Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing

Yes, it's an essay turned into a gift book. But it's a good essay, practical advice for those authors who desire to be invisible in their writing. (And thanks to Leonard, I limit my exclamation points to two or three per book.)

Read this while I was at the library today.....took about 3-5 minutes. Very short and kinda quirky. Supposedly gives rules of writing (even though to me there really are none beyond a basic grasp of whatever language a person is writing in regarding grammar [unless improper is used for purposeful effect]). In the end, how much a person likes this book is based on their perspective and how they decide to take the last few pages of it.

If I want to be a master, I must learn from the master. Good lessons learned. Curiously, one of the rules is something he breaks constantly. But no matter, I already strictly adhere to the other 9, so perhaps I'm on my way. This really shouldn't qualify as a book though. It's an article stretched between two hard covers to give the appearance of a book. Guess I'll have to read a 900 page book to make up for it.

Humorous. Great illustrations. "Rule #1: Do not start a book with the weather." Another is: "Leave out the parts people don't want to read." The "bottom line" of writing advice from an old school author for writers who want to make it to and stay on the Best Seller List and who want to sell books and make money (that's every author, right?). Most important point: author invisibility in the story. No "hoopdedoodle." Read it in 30 minutes. Useful to remind oneself of the basics, but overpriced at $14.95 (hb) For a more extensive look at these rules from another "old school" writer see Dwight Swain's "Techniques of the Selling Writer."

I'll be brief. If I didn't, this review would be longer than the book itself. Pluses: It is packaged in an elegantly-designed, illustrated, hardcover book, printed on premium quality card-stock. It is well-suited for a gift. Minuses: I expected a book of ten essays. This is not that. There is very, very little content here. The "10 rules" could have easily fit in a "quote a day for writers" desk calendar, where it would not make it through half of January.

Kind of a waste of money since the text is so incredibly short. I liked what was there but I would rather have read the text online somewhere for no charge.

Simple. Quick. Concise. Like a shortened version of Stephen King's "On Writing."