Creating characters' backgrounds first, plot later - good or bad idea?

I often come up with a character first and a vague shell of an idea. The character makes the plot for me in many ways. If you don't know where you're going... think about who they are, what they want, and how they are going to get there and that should get you going. But you will never know how something will turn out if you don't try.

If you're having trouble coming up with a plot you might as well try this. To me, it sounds like a great way to get new ideas for a plot---one that perhaps depends more on your characters history. That might give you a far more believable and original plot, anyways, and it would be fun for you to work out how exactly all these characters stories could be connected, like putting a puzzle together. Just try to think outside the box and steer clear of cliches. Give it a try. You should be able to tell pretty quickly if its helping or not

It can work because who the characters are and what they need and want can and will drive plot. Just don't get carried away. Of course you need to have SOME idea of the plot befoer you get too far along.

It really doesn't matter how you do it. You have to know your characters very well - whether you gain that knowledge in the course of writing their stories, or whether you create them before you begin is a matter of personal choice.

Hi :) That's how it happened for me. I thought of my characters randomly one morning (didn't even know my brain *worked* in the morning, lol), and I got an idea of their personalities, etc, way before I got the idea for my first plot. And then I changed the plot about a million times before thinking the one I've got now. I think that because you want a plot so badly that's it's just not coming. Try not to force your character's backgrounds too much, just let your mind wander free - that's when the best ideas come :) Oh - I get sudden inspiration too, most of the ideas get scrawled on a sheet of paper (sometimes even the back of my hand - at least I can't lose it, lol). Write them down, develop them, see if they could fit into your existing plot (when you think of it). Most of the time with me I combine the ideas, making the plot stronger and more depth. When you create an unrealistic character, just think to yourself "Is that realistic? What do I need to do to make them seem real?" Ideas on how to think of a plot: - Read newspaper stories. - Develop an idea from a snippet of conversation you heard on the street or somewhere. - Stare into space and just dream. Hope I helped xxx

Sometimes, creating characters creates plot. I actually do neither at the very beginning. I just jump in and start writing something. After I've got a few pages I typically have a pretty good idea of what my story is going to be about as well as who my characters will be. Then I start on the characters. I fill in their backgrounds as much as I can without knowing my entire plot, and typically the characters' backgrounds are what creates the plot for me. I base my story around them and their pasts. I like writing a little before I start on the characters. That way I don't have the problem of trying to create character backgrounds without knowing what my story is more or less about. It works for me, it might work for you. Then again, maybe it won't. Just give creating characters' backgrounds first a try. That's the only way you'll know for sure what works for you. Best of luck and happy writing :D

I more or less do the same thing. I think it makes the story more realistic and the characters more believable If you introduce a new character then just stop and create thier history. The actions they choice will be based on their history much like we do in real life. Help me with my question? http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoCtMVHJrFjVAmLCNJ2s4A3HB3RG;_ylv=3?qid=20110518163635AAXwtCL

I guess if you try to come up with a plot first would be better.. I guess it could or the other way, I mean come up with a character and plant needles in his way,if you want to look at it that way.