As I try to learn how to write, hopefully, improving with each paragraph, as I learn various rules I have my own rule to apply them.
First off, I write as best I can, freely, though try and apply various rules when they strike me (Ex.: when I realize I've stacked up a bunch of excessive prepositional phrases, I'll try and break it up, merge them, whatever). When finished, I re-read through and try to apply the various rules. Some I simply can't make work, so I move on. Others, I apply where possible. Next, due to my skill level, I'll then use something like 'slickwrite' and do my darndest to apply every rule infraction that it notes... Everything, all of them. Those I can't make work, I then study up to learn how to make the fix...
Okay, so at that point I've chopped up what once read beautifully 'to me' (at first blush), and made it as rule-proper as I can get it. When re-reading it, much of the flow, rise and fall, tempo and so on is now lost... BUT, it's by the rules. Then I do a free edit. IOW, I go back and as I re-read, I make it flow to 'my tastes.' Rules be darned. In fact, if I want to change something and I know it's breaking a rule, I break it anyway and make it read well to me.
Point being, I realize I do need to learn and understand these rules. However, at the end of the day, the read must be enjoyable, smooth, descriptive and entertaining. I'm not writing an example text on proper writing. I'm writing a story... Those rule changes before hand, however, I hope helps what I write to accomplish both a little better.
K2