Where do you begin?

[sarillia]

When you first have an idea is it usually based on plot, character, setting, theme, something else?

I'm very much plot-oriented in the beginning. I usually start with a scenario and only later do I think about the person who will be put in the scenario and the surrounding culture.

I do have a list of bits of characterization and setting details that I come up with, but those aren't often the start of my story. I tend to mix and match those with the plot idea that's the real kernel of the story to see what looks good rather than having the story come naturally from that character or world.

How does this work for all of you?

Comments

[inkdust]

Mine start with character, but that usually includes at least some of a situation surrounding them. My current work actually began with a name, which vividly sparked a character, and I knew that she was a young French ghost around 11 or 12 who haunted a big house, and I knew she was not the only ghost there. So that led me to start thinking about the other ghosts that might be there, and then I created my protagonist in order to have someone discover these ghosts, and the actual plot developed in bits and pieces from there.

Another idea I have is centered around a wizard type guy with the ability to replay parts of his life as a spectator, and I knew from the start that he didn't have complete control over that ability, that he had some tenuous allies, and that he had a snake demon familiar. Then I started exploring where he might be and who else would be in the picture, but the actual plot is still pretty much a tangled mess of thoughts.

So I'm definitely character first, or character+situation first - whether initial situation or something they run into during the story. But it's safe to say I'm not plot first.