Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.

My most important piece of advice to all you would-be writers: When you write, try to leave out all the parts readers skip.

Don't go into great detail describing places and things, unless you're ­Margaret Atwood and can paint scenes with language. You don't want descriptions that bring the action, the flow of the story, to a standstill.

It's my attempt to remain invisible, not distract the reader from the story with obvious writing.

Avoid Prologues. They can be annoying, especially a prologue following an introduction that comes after a foreword.

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it (Joseph Conrad said something about words getting in the way of what you want to say.)