Hi,
I am Sheen Ben Philip, currently working as the editor of content-based startup. I would like to submit my proposal for the project you've proposed.
In my experience , the first step in writing any story is identfying the key theme. The easiest way to do so is to first understand what do you want your reader to feel when he is reading the story.
If the novel is mournful as it is in this case, the reader should feel the same way. In a way, writing a book is like writing code. We want the desired output and for that, we need to establish an extensive algorithm.
After establishing the theme, we come to making the characters. This is by far the most important step to writing the book. Good characters always manage to make stories better, even if the plot is weak or wayward.
And lastly, we arrive at plot and writing. A plot should always be made for the characters established and not the other way round. A good plot exposes the protagonist's weaknesses and shows how he/she deals with it. The antagonist should be skilled at attacking the protagonist.
A great example is the Batman and the Joker. Batman faces many powerful villains in his time as a vigilante, but none of them come close to attacking Batman's weakness: his inability to kill people. In this case, the Batman and the Joker are a perfect pair for a great story.
I hope to hear from you soon. I don't have much experience on this platform, but I'm looking forward to proving my credentials.
Sheen Ben Philip