Tuesday, March 31, 2015

PLOT or CHARACTER?

The old chicken-and-egg debate has a writerly version. Should you start from plot, or from character?

My usual answer would be that it doesn't matter as long as you start. Don’t delay. Don’t think, mull, or pray. Do it.
At least that’s what I tell reluctant self when, once again, reluctant self professes that it doesn’t know where to start.



I've read variations of this discussion on writers’ blogs, How-to books, and in interviews with great writers. I was aware that most literary writing is firmly anchored in character, and in some cases barely has a plot. I noted that many bestsellers (“commercial fiction”) are impressively plotted while the characters seem more stock. Not everyone can write like Dickens and excel in both. (And speaking of Dickens, I don't think there was a consistently better writer of first paragraphs, but I digress.)
But when I reflected on my own process, I realized that with a few exceptions, most of my stories began stewing with neither. They began with theme.



didn't know what* happened, and I didn't know who** was there. What I knew was that I wanted to find a way to think about something***, and that the way was through conjuring a story.


*=Plot
**=Character
***=Theme

Oh, dear. I just complicated the chicken-and-egg thing. I added the nutritional information bar. Maybe this is a good place to stop mulling about, and start.  

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love how you complicate things, Mirka and get us really thinking. And I'm with you. I often begin with theme as well. Come to think of it, I tend to look at life thematically as well, as I search for meaning and it inevitably seeps into my writing. Great post.

Kelly Hashway said...

Usually, my books begin as characters who have something different about them or some problem that then leads to my plot.

Mirka Breen said...

"I tend to look at life thematically "--Fitting for the poet you are, Laura, and the poetic posts on your blog.

Anonymous said...

Oh, thanks, Mirka. I think we are both poets at heart.

Vijaya said...

Mirka, you are too smart for your own good ... I think I'm writing about something and it turns out I'm writing about something else entirely. Thud. I usually start with a character in a pickle, so both P and C and find my theme in the third draft.

Tina Cho said...

I think I start with a plot usually and then work from there. Starting with a theme is a great idea though!

BarbaraB said...

Mirka, I love that you have added an element to the chicken/egg dilemma. But that has never been a real problem for me. Reverting to what Vijaya said, about the "pickle." I am usually inspired by the "pickle:" or theme. Sometimes it is a social or environmental problem that I read about and want to address. After that, the character and plot develop pretty readily. This is how both my novel, Wounds, and my latest picture book, Arctic Danger, came about.

Barbara Etlin said...

I went into great detail in a post that got lost, so I'll just say, it differs for me with each book. Whatever works.

Dionna said...

I just start writing and my plot ends up in a pickle!

Anonymous said...

I think my characters and plot show up together, but I like the idea of starting with theme.