J. Robert Lennon, a novelist and Cornell creative-writing professor, dives into the genius of Elmore Leonard, renowned for his minimalist, dialogue-rich prose. They explore Leonard's ten rules for writing, particularly the power of using 'said' as a dialogue tag. Lennon argues that these rules, while valuable, should serve as tools rather than rigid guidelines. The discussion also highlights how Leonard's craftsmanship evolves, the interplay of crime and romance in his works, and comparisons with classic authors like Chandler and Hammett.
