Plot driven vs. Character driven

You likely have heard these terms bandied about the net with regards to novel structure.  I've always had trouble determining which one applied because there seems to be some overlap between plot driven, because events always cause other events, making it feel like every story is plot-driven.  But there is a distinction.  So where does the character driven bit come in to play?  Apparently it is about the opportunity for the character to make choices.

The book Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schmidt has an excellent explanation on page 5, which I now share with you. The clarity of this explanation is awesome.

Plot driven
"In a plot-driven story the events of the story move the story forward and cause the character to react to those events.  Characters are secondary to the plot.  They act in accordance with the plot and do not create events or situations on their own.

In a sense, the plot takes over like a tornado.  If a tornado suddenly comes through a town out of nowhere, the characters can't stop it; they have to brace themselves and react to what ever happens around them.  They don't cuase the tornado--the tornado causes them to react to it."

Character driven
"In a character-driven story the character moves the story forward through action adn choices.  She initiates the events of th esotry and causes the events to happen.  Each secene is instigated by the characters within it.

If  a character chooses to stay home one day and work in her garden, no event or situation will stop her from doing so, but another character may try to make her feel guilty for it.  This may cause her to decide not to garden, but it is totally her choice even if it seems like someone else is manipulating her.

If a tornado comes through town, the charcters will always have the time needed to decide what to do.  The focus is in the characters an dhow and why they make their decisions to stay or leave.  These decisions have the power to move the plot in different directions.  The characters have options and choices that affect the outcome."

Comments

[Bernita]

Best stories have both, I suppose.

[Charles Gramlich]

That's a pretty good description, although I can think of books where the two forces overlap. I'm with Bernita, I think the books I enjoy most have both.

[Virginia Lady]

That is an excellent description of the differences, and I agree that the stories I enjoy the most have both.

[writtenwyrdd]

Okay, so my confusion is justified if you all think good books have both sorts. Because analyzing any novel seems to put the decision in the grey middle...

[Tyhitia]

I agree that good books have both. But there are some books that have neither, and those are the ones I give away...lol.

I hope to incoporate both into my works. A writer's work is never done. We learn something new all the time. :-)