Plot first or characters first? Neither and both

Author Sharon Oard Warner has frequently been asked, often by graduate students, whether a story's plot or character should be established first.

The answer is that you really can't separate them, so the question is moot — but don't think this is because Warner is avoiding the question.

It’s because, as Greek philosopher Heraclitus is credited as saying, character is destiny. 

Or, if you prefer a more modern analogy, you wouldn’t commit to taking a road trip with someone if you didn’t have both a reason to hop along and a willingness to spend time with that person.

Even if the plot-versus-character debate has never crossed your mind or troubled you, check out Warner’s explanation of her answer on Jane Friedman’s blog.