Take a little time and sketch out the scope of your story the way Jennie just did. What is the time frame, and how big is your stage? Consider the external plot and the internal struggle. Keep it short, always peering beneath each “What” to find its underlying “Why.” If any new “Why” questions arise—and chances are they will—take a bit of time and pin down the specific answer, just as Jennie did with the source of Rufus’s angst. It’ll save you a lot of angst later.
