Writing 'Across the Generations'

 

“Writing basically breaks down to relationships between people and that is what you write about.” – Leon Uris

 

Born in Baltimore on this date in 1924, Uris started reading at age 3, writing by age 4, and writing creatively by age 8.  But it wasn’t until after he came out of World War II (he enlisted at age 17 and spent 4 years in the Marines) that he started his successful career, working for newspapers and also writing short stories before publication of his first novel Battle Cry in 1951.   The book also was made into a popular 1955 movie.  

 

Known for his deep research, Uris wrote a dozen bestselling historical novels, including the mega-bestsellers Exodus, The Haj and Topaz, all made into successful movies.  And he wrote several historical and political nonfiction works, often to provide deeper context for the historical events depicted in his novels.

 

Uris wrote continuously for 50 years until he was struck down by kidney failure in 2003.  He said he always was proud that what he wrote in 1950 was just as much read as the writing he produced 30 or 40 years later.   

 

“You can try to reach an audience, but you just write what comes out of you and hope that it is accepted,” he said.   “You do not – and should not – write specifically to a generation.”