A guide to Character Driven Vs. Plot Driven Stories | Blog
What's the difference between character driven and. plot driven stories? Why does it matter when you're writing?
We'll get into the basics of both types of narrative perspectives. But first, let's look at a brief explanation of what sets these two apart: character driven stories are mainly focused on the characters themselves and their thoughts, their arcs as well as internal transformations, whereas plot driven stories are mainly concentrated on the events that occur, such as the causes and consequences of actions as well as external shifts.
For what the actual will look like when they are used in the real world, there are a number of points to consider. In this article, we'll explore the main differences between narrative driven vs. story driven by characters, including a variety of tips from the real world which you can apply to make either one of them into the front of your next project.
What is a Character Driven story?
Books, films, and character driven movies, and short stories all have one thing in common: they position the struggles and insights of the main characters as the central guiding aspect of the film.
Character-driven stories are those that have a strong emotional impact. driven will make you end up feeling like you know the main character. And there are some wonderful examples of this in classic and contemporary story telling.
Examples of Character Driven Stories
There's a good chance that you've read plenty of character driven stories, and many perhaps you didn't even know about it. Here are some great literary examples of tale:
- Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fineby Gail Honeyman
- An American Marriageby Tayari Jones
- The Catcher in The Ryeby J.D. Salinger
- Love in the Time of Choleraby Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- Big Little Liesby Liane Moriarty
- The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
- The Secret Historiesby Donna Tartt
- A Gentleman in Moscowby Amor Towles
Does Harry Potterplot driven or driven by characters? Which is more compelling, Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings? One way to figure out the solution is to consider how much you were influenced by the characters, rather than particular events they encountered. If so, then the piece was likely character-driven (though these examples could be somewhat misleading, since you could argue they're both character driven andplot driven, lengthy and broad in the sense that they are).
How to Write an engaging story with characters
The character-driven novels as well as other storytelling formats share a few basic aspects. If you can master these fundamentals, you'll be able to write from a character driven perspective and develop captivating stories that bring the reader along through an experience that is both internal and external.
Begin here:
1. Create a backstory for your character.
2. Check to see if there's a conflict
The fact that a story can be focused on characters doesn't mean there is nothing important happening. Consider a conflict that is significant, be sure to emphasize the inner struggle that occurs in the process instead of only the ups and downs that occur in the story. The main focus is on the transformation, which itself cannot be accomplished without some kind of tension.
3. Provide Your Character With A Clear View
What do your characters think about the events that are happening to their life? Equally important to giving your character an internal battle, you must ensure that your readers can be a part of your character as they adapt and evolve, as opposed simply watching the changes as an objective outsider.
4. Respect Your Character's Integrity
The phrase "out out of character" is a valid one. Make sure your character doesn't do something that's outside of the norm as a way to move your story in a specific direction. This will take away the authenticity of the story and could even turn off some potential people.
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What is a Plot Driven Story?
The plot-driven stories don't lack of characters in any way however, you'll learn a lot more about what the characters are doing than they are thinking. Fantasy and mysteries tend to follow this premise well, taking readers to a world that depends in large part on narrative elements and plot points.
Some examples of Plot Driven Stories
If you're a lover of action, fantasy and romance, sci-fi, or mystery, then you're probably a fan of plot-driven stories. Below are some examples of literary works which can help explain how this type of story looks like:
- Ready Player Oneby Ernest Cline
- Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
- Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
- The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
- The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
- 1Q84by Haruki Murakami
- The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
Every one of these stories are notable not just for the characters themselves however for what transpires to them. Therefore, it is common to see plot driven stories as an element of a story series with the same characters finding themselves in different and new situations.
How to write a plot to Tell a Story
1. In advance, outline your story
2. Raise the Stakes
A story that plods on an even keel doesn't have the potential draw readers in. Make use of action, setting, and characters to move your story along--including in directions that readers were not expecting. The more stakes you set and the higher stakes, the more involved your readers are likely be.
3. Add a twist
Most great plot driven stories include a twist in the plot. A single twisty, twisty, unexpected plot occurrence is pretty much a guaranteed chance to keep your readers engaged in the story and keep your audience talking about it afterwards too.
4. Indicate Cause and Effect
Plot driven stories aren't just an assortment of events that take place sequentially. There must be a causal connection connecting these stories together--i.e. it happened due to this happened, not that this took place in turn this happened. It's a subtle but important change, and it'll help your story to be more real and exciting.
After you've got all the basics established, it's now time to begin writing. Remember that you don't have to write an entire story the plot or characters. A plot-driven story could (and must) include well-developed characters as well as many of the most loved stories with characters have a captivating story.
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