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Scifi and Fantasy Forum: Writer's Discussion: Questions :
Are your stories character-driven, story-driven, or...
Are your stories character-driven, story-driven, or...
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Posted By:  Magus Feb 06, 2005 - 05:57 pm |       | Good thing you left that little note there Aldan... I wound have pounced on you like a rabid starving hyena if you hadn't
| Posted By: Aldan Feb 06, 2005 - 08:06 pm | | Actually, I'd not read that book, but I do know what I look for in my favorite characters, or any characters, in a novel... I want them to DO something, even if it's not world-shaking.
I'm really into strong plots and if a story is lacking one, I put the book down. However, I think I fall into the both category only because I have both a strong twisty plot as well as a central female protagonist who is rather strong willed. I like strong characters but I also like a strong believable plot too.
| Posted By: Caltana Feb 07, 2005 - 04:23 am | | I write character driven stories personally, I like really getting to grips with a characters history and personality, so much so that the ideal is to be able to imagine the person standing right in front of you in every detail. I sometimes write stories that are specifically designed to explore character and nothing else.
| Posted By: BenJaru Feb 07, 2005 - 06:06 am | | I try to write character-driven, but I somtimes have a hard time telling between plot-driven and character-driven. Maybe I should post some of my writing, so I can get some opinions...
I've now heard people say that Tolkiens stories are plot-driven, character-driven, and world-driven!
No wonder everyone love them!
Of course I agree with you Aldan. I've realized that... But my main character is based on who I was as a child, and she goes on a different path than the one I'm on. So she's really ambitious and trying to learn, but she goes through some strange things that completely change her in a short amount of time. I don't think the reader will connect with her in the beginning, but hopefully later if I pull this off right.
The reason I wanted my main character to be like me was because I knew that later I'd be more experienced for writing and coming up with unfamiliar characters and that then I'd never be able to write about my younger self because I wouldn't remember as well. But at the moment, I can scarcely imagine having a main character who would go on this journey with me and who I'm making up as I go along... I'm changing too much from day to day, so I'd forget who my character was.
| Posted By: Magus Feb 07, 2005 - 12:47 pm | | My plots have, what I consider, unexpected twists in it throughout the epic. But the twists themselves are very character driven.
Hi all, I'm back...account was deleted for a while ( I don't know why) but I remade it.
My take on character/plot driven is this: Is the reader most focused on the characters or the plot while reading the book? Which side of the book is what makes the reader continue reading, and looking forward to the next passage?
Looking at it in this light, it is very obvious why different people see Tolkien or other books as alternatively character or plot driven. In some cases, it is fairly obvious, but in most books I believe it depends on what perspective the reader brings to the story. In my novel, for example, there is a lot of character development that gets deeper and deeper into the three main characters as teh book goes on, and to me that is the most important part of the book. But I also have a slippery plot for the readers to slide along, so I don't know whether you could classify it as solely plot or character bound.
| Posted By: Magus Feb 07, 2005 - 02:06 pm | | Sorry about that. There was a bad glitch a while back and a lot of accounts were deleted. Nobody knows what happened exactly, but it's very good to see you around again!
I tend to focus on characters a lot more than plot, because when I read stories I've noticed that it can have a cliche and (powers forbid) predictable plot, but if it has likable characters then I'll still enjoy it. For me, whether I'm reading or writing, I see the plot as a tool to provoke character development and interactions. I like to see characters do stuff moreso than see stuff happen to characters.
But I'm also guilty of finding character-driven plots easier for me, so I write them. ^^; There's a small formula I sometimes use, and I wish I could remember where I heard it: Figure out what your main character wants, and what he (or she) is most afraid of. Send him on a path toward the former (which could be just what his ordinary life is already) and toss in logical obstacles that hopefully lead up to the latter. Call me morbid, but it's just not fun until someone's had to face their worst nightmare.
| Posted By: Magus Feb 09, 2005 - 12:52 pm | | I agree. I heard something similer, but nothing near as good. It pretty much boiled down to never really let your characters be happy, when things start to look up for them smack them down with the worst plausable problem you can come up with and repeat until the story is finished.
When I read The Lone Drow by R.A. Salvatore, I found that that book is so character-driven to the point that I almost forget about the plot. It's just so good!!!!
The breadwinner of that book is definitely Drizzt's inner struggle. He's slaughtering everything thing in his path because he believes that his friends are dead. He goes into an instinctive, rage-controlled state called "The Hunter", and when he does, you better get the hell out of his way. He fears that he is letting this alter-ego of his take over his true-self. And at the same time there are two elves that want to help him in fight against the orcs, that he believes had killed his friends. He's just afraid to trust them.
On the other hand you have the orc king Obould Many-Arrows, and Gerti Orelsdottr, a very powerful frost giantess. These two are leading the forces that are ravaging the northland. When the war first began, Obould tried to mind his words when he was around the 12-foot tall giantess. She held superiority over every aspect of the war. But, after an orc ritual that has given Obould supernatural strength and speed, Gerti is learning that Obould doesn't give a •••• about what she has to say. The balance of power and authority has surely changed.
I won't run on about the whole frickin' story, but anyone who has read this book would certainly agree with me. The character's plots are so good, that you would say, "Oh,yea, there's a war going on. I forgot about that!"
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