1. Don’t use prologues because they can be annoying to readers. A prologue that comes immediately after a foreword should especially be avoided. However, forewords are usually found in non-fiction novels so fiction writers should be a little safer. In a fiction novel, a prologue can be written as a backstory at any point in the novel.

2. A fiction writer should never start a book by talking about the weather, unless he wants to talk about a character’s reaction to the weather. Readers will be tempted to skip ahead to look for the characters. Talking about the atmosphere is something that is best left to the most skilled descriptive writers.

3. When creating lines of dialogue, the only verb that the author should use is “said.” Even though dialogue belongs to a character, the author has to find a way not to stick his nose in. The best way to do this is to use “said” because it is the least intrusive word that can be used. Words like “grumbled”, “interjected”, and “gasped” are more intrusive. Also, it is not a good idea for an author to use complex words in dialogue.

4. An author should also not use adverbs to modify verbs used in a dialogue. For instance, saying “he whispered painfully” is a mortal sin for any piece of writing. By doing this the author is definitely exposing himself in the dialogue. Any extra word that indicates the author’s involvement in a dialogue distracts readers from the rhythm of the dialogue.

5. Don’t overuse exclamation points. As a general rule, an author should not use more than three for every 100,000 words. However, an author with exceptionally good ability to throw in exclaimers gets a bit of leeway. But he should not go overboard.

6. Authors should also avoid using “all hell broke loose” or “suddenly.” Many authors who use these terms usually tend to exercise less control over their exclaimers. These words are also very frequently used, thereby making a book predictable.

7. Avoid describing characters too much. Most of the time, an author should let readers’ imaginations fill out the details of a character. Sometimes readers can figure out how a character looks from how he/she is talking. Unless describing a character is important for the story being told, an author should avoid detailed character descriptions.

8. Also, it is not a good idea to describe places and objects in great detail. However, this rule is not for every author. If you can paint a vivid picture in people’s minds by using just words, by all means go for it. However, it should not be done if it will affect the flow of the story or if it is not important for the unfolding plot.

9. Don’t include parts that readers would want to skip. When writing a novel, an author should think about how he would react when reading the novel. If a certain part of the novel would make him want to skip ahead, he should omit it.

10. Regional dialect should be used sparingly. When an author starts using such dialect, it is difficult to stop.