| Introduction | 9 |
| Part 1 | Approach | |
| Rule 1 | Learn the rules before you break them | 14 |
| Rule 2 | Writing is more craft than art | 17 |
| Rule 3 | Believe in yourself even if no one else does | 18 |
| Rule 4 | True inspiration must be earned by writing | 20 |
| Rule 5 | Write to be great, not rich | 22 |
| Rule 6 | Get used to despair | 25 |
| Rule 7 | Fail | 27 |
| Rule 8 | Keep your writing exercises in perspective | 28 |
| Rule 9 | Be prepared to fight your demons | 30 |
| Rule 10 | Stay out of sight | 32 |
| Rule 11 | Work in an inspiring environment | 34 |
| Rule 12 | Think of writing sessions as entertainment | 36 |
| Rule 13 | Electronic voices destroy inspiration | 38 |
| Rule 14 | Return to the basics | 40 |
| Rule 15 | Generate text | 42 |
| Rule 16 | Break away from your labors | 44 |
| Rule 17 | Stop reading this book | 46 |
| Rule 18 | Resist distractions | 48 |
| Rule 19 | Produce multiple drafts | 50 |
| Rule 20 | Think of your first draft as a blue-book essay exam | 52 |
| Rule 21 | Ignore the length of your first draft | 54 |
| Rule 22 | Practice mechanical learning | 56 |
| Rule 23 | Seek the wisdom of others | 58 |
| Rule 24 | Keep yourself open to serendipity | 60 |
| Rule 25 | Borrow (and steal) from your favorite writers | 62 |
| Rule 26 | Always have a notebook and pen on hand | 64 |
| Rule 27 | Keep a "read-in-progress" nearby | 66 |
| Rule 28 | Create an anthology of your favorite literature | 68 |
| Rule 29 | Feed on words | 70 |
| Rule 30 | Subscribe to magazines | 72 |
| Rule 31 | Carry a camera | 74 |
| Rule 32 | Write as therapy | 76 |
| Rule 33 | Think of writing as a hobby | 78 |
| Part 2 | Language | |
| Rule 34 | Buy and study a grammar book | 82 |
| Rule 35 | Master metaphor | 84 |
| Rule 36 | But try not to overdo it | 86 |
| Rule 37 | The "as" clause is for amateurs | 88 |
| Rule 38 | Avoid cliches and stock phrases | 90 |
| Rule 39 | Trust the precision of your nouns and verbs | 92 |
| Rule 40 | Don't overuse negatives | 94 |
| Rule 41 | Be mindful of your diction | 96 |
| Rule 42 | Avoid repeating words that sound or look similar | 98 |
| Rule 43 | Play with words | 100 |
| Rule 44 | Collect good titles and practice writing your own | 102 |
| Rule 45 | Be brief | 104 |
| Rule 46 | For speed in communication, write clearly | 106 |
| Rule 47 | Accelerate the pace with "invisible writing" | 108 |
| Rule 48 | Vary sentence structure and type | 110 |
| Rule 49 | Be interesting with every sentence | 113 |
| Rule 50 | The discipline of poetry will sharpen your sentences | 114 |
| Rule 51 | Sentences are written like jokes: The punch line is at the end | 116 |
| Rule 52 | Write toward climax | 118 |
| Rule 53 | The first duty of the writer is to entertain | 120 |
| Rule 54 | Tell your story as fast as you can | 122 |
| Part 3 | Craft | |
| Rule 55 | Write like you talk | 128 |
| Rule 56 | Trust the power of your own voice | 130 |
| Rule 57 | Command attention immediately | 132 |
| Rule 58 | Design your opening page for maximum impact | 134 |
| Rule 59 | Start where the story gets interesting | 136 |
| Rule 60 | Never save your best for last | 138 |
| Rule 61 | Master the basics of literature | 140 |
| Rule 62 | Mix description, narration, exposition, and dialogue | 142 |
| Rule 63 | For structure, remember the Golden Triangle | 145 |
| Rule 64 | Use the classical plot outline | 146 |
| Rule 65 | A more detailed plot outline provides your template | 148 |
| Rule 66 | Allow the process of discovery to happen naturally | 151 |
| Rule 67 | Dialogue heightens drama | 152 |
| Rule 68 | Dialogue speeds the process of discovery | 154 |
| Rule 69 | Dialogue creates tension | 156 |
| Rule 70 | Use dialogue tags correctly | 158 |
| Rule 71 | Establish point of view early | 160 |
| Rule 72 | Keep your characters real | 162 |
| Rule 73 | Give the opposition quality attention | 164 |
| Rule 74 | Tell a dream and you risk boring a reader | 166 |
| Rule 75 | Setting matters | 168 |
| Rule 76 | Allow for descriptive passages | 170 |
| Rule 77 | Practice the elements of description | 172 |
| Rule 78 | Use images to deliver ideas | 174 |
| Rule 79 | Avoid commentary; let readers make their own deductions | 176 |
| Rule 80 | Tell them stories to keep them reading | 178 |
| Rule 81 | Reveal past events through exposition or flashback | 180 |
| Rule 82 | Shift focus often | 182 |
| Rule 83 | Know your theme | 184 |
| Rule 84 | Go with God, but write with the devil | 186 |
| Rule 85 | Resolve all conflicts by the end of the story | 188 |
| Rule 86 | Writing is the vehicle for truth | 190 |
| Rule 87 | Maintain the trance of verisimilitude | 192 |
| Rule 88 | Writing offers hope | 194 |
| Rule 89 | Think about your readers | 196 |
| Rule 90 | Revise with a critical eye and outside help | 198 |
| Rule 91 | Art shows up in rewriting | 200 |
| Rule 92 | Get distance from your work | 202 |
| Rule 93 | Revise for speed | 204 |
| Rule 94 | Trust the muse of revision | 206 |
| Rule 95 | If you can be misread, you will be | 208 |
| Rule 96 | Ultimately, content matters more than craft | 210 |
| Rule 97 | Know how to sell it | 212 |
| Rule 98 | Study the board | 214 |
| Rule 99 | Submit a professional manuscript | 216 |
| Rule 100 | Aspire to reach a universal audience | 218 |
| Rule 101 | Embrace the wisdom of opposing views | 220 |
| Appendix | Evaluation Guide for Your Writing | 223 |
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