Obits

Elmore Leonard died at age 87.  A hellofa writer. His 10 rules for writing. I particularly like number 10. It gave me an excuse to quit writing. And we are all better for that decision.

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. You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose.
6. Never use the words "suddenly" or "all hell broke loose."
7. Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly.
8. Avoid detailed descriptions of characters.
9. Don't go into great detail describing places and things.
10. Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.

 My most important rule is one that sums up the 10: 

          "If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it."

Also Jack Germond died at age 85. He was a an overweight, cranky old curmudgeon who could cut through the political bullshit faster and cleaner than anyone I've seen or read.

"He loved to eat well, drink hard and play the ponies."

People don't "play the ponies" anymore do they?

A continued good life to you all,
Gunnar