Love this. I have a writer friend who has an MFA. Anytime I gave her an essay or short story to review, the first question she would ask is, "what is this story about?" At first, I was taken aback because I thought if was obvious until I took a closer look.

The reader has to be hooked in the first paragraph and have a sense of what will follow without giving it all away. A fine balance. Thank you for adding a few other great questions, Kelly.