on writing - pixar's story writing rules

This is an amazing list.  Check it out for a good read and great advice.
I personally like these tips:

Pull apart the stories you like. What you like in them is a part of you;
you’ve got to recognize it before you can use it.

Trying for theme is important, but you won’t see what the story is
actually about till you’re at the end of it.  Now rewrite.

Why must you tell THIS story? What’s the belief burning within you
that your story feeds off of?  That’s the heart of it.

By Eric Tan