To restate before you start writing the beginning of your next epic novel, while there are exceptions, it's normally preferable to start your story with plot and character at the same time since your protagonist should be so important to the plot that the plot cannot progress without them. Start strong and keep building from there.
If you start with the setting, then the setting will dictate much of what happens later in the story. For example, if the scene is in the modern day but takes place in a fantasy world, then it's likely that some aspect of technology will be present even if it's just computers or magic instead. If no technology other than knives and guns is mentioned, then we can assume that most people live in a rural area where animals are still used for transportation and work, and the city has been left behind.
When writing a story, it's important to know how it starts because that will affect how the rest of the story plays out.
Why is Plot Irrelevant versus Character aka Character is Plot? Most authors do not begin with both the character and the storyline when developing a tale concept. Rather, they start with a character and then look for a story to fit around them. Storytelling is all about characters and their relationships to one another and to other elements within the narrative.
Character comes first for two main reasons: 1 To create stories that are worth telling, characters need to be interesting. 2 So you can show, not tell, your audience what happens next. You can't explain away the importance of character by saying that you need to write about what happens next in order to tell a good story; rather, you need to show how each character relates to one another so that your audience understands why something important happens later in the story.
Plot comes second after you have an idea for a character-driven story. You need to know where to put them in relation to one another (the plot), before you can decide what role each person will play in determining the fate of the story.
If you were to begin writing "A Tale of Two Cities" right now, you would first want to come up with ideas for characters who could carry out different roles within the story.
It's worth your time to consider appropriate ways to begin your narrative, so follow our advice on how to write your introduction.
The first point is significant because the climax contains all of the emotional intensity of the tale. If you start with the climax and are unimpressed or bored, you'll know the full plot won't work. However, you are not required to compose the introduction. You might start by imagining who your character is. The more you know about them, the better.
Next, consider how the climax affects the story as a whole. Does it end on a high note? If so, great! It should be well-written and have a clear resolution. If not, go back and fix these problems before moving on.
At this stage, you are ready to write some scenes that will fill in the gaps between the beginning, middle, and ending. These can be called "incidents" or "details". They can happen at any time during the story, even after the climax. For example, you could write a scene where your character watches a football game, when suddenly they are attacked by muggers. This incident can be used to develop your character further or to change the course of the story.
You should always keep in mind what kind of story it is you are writing: an autobiography, a biography, a memoir, or a novel. Each type of story has its own requirements and conventions that must be followed for it to be effective.
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