Plot-driven stories are often exciting and fast-paced. When you focus on plot, you focus on events. So, a very basic definition of plot is a sequence of events that are connected by cause and effect. The time-sequence is preserved, but the sense of causality overshadows it.” ‘The king died, and then the queen died of grief,’ is a plot. He says: ''The king died and then the queen died,' is a story. Forster, in his book Aspects of the Novel. One of my favorite ways to think of plot comes courtesy of E.

No matter how you approach storytelling, remember this: your story needs both character and plot.īelow, I’d like to share a few thoughts I’ve learned along the way to help you whether you love writing unforgettable characters or structuring exciting plots. Far be it for me to disagree with the esteemed Aristotle, but I will whisper this: even an awesome plot that takes the reader on the most mind-bending twists and turns will fall flat when depending on the strength of one dimensional characters. He believed that the plot was much more important than the characters of a story. Greek philosopher Aristotle agrees with you. If you’re one of those writers, you’re in good company. It doesn’t matter how “interesting” the character is if you cannot create an antagonistic environment that chisels and defines that character.īut there are other writers who worship at the altar of action. An awesome character with nothing to do and no conflict to develop him or her is boring. Many writers make the mistake of elevating characterization over plot, but one is not better than the other. When you set out to write, do you come up with a riveting plot first or do you see a cast of compelling characters?ĭon’t worry. Sometimes, the easiest way to figure out your writing preference is by examining your own preferences. They create rich and haunting character studies that stay with the reader longer after closing the book. Other writers love delving into the psyche. These writers enjoy strategically scattering breadcrumbs for the reader to follow. Some writers prefer building an external world focused entirely on action.

By recognizing your writing preference, you will be able to identify the areas you need to balance. But the best writers understand that they must balance their preferred storytelling to create a satisfying tale. Most writers naturally lean towards one writing style. You see, there are two main types of writing styles: plot-driven or character-driven.

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