Not Dreams But Night Changes,

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 Spent Most Of My Dough On Booze, Broads And Boats And The Rest I Wasted.

Never Use An Adverb To Modify The Verb 'said' . . . He Admonished Gravely. To Use An Adverb This Way (or Almost Any Way) Is A Mortal Sin. The Writer Is Now Exposing Himself In Earnest, Using A Word That Distracts And Can Interrupt The Rhythm Of The Exchange.

Never Open A Book With Weather. There Are Exceptions. If You Happen To Be Barry Lopez, Who Has More Ways To Describe Ice And Snow Than An Eskimo, You Can Do All The Weather Reporting You Want.

Never Use The Words 'suddenly' Or 'all Hell Broke Loose.'