Vonegut’s rules:

1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he/she will not feel that time was wasted.

2. Give the the reader at least one character he or she can route for.

3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.

4. Every sentance should do one of two things: reveal character or advance action.

5. Start as close to the end as possible

6. Be a sadist, no matter how sweet and innocent your leading character may be, make terrible things happen to them. That way the reader may see what they are made of.

7. Write for just one person. If you “throw open a window and make love to the world”- so to speak your story will get phneumonia.

8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. The heck with the suspense! The reader should have such comprehension as to be able to finish the story if the last two pages were eaten by cochroaches. (That way they can play along.)