>>Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.

This, too, is the problem with movies and TV shows today. They worry so much about offending anyone they lose the interest of everyone. When was the last time you laughed hard and out loud?

> Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.

I've been noticing for a while now this is missing in most modern tv shows. It makes the show feel pointless.