Figure out whose story it is, why it’s their story, and why it’s their story now. Knowing whose story it is is sometimes more important than (and sometimes intrinsically linked with) knowing what the story is and how to tell it. It was the best comment I ever got from a writing group and it’s become the first thing I figure out when I’m stuck in the planning stages of a story now.
Welp…my work here is done (again).