When we get a new idea, it feels like the whole world opens for us, and we can do anything. Some newer writers spring into the writing before they’re ready. It takes time to get that story down. And work. Yes, it starts with an idea but there’s work to dig into from that starting point. First, you want to let that idea simmer. It needs time to spark and give you more to layer on that story. Or, of course, non-fiction if you’re creating that. The concept is the same: you start with a nugget of info. Next, you have to learn to follow the trail.

To build a story:

1. Write the scrap down.
2. Let it simmer.
3. Start with the character or setting. Should you build your world, then your character? That view varies. If you start with character, you could always decide what kind of world would they…