I don't want the reader to be aware of me as the writer.

I still read Hemingway. I still read his short stories because they're so good. He doesn't waste any words.

The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in.

If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.

I try to leave out the parts readers skip.

It doesn't have to make sense, it just has to sound like it does.

Skip the boring parts.