Something that has come up with people I talk to about writing, where does the spark that gets you excited about a story? Is it the characters, the plot or the setting? I've also heard people suggest themes, prose, and dialogue... And I am sure there are other things I am not thinking of so feel free to explain/explore that. And I know it is often more than one thing. But if you had to narrow it to just one. What would it be (and why)?
It's certainly different for different writers. In my experience, I have most often started with theme - what I want to say or show - the overall idea. I know some writers will disagree with this approach, but it works for me. Then setting, plot and characters grow from that theme. The theme guides me as I write. For example, with one story, I began with the idea that shame is destructive. That grew into a story about a pathological liar with dissociative identity disorder. Another story began with the idea that the bond between sisters is unassailable, and that grew into a story about a woman who murdered her husband and her sister helps her bury the body. And with the story I am writing right now, I began with an idea - something that I see as true - and the story is growing from it.
I wish your poll was multiple choice lol. Because its not simply one of the others for me. An hour ago, i wrote a story while traveling on a highway. My husband and i are on vacation and had to travel 3 hours on a highway and i was inspired by the setting. So i opened the Notepad app on my phone and wrote a story based on the setting. Another story i have was inspired by an article i read about an observatory in south America. Other stories emerge from dialogue first and then character and plot comes up after. I have a manuscript that im looking to get trad published. Building my query list, i came across an agent that asks "what inspired you to write this? Where did this story come from?" That particular story came from a situation. What if my childhood friend and i had grown up together? From that, my story emerged. Even though the MC is not me, i wrote a story about 2 friends that grow up together and eventually become more than friends. In short, i bounce around a lot lol.
If I can only pick one, then setting would be my choice. I've built this giant universe and I love exploring it with different characters and storylines.
This is a really good question and after some thinking, I think I've got an answer. I personally like to encapsulate my stories with some kind of compelling argument too—a truth that I believe in. Actually, it's a little more than that. I like my stories to be reflective of reality instead of just a message. That's just because stories that manage to do this are incredibly powerful and sometimes even timeless. My goal with writing is to write something really, really good. Just good isn't enough. But the sort of heights I'm thinking of aren't easily reachable. The reality is that I'm not likely to ever achieve it, but one can try, right?
I don't think most people can narrow it to just one thing every time. You take inspiration where it comes. More often than not, though, I start with some plot-related concept and characters emerge from there. Everything else usually unfolds with the story.
Characters (they'd better be doing something interesting though) and voice. My revisions are all about rhythm and flow needed to express those two. I want the reader to feel and have nothing in their way.
It's almost always a situation for me. Usually it starts with a specific scene that then evolves into a larger situation. The characters usually evolve from there. I don't think I've ever started anything from a character without a situational context. As for theme? Meh... overrated. Those evolve from the story along a gradient for me. Some are stronger and can point the story in a particular direction where appropriate, acting as kind of a tie breaker when I have several ideas. Others are more ancillary and not terribly important. I find it difficult to start things with a theme because theme is nothing without a good story, like glue with nothing to adhere to it.
It's a balance for me with the characters. The plot is critical, after all, and is chosen for disasters and payoffs. There are some events that are completely mundane, but when they happen to the right person, they're elevated. So for me, I'm choosing what happens based on the character so that only that character fulfills the plot. I can totally see the opposite approach working. There's so much back and forth between characters and plot, that they become hard to separate.
A combination of theme(s) and tone is what brings me to the project. Setting, characters, plot are only really satisfying when their creative puzzles are solved, which is well into or even after the first draft.
Once I know what I want to show or say, then the next big thing is characters. I get attached to them and walk side-by-side with them as they make their journeys. Plot is a device to serve theme and characters.
One specific scene, nearly always from late in the story and nearly always involving some tragedy. 2-3 characters with no names but clear apperances. And a general atmosphere/genre. Then I try to build something that leads there.
