Ok, I have a problem and need help. Every time I start to write a story, I can tell I'm ruining it, here are the things missing from my current story: One, I don't have very well thought-out characters at all. Two, I don't have very good plans for where my story is going exactly (like what's supposed to happen or what my character's goal is). Three, I don't know yet what the theme to the story is, the only one I can think of now is trusting in God to protect you (even if a horde of dragons is destroying the huge city you live(d) in).
So my question is, have any of you ever started writing and realized you really had nothing to write about except the basic idea (like in my case, the idea is that there's this huge city and it's being pulverized by dragons)? If so, what did you have to develop first: Characters, Setting or Theme? The reason I'm asking this is because I heard on one of the podcasts that a good way to write is "story first" writing instead of characters or plot first writing. But then also I think a good way to start figuring out my characters is to find out where they spend their time, what they do to live, etc. and to do that it'd really help if I figure out their environment first. WHAT DO I DO FIRST!?!?

*passes out from excruciating headache caused by thinking about this mess* *wakes up and backspaces a bunch of afljkkladkdkk that resulted from head falling on keyboard and presses 'submit'.

So, we've got some dragons bullying a big city?

I'd consider picking one person that lives in the city, and give them a dire need to be rid of the dragons. Maybe a young man's beloved was out of town gathering flowers when the dragons came, and is now trapped in whatever shelter she found to hide from them.

Maybe the police are going to try to bust these dragons? Perhaps they're going to hire extra help, or let out all the prisoners hire some extra help? Maybe the local rich baker's eligible daughter was out of town in the hills when the dragons came.
Maybe a couple young guys get it into their head to dashingly rescue the baker's daughter, thereby hoping to gain her hand in marriage?(it's what I'd consider doing)

Could the old bishop be a retired dragon-slayer(and is he hiding the fact from everyone?), who must now gather together various volunteers to aid him in his battle against the dragons?

I like most of your ideas, thanks for the reply! (I actually have an old guy that's sort of a prophet and knows what's going on, sort of similar to your old bishop idea). But what I meant was which should I develop more first: Characters (I already have made a MC, a 17 year old boy, and his parents are side characters), Setting (the city that I have pictured in my mind, but haven't mapped out very well yet) or theme (like showing how my characters learn to trust God when things look hopeless, but hopefully a little more specific eventually so that I can draw it out more maybe?). Sorry I'm sort of unclear sometimes, let me know if you need me to clarify anything, ok?

If you don't have one particular thing you need to work on, I suggest just starting to write the story---as how the characters, setting, or theme comes out in the story is more important than any of them by itself.

Wolf, personally I'd say develop the story before you write it. If you don't have a current goal as to where it is going, that can help you figure it out.

Start with characters. Characters are what make the story. Without characters, you have no story. Once I took the time to send my two MCs for a novel through Sir Emeth's Character Fractalling System, I was amazed at how they turned out. Now whenever I have an MC, they are going to be going all the way through the system. Yes, it's big and intimidating. But SO worth it!

For plot and things, I'm going to recommend the Steps for Writing a Novel on Go Teen Writers. I have not followed all of those steps, and my system varies from hers. But if you at least read the 'Composting Ideas' step, and especially the first few links about determining if your idea is big enough and the elements of a story, I think it would be very useful.

Thanks guys for your ideas!

Azlyn: I was sort of thinking that way, 'cause right now I think character are one of my weakest points, thanks for affirmation of that feeling.
I'm wondering if my MC isn't even ready for the fractalling system yet, I am reading The Complete Guide To Writing Fantasy V.I right now and it has a few simple steps that I think will really help me get my character to the point that he 'exists', then I could fractalise him so that he'll exist as an interesting character!
Cool, I think I'll check that out, too, I do seem to have problems with plot oftentimes. Thanks for your help!

You're welcome! NAd also, here is one more system for developing a plot that I thought was epic. Clicky me!

Cool, thank you! I had seen this before, but forgot about it. So thanks for bringing it back to mind.