Breadcrumbs

You need a really good reason to write characters whose decisions show them to be as dumb as a box of rocks....

"So, Captain, as you know, we've recently arrived in the Cygnus sector..."

Theme matters. But I reckon writers don't need to use theme as a hammer to drive home a message. That doesn't mean it isn't there...

You've sat through 95% of the story and are giddy in expectation of the amazing finale! Which might never come, because endings are hard.

You know why you opened the book or came to the cinema. The big question: did its creators know that was what you wanted? And what if they thought you wanted something else?