The only 'ironclad rules' in writing fiction are the laws of physics and the principles of grammar, and even those can be bent.
Some writers write to forget. Some forget to write.
Cliches are the viruses that infect your writing with diseases.
Turn those deep feelings and obsessions of your heart into captivating pieces of literature.
Create a world in front of your readers where they can taste, smell, touch, hear, see, and move. Else they are likely going to move on to another book.
A writer can do without food for a few hours, but not without the sight of books.
As you become a better writer, the writing becomes more difficult. You toil harder to tell a story in a lesser number of words.
Be a good reader first, if you wish to become a good writer.
The secret to good writing is to use small words for big ideas, not to use big words for small ideas.
Ideas either age like fine wine or rot like potatoes over time.
My advice to writers is this:Walk, talk, breathe, laugh, cry, fall, rise, fail, succeed, run, jump, love, hate, hide, seek, learn, work, play, feel, LIVE.Then write it down.