a lot of things in my life but at least I tried.

@nemo227

7 ай бұрын

@@MemphiStig Good comment. I think we've all met that man, that woman. I suspect we have also had times in our life when we were that person. I wanted to have my own business for many years and then got demoted by my employer. I was 41 years old and started my own business in 1979. It was scary as hell but great. I didn't make a lot of money but now I'm fully retired but I miss that daily contact with employees, customers, suppliers, competitors. It was the same playing in dance bands in high school, college, after college . . . we all have a need to make a connection with other people. ". . . but at least I tried." you said. Those wise words should be carved in stone.

"Writing is re-writing" is about the best statement about writing you will ever hear.

I'm gonna miss this guy. What a joy to read his works. The characters. The dialogue. Classic!

@rawgab4439

4 жыл бұрын

unique way to start every time

Sad you have left us and thanks for leaving us your work xxx

Anyone come here to see about the guy who basically made Quentin Tarantino's writing Quentin Tarantino writing?

@AvoidTheseMemes

8 жыл бұрын

+Lukas Bryant That's news to me. Thanks...

@Gregcovers

7 жыл бұрын

Definitely here because of that!

@dayleclarke4433

7 жыл бұрын

As good as his films are he still never got close to Elmore. Can't even see Higgins ;)

@Devilsblood

4 жыл бұрын

Well Tarantino is known for blatantly ripping off a lot of artists. I like Tarantino films as much as the next guy, but I get frustrated when I recognize a scene he shot that was in another movie. Leonard is different because it's all him. RIP

@nwilt7114

4 жыл бұрын

@@Devilsblood Many directors borrow the same style of shots of other movies and directors. It's not like their stealing it (because it's used in different overall story context) but using it as base for inspiration for a particular part of the movie, in which the original movie scene shot has became influence to the new work. George Lucas was influenced a lot from famous old movie shots and used these framed shots for reference and to help push the narrative sometimes. Every famous works you see have some influence before it and is basically a unique remix.

Brilliant. The dialogue, the rythym, the beat. Music in words. Magic. Thank you Elmore. RIP. I miss you

6:35 I almost fell over. As Leonard was about to reveal what time of day he was referring to I was sitting at my desk job, staring at a digital clock reading "3:00 PM" and wondering what time he would say. One thing's for sure: I wish I was writing at home (or anywhere) right now, writing, instead of sitting at a job making someone else rich in a way that has nothing to do with writing.

@JarvisLP

5 жыл бұрын

How's it going man? Did you write?

A legend.

Every writer should watch this!

Excellent. Thanks for posting this - Leonard is one of the best!

I'm a writer, and you taught me some of the most important lessons. I just want to say thanks.

Yep, gonna start fictionizing today.Thanks Elmore, for inspiring the love of writing.

RIP Dutch, your style inspired Cut Limbo and I thank you.

He’s in heaven right now, smoking and writing...’ cause that’s what he loved.

I just read Rum Punch for twice today. And that felt pretty good even it was Turkish.

Great insight ...GO!!!

"But they won't skip dialog " True!

Wow - very helpful and very interesting....

Brilliant !

Awesome!

I started writinf at 13 because of this man.

If I had a nickel for every frame in this video...... I'd have 5 cents.

I'm a woman thriller writer (under an initialed pseudonym) and I've faced different challenges in my career than you have, but you're still my role model.

@MARSTVCHANNEL

3 жыл бұрын

You mean female writer

True genius is seamless - you wont know it, but it changed you. "If it sounds like writing, I re-write it."

I'd say Elmore Leonard is the easiest writer to get into. If you are not an avid reader but want to get into something that isn't intimidating, read Elmore Leonard, he makes it easy for you because he knows his audience.

Justified!!!

Great vid, what's with the slow frame rate?

I wish Elmore Leonard was my dad.

@haxagonusdyad8981

7 жыл бұрын

What about your own dad?

@kevgh3869

7 жыл бұрын

@ Haxagonus D. He is not a very good writer.

@chavez9938

6 жыл бұрын

Kev G. I'll be your dad

Elmore is awesome.

Love this guy, along with Carla Hiassun he's an inspiration. Without Elmore there would be no Cut Limbo.

@LeoWhalen1933

9 ай бұрын

I love Carl Hiaasen. Never heard of Carla😂

50,000th view cheaaa!!! #Perkaderk

This is basically forword of Sweet Thursday by Steinbeck.

kiitos

What music is this from? It sounds amazing for real.

@zodiac748

3 жыл бұрын

From the movie get shorty which is based on one of his novels

@louisbonomo3025

Жыл бұрын

The band is "Morphine."

It's sad when brains like this fall silent forever.

What was the name of thing his agent asking him to read?

@markclark6541

4 жыл бұрын

The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George Higgins-- a great novel and a very good movie starring Robert Mitchum. Sorry, I realize I am answering a year old question.

that cigarette sure is billowing...

GLITZ and GET SHORTY are his best

5:45 Writing is rewriting

Oo, I went blind for a second there. Leonard has a habit if saying things that are obviously disingenuous just to point out some belief or opinion he has about something. That certainly doesn't make him a bad writer by any means and there is wisdom here.

The place you set up for Dutch to give his ’10 rules of writing’ is the creepiest I can imagine. And far from any reality - for any writer! Of course he was a big smoker; the steamy coffee pot is a good add. But you did not actually list the rules, did you?

The interview is good but why did you have to splice it with some clips of Get shorty with these clown actors ? This is not about the movie, is it ?

Rhythm in dialouge... definetly correct