Have you ever come across a book that has kept you hooked with its array of colourful and layered characters? Or have you ever been enthralled by the weird and wonderful locations a writer can whisk you off to? Character and plot driven stories are the two most common ways of writing a fiction story, each with their own unique characteristics. Join us here at What We Reading as we guide you through the plot driven vs character driven differences so that you’ll be able to spot and use them in your reading and writing going forward!
What Is A Character Driven Story?
A character driven story is one where the author puts more emphasis on characters rather than the plotline. Whether it be through their development or dynamics with others, readers will find themselves engaged with a character and connected to their journey. Authors put the spotlight on a character’s inner thoughts and emotions as a means of explaining their actions and motivations.
Some of the best character driven books include the likes of A Gentleman in Moscow (Amor Towles), Little Fires Everywhere (Celeste Ng) or Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine (Gail Honeyman).
But, how do character driven stories differ from plot driven stories?
What Is A Plot Driven Story?
On the flip side, a plot driven story is all about action and a fast-paced storyline. When reading these stories, readers will often be pulled into the twists and turns that come with every passing chapter. Characters and their decisions are often made because of the events occurring around them, rather than what they might actually e thinking or feeling.
Not to say that there isn’t any character development, it’s just not where the writer’s emphasis is.
Some of the best plot driven books include The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown), Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn) and Big Little Lies (Liane Moriarty).
So, now that you have an idea of these areas of storytelling crafting, how do you choose between them?
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Choosing Between A Plot Driven And Character Driven Story
The primary difference between a plot driven story and a character driven one is, in a plot driven book, the action and events unfolding will be the main point of focus. Whereas, in a character driven book, the spotlight is much more on the emotions and thoughts behind a person.
Character driven books can often feel more stripped-back, smaller scale and intimate in comparison to the sweep of grandiose journeys that unfold in a plot driven read.
When an author writes a plot driven book, characters are used to comment on and react to the events of the story. In a character driven story, plot events are used as a means of developing a character’s personality.
The genre of a book can go a long way in determining whether it develops into either plot or character driven. Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Crime Thrillers tend to be some of the most plot-driven books in the reading world where characters are often forced to react to new events and developments.
Alternatively, Historical Fiction and Romance genres tend to be two of the most popular genres for character driven books where the lives of those inside its pages are explored in great detail.
Of course, there is no concrete rule when it comes to these things. There are plenty of literary fiction books that have huge plotlines, as well as plenty of Mystery, Horror and other types of Thrillers that strip everything back and put a firm emphasis on their character arcs.
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Tips For Writing A Character Driven Book
- Create a layered backstory that shapes a protagonist’s personality when readers meet them. The backstory should not only influence their personality but also drive their motivations and actions.
- Ask yourself what each character is attempting to achieve during the book. Decide if they are going to achieve it, and what obstacles they will have to overcome in the process.
- Each character should have advantages and drawbacks. Focusing on internal conflicts with themselves is a great way of giving them a more compelling personality.
- Work on developing a strong and distinct delivery. Each character should feel different to one another, with a protagonist needing to have a strong and believable voice to connect with.
Tips For Writing A Plot Driven Book
- Ensure the structure is tight. Make sure something is either happening or ramping up to the point of happening with every chapter.
- Work out what your major plot twists and cliffhangers are. It will help tighten the structure of the plot and get the characters to where you need them to be.
- Conflict is also important with plot driven books. Instead of internal conflicts, however, focus on external conflicts between the characters – what are the challenges they face? What obstacles are in the way?
Plot Driven vs Character Driven: Which Is Best?
Whether you prefer the intimate relationships of a character driven story or the more action-packed events of a plot focused novel is entirely down to your own personal choice. There are classic great pieces of literature on either side of the fence, and whether you prefer one or the other is a matter of taste.
Typically, it’s common for writers and authors to gravitate towards the genres they like reading, and vice versa.
On a personal front, we here at What We Reading enjoy how character driven novels can dive into the patterns of human behaviours, and love how deep a story can go even when there doesn’t appear to be as much on the surface. With that being said, we’ve read some cracking plot driven stories and watched some great adaptations on the big and small screens over the years.
Ultimately, the reading world is so much better with more vibrancy and different types of creativity being allowed to flourish. Both types of fiction writing have their merits, so our best piece of advice would be to try and experience as much of both as possible, experiment around and let us know what your favourites are!
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
