Take a look at the list you just made of possible subplots already in play when your novel begins. The good news is that if it’s on your list, you already know it has story relevance. The first question to ask is always, Why will this matter to my protagonist, given her quest? The answer, even when it’s fuzzy, will tell you where to begin digging into the past, so you can zero in on the precise events that will make it specific, concrete, and viable. Chances are you’ll end up with several potential scenes for each subplot you’ve identified.
