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thel3tterm
Aug '20
1

When it comes to crafting stories regardless of medium, it seems like people tend to fall into one of two camps.

The first have an idea for a plot and a story that they want to tell first, and craft characters to fill roles in this plot.
The second have characters and then try to craft a story around the interactions between these characters.

In general, I think I tend to come up with my ideas for plots and stories first, but I think it can be interesting to get this kind of insight into the creative process of different people based on which 'camp' they tend to fall into.

So how about you? Do you focus on your plot or your characters first?

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    Aug '20

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    Aug '20
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derekh95
Aug '20

I had the idea for the plot first. Then I started writing and began to insert characters, eventually I began to develop the characters unique personalities and then when I started to write their scenes and dialogue, I would have to switch my brain into [enter character name here]-mode.

Now that my story is a bit more established I have files and notes and documents specifically dedicated to each character, the plot, future plans, timelines, arc, etc.

Panpan
Aug '20

Personally, the idea for my fantasy BL came to me when I was watching a Disney movie. What if it was set in this country? What would I want to see happen? I got lost in thought for a few days about the general setting.

But I guess technically I thought about the characters first. After I got the setting, I had to research about the main characters that I wanted depending on the mood. I don't think I could've figured out my outline plot later on without knowing what type of characters I wanted. After rearranging and creating my plot, that's when I thought of the minor people.

MEGAMAMMU
Aug '20

Mostly the plot, but sometimes both just come together? Like there'll be an idea of a plot but without that specific kind of character it wouldn't be the same or wouldn't even make sense. I just focus on the overall idea itself, most of the time they are plot-based but sometimes the character(s) gets included by itself

Jophiel
Aug '20

I focus on my characters first before the plot because my stories are character-driven and is also in different perspectives. i find it hard to work on plots first in my previous versions because I wasn't feeling strong about my protag and in my experience, it helps me to write when a character isn't stuck in just a plot per se.

Ofc that's just my own experiences and they're not for everybody. But also because they're my ocs and it's a passion project rather than professional/formal work.

allenT
Aug '20

Protagonist -> Vague Plots -> Supporting Characters -> Detail Plots -> Other characters

Maxedrox
Aug '20

I just started with the plot, then I selected the characters depending on their profiles and relationships so their participation can feel more natural to the story, then the characters are the ones that drive the plot. So yup, plot first, characters later, after they are related to the plot, they drive it.

RyzaCobalion
Aug '20

Plot first then character-driven and development

When i came up with the idea I had for my series The Dark Children of The Night I had to go through a ton of redrafting and edit the story and where I want to go with but then the next problem came when I need to have the characters themselves throughout the story. Such as naming them and giving them proper backstories (at least the main characters of the story) but then I'd also have to develop them as they interact with the main character otherwise they would be completely one noted characters that you would see them in one scene then gone the next. So adding layers to my characters was my next challenge and I think I have given them at least just enough for them to develop even the villains.

WolfUnderTheMoon89
Aug '20

I started off with the characters. they come from rp so they were established first and way longer.
the plot came natural for what suited them. and therefor i have 6 books/storyarchs for my first series arch. based on 6 characters

MattRAuthor
Aug '20

I switch depending on the story. I might come up with a cool story idea and make characters to fit it, or I come up with a character and question why they are the way they are. That usually helps me come up with a plot for them

BlunderingAlbatross
Aug '20

I tend to put a lot more effort into figuring out what my characters than my plot :stuck_out_tongue: I get a vague idea of where I want the story to go and just get writing, kind of letting the characters make their own way there rather than having me trying to squish them into a rigid narrative.

DualDragonsMaster of Yeet
Aug '20

For RotH (and that is because I started two years ago with lesser experience) I started with characters and then proceeded with the plot.

I'm trying to involve the plot a bit more in Square One, where characters do fill in certain roles more.

Hutch-Comics
Aug '20

The plot first for me most of the time. Should it be the character first it's usally what they look like, so more visual then 'written'.

joannekwan(ง ˙o˙)ว here to help~
Aug '20

Both.

Sometimes characters already loaded with personality and dynamism come to me in my head, but they're orphans with no solid story behind them and I have to craft a plot around them.

Other times I think of a story premise and have to sculpt out the characters from vague archetypes.

But overall, my stories are usually character-driven, so I don't have complex, winding narratives and I put greater effort into developing the characters, since that's most important to me.

lilithfairenwrites
Aug '20

...both together, really. Most of my stories are heavily character-driven, so the characters themselves and the plots they go through are heavily intertwined.

SagaHolmgaard
Aug '20

Both at the same time for me as well. I kinda starts with one scene or one sort of dynamic that I want to explore. It's not really a plot, just something I think could look cool or be an emotional scene. Then I fill the scene with characters, and they are just ocs for a while. There's no real plot outside of the scene or the dynamic, even though I might get a couple more ideas for scenes and stuff. I'm just creating the characters at this stage. Then I start worlbuilding, and finally I start fleshing out the story line, usually by tying together all the loose ideas and seeing what I need to do to make it into a fully realized story.

Flauschwurm
Aug '20

I care about characters foremost. Good characters carry a good medium.

To me, bad characters are must worse and less bearable than a bad plot.
A bad plot can be overlooked if the characters are good and believable.

I care, for my stories, more about the characters and their personal stuggles more than about the overall plot.

CommanderMarty
Aug '20

I tend to focus on my main character most in my novel because my novel is mostly a character study with tons of action tossed in.