Elmore Leonard's ten rules for writing fiction

I have the feeling that a number of bloggers have commented on the Elmore Leonard essay about the rules for writing. But my eye, somehow, kind of slid over the references (which is a comment on other people's writing in itself). However, it was Diane Duane who finally enticed me to go take a look. And, if you're into writing fiction, I advise you to do the same.

Elmore Leonard, who he? Oh, he's just some boring old commercial writer. Writes thrillers and stuff. Kissy kissy bang bang, and not too much of the kissy kissy. Been selling for fifty years, but only to those unspeakably vulgar types who like stories, and couldn't care less about the quality of your metaphors. What does he know, compared with the professors on your MFA course?