Where to start

Obviously, every author must start with an idea. You need to have an original idea that has interesting twists and engaging characters.

Original Ideas:
Every story has a general genre. Figure out what your genre is and then start reading. Read the classics in your genre as well as the modern releases in your genre. When you have read enough, you can get a feel for what paths have been taken already and sometimes over done. The best part of this "research" is new ideas can spring into your mind. A new idea is not the same story with a different name for the lead character but instead a whole new way to handle the crisis part of the story.

For example: There are MANY fantasy stories. Why is Harry Potter successful? There are several new ideas J.K. Rowling brought in to make Harry a household name. The main ideas of finding out you have magic and the struggle between good and evil are old ideas. They aren't enough. Harry found out that he had magic and there was a MODERN school he could go to. Most children secretly wish they would receive a letter of invitation to Hogwarts tomorrow. Most adults secretly wish they received one while they were young. While there are many stories of magic in ancient times or on other planets, this story appealed to the masses because it was a here and now twist on old themes. Of course, this was not the only aspect that made Harry Potter a revolutionary idea but it serves its purpose for illustration.

When you have a new idea, tell a few people about it that enjoy the genre. I had an idea pop into my head for a science fiction story but once I started to explain it to my brother who is a big sci fi fan, he told me that the story line had already been done on a TV show I don't watch. Yes, it was a let down but I'm glad he told me before a heartless editor did. (They're really not heartless but I'll get to that in another post.)

OK, now that you have done your extensive research and found an original idea that your local "experts" have checked off, you need to think about the characters. Until you become best friends with your characters, you really don't know them and can't write about them effectively. Why does the hero wear a watch? Does your villain have a tic? Maybe you don't need to know the life story of the bartender that serves one drink in chapter 13 and is never seen again but delve deeply into the inner psyche of the main people you are going to follow around in your story.

Once you have your characters figured out completely, think about the scenes. Think about what they are going to do in your story and when. Visualize the locations. Is there a signed picture of Marylin Monroe hanging on the wall of the office of the private eye? How many columns in the front of the castle your prince resides in? Until you have a clear picture, your readers will not have the visualization needed to immerse themselves in a story.

You're probably thinking, "When am I going to write?" This is the point. You know your characters, you know where your characters are. Now write the first few chapters of your masterpiece.

After this -move onto the next step.