Character Based v. Plot Based Fiction

Are you writing a character based novel or plot based novel?

A lot of us will insist that we are writing character based fiction because we've spent what seems like ages developing our characters. Our characters are engaging and funny, and they are the reason people read our work.

But we might be wrong.

What is plot based fiction?

Take a moment to think of J.R.R Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. There are quite distinct characters, each offering a different perspective to the story. The characters are memorable and, even if we read this story way back in childhood, we still remember them.

Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings. Photo: http://www.thegalleryofheroes.com/

Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings. Photo: http://www.thegalleryofheroes.com/

This does not make Lord of the Rings a character based story, though. In fact, due to the task-based nature, it's a decidedly plot-based story: Frodo must return the ring. The plot comes from outside of Frodo. He is not driven to do it, and the task could have been given to anyone with similar characteristics to Frodo's. Sorry, Lord of the Rings fans, as much as you love Frodo, the story could have still happened with a different protagonist.

Plot based fiction—boiled down:

1. Interesting and engaging characters
2. A task falls upon the main character
3. Another character could possibly fill the role if current main character was sick
4. The plot comes from outside the character and he is forced to do something about it

So what makes a novel “character based”?

Now consider A Separate Peace by John Knowles. It is Gene who drives this story from the very beginning, and it is specifically Gene's story: Gene is jealous of Finny; Gene causes the fall from the tree; Gene is wracked with guilt and struggles with himself; Gene confesses. Once that confession is out, the mock trial begins and Finny's second fall occurs.

Parker Stevenson as Gene (left) and John Heyl as Finny in the 1973 film version of A Separate Peace. Photo: http://www.sheimagazine.com/

A character based plot is one that is forced into action by the character. If Gene hadn't been jealous and if he hadn't wrestled with his own being, even the seemingly outside actions wouldn't happen.

Character based fiction—boiled down:

1. Interesting and engaging characters
2. The main character is motivated by something that forces him into action—usually to make a mistake or seek something
3. The story wouldn't happen if the main character weren't there to begin the action
4. The plot comes from inside the main character

And there you have it.

The term “plot-based” is not one that denigrates a story. Characters can be rich and have a transformation in a novel that revolves around outside obstacles as much as in a character based novel—in fact they should.