When Writing Fiction, Start with the Character

One of my goals for this year is to publish a work of fiction. I’ve written multiple nonfiction books but writing fiction is something completely new and exciting for me.

In nonfiction I like to start with the idea or a difficult problem to solve and write with excitement about a solution to that problem. The motivation is fueled by a love for the idea combined with a love for the audience.

Fiction is different. With fiction I have heard author after author say that the characters were the dr...