What comes first when you write, character or plot?
With pretty much everything that I have written, it was the plot that came to me first. Specific characters formed and gave the story life later down the line, only once I had let the idea stew for a while and started plotting. Recently however the image of a character appeared in my mind so vividly; it was truly bizarre, like nothing I had ever experienced before.
I don’t yet know exactly what story will end up forming around this character (and what’s interesting is that I think she will likely take on a supporting role rather than that of the protagonist) but I already see (as cheesy as it may sound) so much of her, from her Asian heritage to her confident mannerisms; from her dry humour to her fierce intelligence; from her name to her career; this is a character I just have to do something with in the future, however far off it may be.
Do you usually come up with characters or plots first? Have you ever been struck by a character or plot idea unexpectedly?
Callum McLaughlin 
Like you, I’m normally plot first, characters afterwards, but the most successful piece of writing I’ve ever completed came to me almost effortlessly after a full-blooded character just walked into my head one day. I’m hoping it happens again soon. 🙂
That’s really interesting! It was exciting to get an idea in a completely new way and I’m curious to see what ends up coming of this character.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🙂
I flip flop. Sometimes I tell a story because a situation intrigues me and I write characters to fit it. Other times, I come up with a character I enjoy and then I throw them into trouble to see what happens. 🙂
Sounds like the perfect way to work. It was cool to have a character come to me first for a change, it’s always good to try new approaches to writing 🙂
Thanks for reading and commenting.
My pleasure, my friend! It’s a really fun experiment, every once in a while, to just invent a character. Find some unusual quirk and weave a person around it. Then set that person loose and see what they get into!
I’m definitely going to try it more often from now!
This time I created characters first, and I fell in love with them right away. Problem was, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with them. Using the same backdrop from the last novel, I found a place for them and plotted from there. But, I’m pretty sure I don’t want to do this every time. It was touch and go with these awesome people until I pulled it together.
I’m a little all over the place. Sometimes, I picture the plot first, like you said. Sometimes, it’s the character(s). I do love character-based ideas, though, because there’s so much there to work with even though it’s encapsulated in this one little person…
It is an interesting idea, forming a whole plot based on one character. I like trying new things with writing so I’m excited to see what ends up happening.
I like to interweave character and plot development so much that it’s nearly equally balanced when it comes to what sparks first. Sometimes, I save specific characters for unwritten roles in unforeseen plots at a later date. Usually, when I am hit unexpectedly by something, it’s actually a scene with (an) unexplored character(s), shallowly developed plot, and a general sense of emotion. Then, I expand from that scene to build the rest.
Coming up with a scene first and structuring a plot around it is a very interesting idea. Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🙂
Interestingly thought out, Callum. Character always seems to stir me at first, followed by a need to bring him (seldom her) alive in a realistic life situation, so the plot follows.
I think I usually come up with plots first. And then my characters get formed around whatever name I pick. The name always helps me build the character’s traits for some reason. I hope you find a good place to use this character you’re building.
It’s true that a lot of meaning can be held in something that seems as simple as a name.
Thank you for the encouragement! 🙂
You’re welcome. Hope the day is treating you kindly!
Same to you!
It’s almost always the character for me. It’s exciting, isn’t it, letting someone take shape inside your head and building a world for them to exist in. I absolutely love it. There are times when the plot comes almost instantaneously, because the character is so vivid everything else falls into place. I think the only time the plot comes first is if I’m following a prompt and even then I usually hand over the reins to those taking up residence in my head!
It was really interesting to approach things from a different angle than usual and like you say, it’s fun to try and piece together a whole world based on one character; digging into their mind so we can see what stories they have to tell 🙂
It’s an interesting thought, sometimes characters come to me and I just know I have to do something with them 😀
Other times, I have a great plot, and have to find the characters to fit with it.
I like to wonder if coming up with plot or character first makes a difference to the way the story turns out.
Great post!
That’s cool that you write using both methods. This was the first time a character came to me first so it was interesting to approach things from a new angle for a change 🙂
Thanks for commenting 🙂
Oddly I had the idea of the characters first. But since then I have had a hard time understanding them really and they’ve been changing a lot. But the plot came pretty easily right after characters and it has changed, but not as much..