Previous Post ... I think I might scrap my World War 1 story. Not only did I start with a paragraph about the weather, but I went crazy with adverbs. This is really useful. Thanks.

There was no real consensus on those guidelines, they were just every writer's personal rules. Certainly the "don't describe anybody" rule is all a matter of taste. Plus, much like Ian, I quite disagree with "said" being all that is ever needed.

If you really want to take that advice to heart, then I'd suggest putting the original story aside and rewriting a section of it while trying to conform to the rules that most worry you. Then compare the two and see which you prefer. No reason to take their word that another hypothetical approach would be better, sight unseen.

Ultimately, write with your own style... And that's going to take breaking the rules that.you want to break.