when starting a new game:

-set up a stockpile:

indoors, preferably shelves, but that's a goal to work towards

-stockpile some food:

starting with a talented grower makes early game easier. rice is best in the beginning, when it's beginning to stockpile switch to potatoes, when those stockpile to corn. each step requires less work by your pawns, leaving more time for other stuff.

-get a ranged weapon and some defenses

some bows if there's nothing else. first raid is alwaysa single melee guy, that's scripted, afaik. setup some sand bags or embrasures. walls/corridors to limit the range enemies can shoot at you.

-get batteries

super important! difficult to have a reliable food supply without those!

-get a freezer

also super important because of the above!

-set up a prison

last on the list, not that high of a priority...but still, get some more people!

and then do pretty much what you want...once early game is done, get some research done, plant some cotton, some herbal meds, set up a little medical area, etc.

this should get you to mid game fairly reliably!