Does Authorial Intent Matter?

You should have your own interpretation, but with the author's intent in consideration. The author is ultimately the creator of the story, however that doesn't necessarily mean the author gets monopoly over deciding what certain events mean.

Why is author's intent important?

Authors write a text for a variety of reasons, sometimes to get a theme across or sometimes to teach a moral. It is important to understand authorial intent, or what the author's purpose for writing a text is, in order to better understand the text and all its components.

Why is it important to write with intent?

Writing with intention helps me to identify the main themes of my story. Once I find the heart of my story, I can shape it around the identified themes. This makes it easier to stay true to the themes, which become the foundation for the story structure.