Elmore Leonard on Writing 

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.

@@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.

unique way to start every time

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

Definitely here because of that!

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

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

@@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.

How's it going man? Did you write?

You mean female writer

I love Carl Hiaasen. Never heard of Carla😂

What about your own dad?

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

Kev G. I'll be your dad

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

The band is "Morphine."

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.

⁠​⁠​⁠@@markclark6541Right. Leonard is in record saying when he finished reading “The Friends of Eddie Coyle”, he said to himself, “That’s how you do it.” He has repeatedly said he felt that novel and Higgins’ style was a major influence in his novel that followed.