The Pontification Situation

I remember, during a graduate school seminar, discussing an article
about a group of writers who went about the scientific process of
deconstructing the plots of Michael Crighton-like thrillers with the
goal of assembling the story elements necessary to create a best
seller. They identified a number of rules, most of which I can't
remember, like "the villain will have a predilection for puzzles" and
"a member of the hero's team will die horribly in the second act."

The apocryphal result was that these writers, who had previously been
struggling to publish anything, then sold their Frankenbook for a
multi-million dollar advance.

There is a business plan in there somewhere. I'll keep you posted.