When you set out to tell a new story, what do you do first?
1. Do an outline first of what you want? ie. world type, character type, starting point, end point
2. Develop the Main Character concept?
3. Free-form write to get started?
4. Slap down a Title, write Prologue, & have at it!
I often start option 2, in the private little stories I write for myself, & a few friends. However, in the story I'm writing for this site (not published as of today), I had a very basic idea, & jumped right in. I'm now a couple of "chapters" in, & I feel like I'm loosing the character element.
So, what's your process when you set out?