Some of Pixar's 22 Rules of Story Telling

1. You admire a character for trying more than for their successes.
2. You've got to keep in mind what's ineresting to you as an audience, not what's fun to do as a writer.  They can be v. different.
3. Trying for theme is important, but you won't see what the story is actually about til you're at the end of it.  Now rewrite.
4. Once upon a time there was ____.  Every day, ______.  One day _____.  Because of that, _____.  Becuase of that, ______.  Until finally ______.
5.  Simplify. Focus.  Combine characters.  Hop over detours.  You'll feel like you're losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.
6.  What is your character good at, comfortable with?  Throw the polar opposite at them.  Challenge them.  How do they deal?
7.  Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle.  Seriously.  Endings are hard, get your's working up front.
8.  Finish your story, let go even if it's not perfect.  In an ideal world you have both, but move on.  Do better next time.
9.  When you're stuck, make a list of what WOULDN'T happen next.  Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up.
10.  Pull apart stories you like.  What you like in them is a part of you; you've got to recognize it before you can use it.