Fleurette, I didn’t see your comments in 2018, but response today would have been the same as 4 years ago: Let the characters drive the process. Stories have a Beginning, Middle, and End. As long as there are significant things happening in the plot every 10 pages or so, and you’re focused on the nature of character arcs, particularly the Protagonist, it’s very likely the story will emerge organically if you immerse yourself in the lives of your characters first. Don’t force the story into some preset formula. Good luck!