Janet's Rules for Good Writing

Possess an overwhelming passion for what you're doing. Passion will get you through a lot, and to a lot of places you wouldn't otherwise go.
Allow yourself to be pushed by that passion to do the best you possibly can--each story has to be better than the last.
Schedule writing time when you can do your best work and when you feel most energetic.
Don't let anything distract you from writing, such as illness, telephone, or email. Learn to write through anything.
Always have a backup, even though it's pencil and paper.
Write to your strengths. Study to overcome your weaknesses. And remember, everything can be made better.
Never say "I can't": say instead "I will".
Always be aware of your story line. Become a human sponge--ideas come from everywhere, anytime.
Procrastination happens only when you haven't done enough research, or when something in the plot isn't going correctly. Read more, but don't over-research. Then fix the other problem. Things will flow smoothly after that.
Learn when to say "Enough!" End and send. Otherwise, you'll be editing forever.
Refer to #1, and don't let the cats sit on your computer mouse!