Rich's talent for defying Deus Ex Machina

[Alias]

It never ceases to amaze me how tight a corner Rich can paint himself into as a writer, and yet when he resolves things it seems natural and obvious - especially when read at pace.

[CriticalFailure]

I don't think it's necessarily writing himself into a corner just because what will happen next isn't obvious to readers.

[Yirggzmb]

I see it more as the difference between "making it up as you go" and planning ahead quite a ways. Rich clearly has all the major plot beats planned out well in advance. That lets him set things up in advance so you get a nice pay off when you get there.