So, you want to write your first story, and you are wondering how to go about it. Well, there are no hard and fast rules to fleshing out a story idea. Some writers prefer to map out every slight detail before writing, while others just write and leave all the planning for their editing process. There is a middle ground approach, and it might be best to begin with this approach before finding out what works best for you. Here are 8 steps to help you flesh out your writing ideas and create your first story.

1. Write Your Ideas Down ASAP: Remember how easy it is to forget. It is handy to keep a notepad around or use the note app on your phone to write down as many ideas that come to you during the day. The starting point of every great story is an idea that wasn't forgotten, so write yours down.

2. Brainstorm: After gathering a collection of ideas and choosing which ones to work on, you need to ponder on them. Take time to think about your ideas until they become more concrete. You can use mind maps to visualize your ideas or come up with what-if questions that help you develop your ideas even more. An initial mind-dump for a particular aspect of your idea isn't a bad idea. It will surprise you what you might come up with.

3. Do Your Research: After brainstorming, it is the right time to start doing your research. This practice will help you with more ideas to include in your initial idea, and it will provide facts and figures that you can work with. Areas to research are the setting you intend to work with, the people you want your characters to be, and certain concepts you want the story to highlight.

4. Discover Your Major Character: What moves the plot of your story forward is the strength of your characters. Before you can proceed, you need to define them, give them names, physical descriptions, beliefs, and worldviews, a backstory, a couple of flaws, and a purpose. You have to identify the protagonist, his deuteragonist, and the antagonist. Include a love interest if your story demands it.

5. Let Your Characters Take the Lead: This means you need to focus on some aspects of your characters that keep the ball of your story rolling. First, you need to define the goals of various characters; let it be clear and well thought out. Then, you need to explain why these goals are necessary to the characters; why are they so determined to reach these goals? Finally, you need to clearly define what obstacles stand in the way of them achieving their goals or how various aspirations clash against each other.

6. Set the Setting: Your characters don't exist in a vacuum, so you have to give them a backdrop. What is their location? At what point in time are their actions taking place? What is the weather like where they are from? Take time, at this point, to understand and define your characters' surroundings and how they affect the story you are writing.

7. Summarize The central Idea: For your story to progress further, you need to define the theory of your story. You should summarize it into two or three sentences. When creating and revising your central idea, consider the main characters you have developed, the conflict you have identified, the ideas you are including, and the research information you have gathered.

8. Plot the Plot: Now that everything else is set, you need to map out your plot. There are four parts you need to establish. The introduction (this part introduces the main characters, the setting, and the primary conflict). The inciting action (this part sets the story in motion, your major character addresses the primary conflict, and as he does, more conflicts arise). The climax (this is the peak of the story). The resolution (this includes a series of events that bring the story to a close).

Start Writing: With these eight steps above, you can start writing. No need to rush the writing process, but don't delay it either. You will need to create subplots, develop the arcs of your characters and define your theme. But don't be overwhelmed by the process. Pace yourself and start writing.