Rules For Writing

The Guardian asked 29 writers to list their rules for writing, and it's pretty freaking wonderful.

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Jonathan Franzen's No. 4: Write in the third person unless a ­really distinctive first-person voice ­offers itself irresistibly.

And 5: When information becomes free and universally accessible, voluminous research for a novel is devalued along with it.

And 9: Interesting verbs are seldom very interesting.

Esther Freud's No. 2: A story needs rhythm. Read it aloud to yourself. If it doesn't spin a bit of magic, it's missing something.

And 3: Editing is everything. Cut until you can cut no more. What is left often springs into life.

David Hare's No. 3: Style is the art of getting yourself…