I find this post interesting and highly recommend it. There is some good advice but a few things IMHO are a bit off - such as writing non-commercial work. "Never worry about the commercial possibilities of a project. That stuff is for agents and editors to fret over—or not." Boring is boring and try telling an agent who rejects your work that boring is great. Same with commercial work. See how far that goes. They tell you right off it needs some commercial value when it comes down to it or they can't sell it.
Before I get a ton of emails telling me everyone is an artist and only what we feel like writing matters and who am I, don't bother. I'm not here to tell you what to write and what not to write but if you write non-commercial work, be prepared for a long uphill battle on trying to get it to publication, if it ever will make it. Which is OK if you want that. As both a commercial writer who makes a living at it and one who loves to write flash fiction, avant garde, short stories, and upbeat YA (yes no one wants upbeat YA that doesn't have a really dark side/super angst/love sucks/a main character dies or turns into a evil creature component to it - just check out the best sellers lists). I can tell you from personal experience, hard-to-sell fiction means you need to work twice as hard. I've pitched enough stories to know. I really believe that's why so many writers do other things to make money. So you know what? Remember the old cliche and "don't quit your day job" if you want to not worry about commercial value and even if you do, don't quit your day job until you have to (too many book tours coming up) or don't need it (like winning the lottery, inheritance, or retirement).
I do have a favorite Dyer tip, that is #7 "Have more than one idea on the go at any one time." I do that all the time. You know that point when doing laundry (or fill in the blank with another boring but necessary task) might be better than writing? That's when you start work on a new story, poem, flash fiction etc. Writing short stories and ideas down are great because of the feeling of accomplishment. These ideas or short stories can turn into a script or book manuscript later. If you need to be creative - then create and worry about that pesky editing task later.
Now if you scroll down from that same article or click here, there is a short post on Billy Wilder's tips for writing. I really identify with his pointers but first and foremost I love his #1 tip "The audience is fickle." Always remember that. It is so true.
Perhaps one of the best pieces of advice I have ever heard came from Joss Whedon (Wesleyan Alum! Yea!) when he stated his #1 piece of advice is:
1. FINISH IT
Actually finishing it is what I’m gonna put in as step one. You may laugh at this, but it’s true. I have so many friends who have written two-thirds of a screenplay, and then re-written it for about three years. Finishing a screenplay is first of all truly difficult, and secondly really liberating. Even if it’s not perfect, even if you know you’re gonna have to go back into it, type to the end. You have to have a little closure.
Check out Geoff Dyer's Top 10 Tips for Writers
