Tay Gallant asked Gretchen McNeil:

im working on a novel of my own and i have a question when you write do you know who your characters are or do you just have a basic idea and then throughout the story who they are sort of become clearer and how much of your story do you have planned out before you begin writing? do you have trouble with writing the prologue and intro to the story i'm sorry for asking so many questions

Gretchen McNeil Hi Tayler!

So all writers - and all books - are different. Some writers have detailed ideas of who their characters are before they even begin writing, while others tend to learn who their characters are as the plot develops. Both are totally valid ways to approach the process, so it really just matters what feels right to you!

For mapping out your story, I suggest new writers begin with a partial outline - call it, Act One of your book. You can begin this outline by answer a few key questions: Who is your main character? What do they want? Why do they want it? What is preventing them from getting it? And what is at stake if they fail? Laying out the answers to these questions is essentially the first act of your novel. Start then, and then allow your imagination to deal with acts two and three!

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