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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/3279
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/3279
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

This can really change very drastically from author to author and from story to story.

There's no doubt that developing characters and then building a plot around them is a great way to come up with a story. Characters are compelling; interactions between them are interesting; put the characters as the center of your plot, and they may drive the whole thing themselves.

But there's plenty of other great ways to construct stories.

- Author comes up with a brilliant setting, then figures out what characters are necessary to explore the setting and get the most out of it.
- Author comes up with a great plot arc, then figures out what kind of characters are necessary to play out the arc believably.
- Author is interested in examining a theme, an issue, a real-life culture, a historical period; he comes up with characters to fit and to portray different aspects of the focus.

...and many more.

The truth of the matter is, building up the elements of your story is most likely an iterative process. Location A might give you ideas for Character X, Plot Twist Y, and Set Piece Z, but Set Piece Z might require you to go back and make some changes to Character X. You're developing everything together; _everything_ needs to fit well with each other. That doesn't happen because you originally create everything in a perfect cohesive whole. It happens because as you go along, you keep tweaking your old ideas, keeping them current with your new elements, keeping everything together and compatible.

You don't need to create any one thing first. They lead to one another, and back to themselves again.

Original score: 14