I decide to write an idea I had when I can’t get out of my head. Usually, while thinking about it, the plot will define itself, but I think it’s important to write down that plot and understand how that story will work (spoiler: I’m a planner).

General plot

While I’m mapping out the story’s general plot, I will of course decide what will happen to the characters in the story. But (this is the most important in this step according to me), I will choose what themes, messages and opinions I want to convey.

For example:

• In Hybrids, it was important for me to talk about the fear of what we don’t know and understand, and the whole story revolves around that. I also wanted to showcase auality in a way I had not seen before.
• In The Person I Used To Be, I wanted to explore what was making us who we are as people, as well as internalized queerphobia.

Oftentimes, knowing what I want to talk about will help me find different specific plot elements and help me build the story.

Structure

Once I know what my general plot and themes are, I ask myself what type of work I want to write. Short and to the point with few characters? Or long, with lots of characters and subplots?

I’m also thinking in terms of story structure: what is the starting point of the story? What is the turning point? What do I want the ending to be and how do the characters end up there? How does the story affect the different characters? How have they grown? What is their arc?

I will also decide what style of narration I will use for the story. 

• Hybrids was written in 3rd POV alternating between the two main characters because I wanted to be able to showcase their thinking as they slowly changed.
• For The Person I Used To Be, I decided to write in present tense and 1st POV because I wanted to be especially impactful.
• In Dear Minho, I used an epistolary form to showcase the time passing.

Outlining method

In terms of writing the outline down, I recently started using J.K. Rowling’s method of outlining (I completely disagree with her discourse on trans people and condone her actions) to try and make sense of a complicated story with different elements of subplot. If you feel stuck, I would recommend you try it.

You can find a lot of resources online but here is the gist of it: all you need is a spreadsheet. Give your column the following labels: Chapter number, Chapter name, Time of year, General plot. Then add one column per subplot for your story, and start filling the table where it’s needed. That way, you have one column for all of your subplots and you can easily spot if something is missing somewhere.