- Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted
- Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for
- Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water
- Every sentence must do one of two things -- reveal character or advance the action
- Start as close to the end as possible
- Be a sadist
- Write to please just one person
- Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible
