Great stories are simple and focused

Creators naturally want to include as much information as possible in their stories. We pack in too many plot twists and dialogue and characters, adding unnecessary layers. Instead, Pixar's advice is to combine characters and skip over detours.

One way to find out if your story is easy to follow is to tell it to a friend or family member. Watch their face as you read it and try to see where they pause and what questions they might have.