Okay, I have a setting but no plot

[Margaret]

So...I wrote this random paragraph a long time ago, like 6 months ago. It is about a guy who is dying in prison. He's thinking "Why not let go now?" then he remembers what he's living for. And I have no idea what it is (It's like, a proper noun I spontaneously made up that sounded epic). Okay. That's my first problem. The next part is, a month ago I started writing a story based off one of my poems (how inspired! :P). This girl is moving across the sea to the northern part of the kingdom, where the queen lives. And she's heard about how beautiful the local dragons are, so she wants to draw them. That's the 2nd set-up.

And then, for some inexplicable reason, I decided to merge my two plotless stories. The guy and the chick are "connected" in some way. I now have an extra large, essentially plotless story, save this one event: she gets shipwrecked on the island that he's held prisoner.

So, what do you guys do when you got no plot? Should I try and *cringe* make an outline? Or should I just jump in and own it by pure improvisational, visionary ability? What works best for you?

Oh, sorry about the annoying long plot, but I was just wondering, what are some stereotypes to avoid with this? Tell me the most obvious way to write this, so I know what to avoid. Okay, thanks for hearing me out. Any input (even the dumb kind!) is appreciated here!

[Kenzie]

Hmm ... well, for me, I usually just start typing away and let the story tell itself to me. I feel, as a writer, that we aren't really creating the story, we're just putting it to paper. It's the characters story, and they're being kind enough to tell us their story. We repay them by writing it down. So, basically, we're writing it, but it's the characters story.

I'd say, if the characters are important to you, and you like the characters enough, just start plugging away. I would write what you have in your head down, and worry about it making sense later. It's better to get something out than nothing--that way you can still go back and edit. :)

[Margaret]

Thanks for the input! That actually makes a whole lot of sense to me!

[Kenzie]

Glad I could help. Good luck with your new story. :)

[Veronica, What the neck!?]

I don't think that doing an outline would be as much fun as just diving in! Just treat this like nanowrimo! And see what happens! :D

But if you do want some structure, figure out what you want to happen at the end, and as you write, try to move toward that point. It's okay if you totally veer in a different direction though. It's your story, after all.

As for how they're connected... what if the girl had the thing that the guy was living for? Or maybe she IS the thing that he's living for. But neither of them know it, maybe?

[Sandy]

If your writing, you shouldnt worry. It'll come to you soon.

[S.S.]

Sounds good to me. Whenever you get plot ideas, just be sure each character really wants something (motivation). Then throw things in their way (conflict).

BTW, the girl/dragon/queen sounds like the primary char. and the guy/prison sounds like her love interest or foe.

Good luck.