I have tons of ideas for my next novel, but a lot of thought needs to go into the underpinnings of any new project, because it is the themes that drive everything else. Specifically, how does the theme generate character action and consequence (which needs to be made literal in the climax); how do the character’s driving wants and needs lead to that climactic moment; how can the character’s internal drives be made visible through action, and the external plot (that is, the antagonist’s driving actions) feed the central character’s internal change? I need to know all of this before I can begin to structure what happens.
But the good news is: I know what questions to ask. Now to dive in.