Some Advice from Pixar on Storytelling

On the Darwins' blog, I ran into a WSJ article by Emma Coats, a storyboard artist for the recent Pixar film Brave, offering 20 tips for writing a story. I'm guessing more than a few are applicable to fanfiction.

Here's a choice few I especially like, being a novice writer:

2. Remember that what's interesting to an audience can be very different from what's fun to do as a writer.

3. Theme is important, but you won't see what the story is actually about until you're at the end of it. Now rewrite.

7. Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.