Elmore Leonard Thinking Quotations

A man can be in two different places and he will be two different men. Maybe if you think of more places he will be more men, but two is enough for now.

I've quit writing screenplay [adaptations]. It's too much work. I don't look at writing a novel as work, because I only have to please myself. I have a good time sitting here by myself, thinking up situations and characters, getting them to talk - it's so satisfying. But screenwriting's different. You might think you're writing for yourself, but there are too many other people to please.

After 58 years you'd think writing would get easier. It doesn't. If you're lucky, you become harder to please. That's all right, it's still a pleasure.

If 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.

I get letters. I get several a week, I think. A lot of people want a picture, a lot of people just want an autograph.

Don't worry about what your mother thinks of your language.

I don’t think writers compete, I think they’re all doing separate things in their own style.