1. K.I.S.S., or "keep it simple, stupid." For example, an apt description with "everyday" words is usually better than one that uses flowery or ostentatious words.
2. Show, don't tell. Anne Rice tells, Jane Austen shows.
3. Brevity is the soul of wit.
4. Like just about anything else, you get better at writing the more you write. Write something. Read it back to yourself as if you were reading it out loud. Or better yet, read it out loud. Does it have a coherent flow, or does it sound awkward? Re-write if necessary. Repeat this process until you are satisfied.