Take one large and healthy dolp of imagination A tablespoon or two  of creative writing One plot Three or four sub plots 4 parts fun About three of four main characters and about 20 smaller part characters  a setting (maybe an old English manor house or a Spanish villa) a re usually good for regency and period pieces while a jet lines or air port are good for high adventure even an ocean liner can come in handy as a background setting for the start of your book. Next build your characters the three  main characters need not all appear at the same time unless of course you are writing a family saga describe them and mix well for a few chapters.  remember to add a few drops of fun into the mix as you begin to add some imagination to the creative writing.  you will see that your plot is starting  to thicken which is good but do not be to hasty as a plot that thickens to quickly will ruin the story. a test of a good plot should be when the story is  finished so should the book.  develop the minor the minor character and mix well and develop your sub plots (the sub plot/ plots should never take over the story completely as  this will result in your work been a confusing mess. Add more fun and some more imagination and mix well with the plot, add a few more characters  and stir well until the consistence of the story is stable. now you can add some more fun and a lot more words till the story which has taken shape  can now develop and allow your characters to come to the boil   If you are writing a regency remember the rules there must be a heroine she of the heaving bosom fame and of course an under gardener, for they are  essential to the classic regency type of story. if you are writing a mob story set in the 1920's remmeber to add lots of blood and gore as they are  needed.   if you are writing a fantasy remember to add a a telepathic character as they are needed to as well as an air of mystery.  complete your work at round a hundred thousand words and then go back and review that your story is indeed what you envisaged  Enjoy your story writing.

More of my creative work at : http://www.lulu.com/sarejess