1. Thou shalt write!
2. Thou shalt read (and read widely)
3. Thou shalt secure buttocks to a chair for at least an hour a day
4. Thou must survive on caffeine and obstinacy
5. Thou shalt not rely on adverbs
6. Thou shalt show not tell
7. Thou shalt expect the first draft to be a mess!
8. Thou shalt not rely on cliches!
9. Honour thy audience
10. Thou shalt not commit the crime of verbiage (unless your an academic – then you just can’t help yourself)

(Bonus Extra: Thou shalt not worry about all of the rules because some rules were made to be broken!)