Was talking about some of these things with a book club (that just read Truest and invited me to join them for discussion) this week. Thought I’d repost. Tell me about how YOU start a story.
Not that you should necessarily take writing-life advice from me. Perhaps you ought to listen to Jo Rowling and spend seven years plotting. But this it the irrational, backward way I start a new story.
1. I have a tiny idea. Teenaged wards of the state in hospice care. That’s nowhere near a full-blown idea, let alone a plot, but it’s enough. Just a tiny idea is all I need. But I have to love it, have to want it.
2. Characters. Whatever-this-is-going-to-be is going to be nothing without a handful of characters. I start with names and photos, which I find by scouring the internet until angels start singing. Again, this seems backward, doesn’t it?
Yes, I think. Her name will be Macaulay, and she will go by Mack. And this will be her.
That’s fascinating, I think. She has purple hair. I didn’t know…
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JACKIE LEA SOMMERS 
I found the short story! It was great! Question though, Chap brings in the letter and then it ends? Must I live with the curiosity? OCDers don’t like that………….. 🙂
It’s all in the story! He asks the chap to find someone and Jonas sends a letter . . . This is the reply. And thank you!
So fun to read this. I wish I started more strongly with character. All of my favorite writers seem to do that. I really let the plot run away with me before I try and think, who would be the perfect character for this to happen to.
What I really don’t understand and am totally intrigued by is authors that say they begin their stories by focusing on setting. So interesting.
Oh man. That’s fascinating. Writing contemporary and with description as my weakness, setting almost comes LAST for me!