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Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Elmore Leonard said Avoid Prologues… Why?

Asked by: Sharon Thompson

2 Avoid prologues: they can be annoying, especially a prologue following an introduction that comes after a foreword. But these are ordinarily found in non-fiction. A prologue in a novel is backstory, and you can drop it in anywhere you want.

What is the purpose prologues serve in story telling?

The definition of prologue introduce important information—such as background details, or characters—that have some connection to the main story, but whose relevance is not immediately obvious.

Did Elmore Leonard write Justified?

Leonard, who died at age , had been disappointed by most Hollywood adaptations of his work, but “Justified” was among his favorites.

How do you write dialogue like Elmore Leonard?

Elmore Leonard: 10 Rules for Good Writing

  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. …
  6. Never use the words “suddenly” or “all hell broke loose.”

Is Elmore Leonard a good writer?

Leonard is a very good writer; he manages to get into his characters and build a believable situation.” “The writing is tough and realistic. The approach does owe something to George V. Higgins, but Leonard is nobody’s follower, and he has a style of his own.

Are prologues necessary?

If you have the information you must convey to the reader that can’t be worked into the main novel, you may need a prologue. If the story doesn’t make sense without the prologue. If you can remove the prologue (or a reader can skip it), and their understanding is not damaged, a prologue is not necessary.

Are prologues important?

Prologues have an important role in a novel or movie. They provide the readers and viewers with an introduction into the story that will unfold. It could foreshadow the conflict or might even provide a little back story.

What did Elmore Leonard think of Justified?

Although most Hollywood versions of his work left him disappointed, Leonard experienced a love affair of sorts with “Justified.” He liked the show, which was inspired by his short story “Fire in the Hole,” which featured Raylan. And the show liked him more.

Is Raylan Givens based on a real person?

Raylan Givens is a fictional character created by American novelist and screenwriter Elmore Leonard. Givens is a Deputy U.S. Marshal and initially appeared in the novels Pronto and Riding the Rap. (Pronto was adapted as a TV movie in 1997 with James LeGros as Givens.)

Is Justified based off a true story?

Related Stories

“Justified” was based on Leonard’s character, Raylan Givens, who appeared in multiple novels and the short story “Fire in the Hole.” Givens was a Deputy U.S. Marshal who is reassigned to his native Kentucky after a controversial shooting.

Did Elmore Leonard like out of sight?

Share All sharing options for: ‘Out of Sight’ Perfected the Art of Adapting Elmore Leonard. Elmore Leonard hated it when writers used words other than said to convey dialogue. No he replied, or quipped, or shot back, or especially asseverated.



How many Elmore Leonard books became movies?

HIDDEN TREASURES – There have been 21 adaptations of Leonard’s novels and stories, including the two versions of The Big Bounce and 3:10 To Yuma. Inevitably, there are a few duds in there. For every Get Shorty there’s a Be Cool, for every Out Of Sight there’s The Big Bounce.

How many Raylan Givens books are there?

There are about forty editions of the first book in the said series.
Publication Order of Raylan Givens Books.

Pronto (1993) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Fire in the Hole (2001) Hardcover Paperback Kindle

Why did Elmore Leonard start writing Westerns?

Leonard was originally no more a man of the West than was the Ohio-born dentist Zane Grey. While a kid in Detroit, Westerns enthralled him as they did most people in the 1930s and 40s. When he grew interested in writing during college Western fiction seemed a promising genre he could work in part-time.

Who was Elmore Leonard?

Elmore Leonard, in full Elmore John Leonard, Jr., byname Dutch, (born October 11, 1925, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.—died August 20, 2013, Bloomfield township, Michigan), American author of popular crime novels known for his clean prose style, uncanny ear for realistic dialogue, effective use of violence, unforced …

Where is Elmore Leonard buried?

Elmore Leonard



Birth 11 Oct 1925 New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, USA
Death (aged 87) Bloomfield, Oakland County, Michigan, USA
Burial Greenwood Cemetery Birmingham, Oakland County, Michigan, USA Show Map
Plot Section G, Lot R, Grave 2
Memorial ID 115775009 · View Source

Who wrote script for Justified?

Crime novelist Elmore Leonard (left) with Justified star Timothy Olyphant. Elmore Leonard has had the kind of writing career many aspiring writers dream of. Over the course of six decades, he’s written scores of successful crime novels, short stories and scripts for screens big and small.

Is Peter Leonard related to Elmore Leonard?

Peter Leonard listens in his family room while his father, Elmore, smokes and talks about writing.

What Westerns did Elmore Leonard write?

The late, great crime fiction author also made his mark in the western genre.

  • The Tall T (1957) …
  • 3:10 to Yuma (1957) …
  • Hombre (1967) …
  • Valdez is Coming (1971) …
  • Joe Kidd (1972) …
  • Last Stand at Saber River (1997)