If It Sounds Like Writing, I Rewrite

Never Use A Verb Other Than "said" To Carry Dialogue... I Once Noticed Mary Mccarthy Ending A Line Of Dialogue With "she Asseverated" And Had To Stop Reading And Go To The Dictionary.

These Are Rules I've Picked Up Along The Way To Help Me Remain Invisible When I'm Writing A Book, To Help Me Show Rather Than Tell What's Taking Place In The Story.

I Still Read Hemingway. I Still Read His Short Stories Because They're So Good. He Doesn't Waste Any Words.

I Don't Want The Reader To Be Aware Of Me As The Writer.

Keep Your Exclamation Points Under Control. You Are Allowed No More Than Two Or Three Per 100,000 Words Of Prose.