- Thou shalt write!
- Thou shalt read (and read widely).
- Thou shalt secure buttocks to a chair for at least an hour a day.
- Thou must survive on caffeine and obstinacy.
- Thou shalt not rely on adverbs.
- Thou shalt show not tell.
- Thou shalt expect the first draft to be a mess!
- Thou shalt not rely on cliches!
- Honour thy audience.
- Thou shalt not commit the crime of verbiage (unless you’re 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!)