Creating a Plot +Character Development

This is not a direct "how-to" but more of an indirect approach that hopefully applies to most literary works.

Creating a plot is harder than it looks and normally can't be done in a single sitting. I recommend a journal, notebook, or spot in a binder for your literary ideas. Many ideas will not make it past a few chapters or thousand words. Like a topic sentence, the plot must be over the broad subject, but centering on to thin a conflict, you may find yourself stuck half way through. 

An interesting plot is crucial. Realizing that the world is filled with millions of authors is a part to this. Not stating that writing if about competition, but just the fact that is has become harder to create new ideas that are original. I would recommend for a large writing project, staying away from generic, every day plot lines. Not saying you can't play around with vampires or teen love triangles, but taking a new approach could mean the world to your work. 

When brainstorming, you don't need to create the entire plot, but this is up to you. Some enjoy having a planned and coordinated, scene for scene plot layout while others wing it as they go. Either way, you should be open to change and new ideas. 

With a plot, themes should be considered. What basic concept does this work follow. War, redemption, love, conquering fear. There are endless varieties of themes. But this is only the basic mold, after deciding on themes you must decided where this takes place, the time period, or is this world a entirely fictional place straight from your imagination? 

Hopefully after considering all of these you have a basic outline of possibilities. You don't have to have solid characters yet, but you can begin to push together different elements and find your big climax. I can't tell you on a specific scale what to do next, because this is all up to your imagination. Rising action is a important part to consider, and everything else inbetween can be created now or you can wing it later. 

So lets say you have your plot, you know where you want to go with this, and how you wanna do it. Now you have to create characters based off these roles. Considering their personalities are crucial. Will they oppose their future, fall into place, change mentally, mature, the sky is the limit. But most important, at least in my view, is development. 

Many stories have static characters who are flat. They never change, and are always shown in a small field of emotion. A "real" character should show a large variety of emotion. Even antagonists. Though some need to betrayed as flat to keep attention on the main protagonists and to under complicate the plot. Making complex characters can be beneficial, but to many of these can lead to a confused reader. 

In turn, your character should change, unless you are writing about "The Normal Days of a Small Town Accountant" they WILL change. 

Another thing to consider is time. Many stories falter due to feeling rushed. A person normally does not walk up to another and within the week fall into a deep relationship. This applies to many things. Understanding that your character should have a thinking process and a selected attitude towards things will help them seem more believable. A stubborn character should not just one day run into another and ride off with them to who knows where the next. While a shy character should not become a loud mouth the next chapter. This is especially important with a first person, as this will feel cheap and amatear to the reader. 

One thing that I have found brings down a literary work is the difference between direct and indirect characterization and informing. I am a offender of this sometimes too, and I find it brings down a work. When you reveal a character's traits, action is just about always better than words. It allows one to judge a character for themselves and become more intimate with the book. This also applies with informing the reader about things around them, this applies more to mythical and fantasy. Leaving a hint of mystery of unknown to the reader keeps them reading. Of course don't leave them in the dark, but letting them discover things about the world around them over time is novels or novellas can keep one interested and ready to read. 

Just a few others tips and "don't does".

Don't create characters for the sake of characters. If they are not needed in the story more than a single appearance, don't introduce them and force another name on the readers mind. As there are nameless extras in movies, there is the same in books. A girl who passes a note in class and only appears once can just be known as "girl" same with other topics. 

So that concludes this little rant, hope this helps some people out. This is my first go at this, so hope it is somewhat good!