To you I just want to say, thank you. I'm trying to write a story, for the first time in my life purely just for trying out new a hobby. But I kinda getting into it more than what I expected, so learning what kind of story was the first step, and you've helped me a lot with this video. Once again, thank you.
It might be really interesting to see stories where the focus shits between the two, with some parts being more character driven while others more plot driven. Maybe in a story told episodically.
Thank you, i find this video to be both useful & insightful. I think Kaiji & Ashita no Joe are great examples of character driven stories which i like. Parasyte & Vinland Saga being like a mix between plot & character driven storylines.
Thanks for the descriptions of both. Now I know that the story I'm writing is more plot-driven. Strangely, though, I started it off with an introduction of the main character.
Nate Simpson Busy with work and other projects at the moment but I have scripts for more episodes and hope to release them soon. Thanks for the support!
I agree on Fullmetal Alchemist. FMA 03 is definitely character driven; it's more about emotion than action. Brotherhood is more plot driven, but still has a good deal of complexity in characterisation and gives Ed his redemption, which I see as the core of the story.
@@Matthew-fx7qo I also felt that FMAB was leaning towards plot-driven (but still a lot of character-driven elements like the story of how they planned on getting back Elric's body)
I would say yes, you can mix both. It's actually difficult to write a balanced story with too much focus on character and no plot, or too much plot and no character. But as he says, most stories will lean a bit more to one side than the other.
hi, should stories for ages 8-12 be more plot or character driven? my thinking is that it's both, but writing for that age I'd like to know what is considered better, more enjoyed by that age group and ideally what becomes memorable and sells. thanks!
I read a very unique book titled "at night I become a monster". It's very interesting. The plot is just there and it doesn't matter for the story. At first I don't understand what the hell is it, but I thought it's good. But why is it good? The plot never finished, but weirdly the story already ended perfectly. And now I know. That's character driven. The plot really doesn't matter.
When consuming any kind of narrative, either something with an over-arching plot or something more episodic, I always prefer character driven stories. For example, Aqua Teen Hunger Force is a strictly episodic series, but the comedy comes almost entirely from the characters and their interactions.
But if I want to be a horrible writer, how can I write a story where characters change or deform for the sake of plot? While at the same time the plot and subplots stall, go nowhere, make no sense or are abandoned?
Plot driven: and I'm sure of it by the way. Yes, this one is extremely tricky, and as he said, just because something is plot driven doesn't mean it hasn't a LOT of character driven. First of all, yes, I know ASOIF uses the multi perspective narrative device; for that reason alone, all of you think it is character driven . But, your failing to notice the most important thing here: ASOIF is foremost the story of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms in a given period of time. That's it, that's the main story George R.R Martin is telling us. In that sense, he has picked, in each book, some of, if not the most, important historical figures of Westeros and the Seven kingdoms in a given period of time. Think it like this, if you are going to tel the story of the United States during the war of independence using the multi perspective, which characters will you pick? George washington, Thomas Jefferson or some random villager? That's right, the historical figures. In that sense, the reason Eddard Stark's death and many others were hard blows but not mortal to the plot, is because the story being told, is first and foremost the story of Westeros and the struggles of power both between humans and against supernatural forces
Steven Erikson's The Malazan Book of the Fallen. It has rich detailed characters motivated by their own desires and goals, yet still driven by the external conflicts of the world around them. Some books in the series are more focused on one ore the other, however, the entire series is a great blend of both.
Sherlock Holmes was never about Sherlock to me, moreso Watson and his development as a character. I would not put Sherlock Holmes a plot driven story, as I all I read it for is to see how Watson and Sherlock bounce off one another and with Sherlock's genius the case may be solved, but not without the help of Watson. In my eyes Watson was always the genius of the stories but that is a post for another day.
@Felipe Correia Borges But what if the fantasy-elements is in themselves character driven? Like a deep psychological drama used to explain how magick works, for example, Also I would say that GoT focuses on it's characters, imagine a simular setting where there are more fantasy elements that the chatacters actually know about and use
@Felipe Correia Borges Yeah I think GoT is...overrated? Also I see your point, I just think that combining these epic stories with mythological tendencies, with character driven, down to earth plots, is an uncharted territory, and one that I'm actually quite excited to explore
@Felipe Correia Borges Whaaat you sound like me xD What's this "twist" you're talking about? Mine is that fate is non-existant and that everything that happens is just a result of worldly events, strife and causality from historic events. Some characters are thrown into it, being victims of circumstances, others are moving the events of the world forward due to various motivations (one character is a blacksmith another is the emperor of the largest kingdom in the continent, for example) Even the classic fantasy-concept of "light and dark" is just an institution set up by the gods long ago (and even the gods are subject to random forces of nature) I feel like I've already said too much explaining this :|
@Felipe Correia Borges Cool! I've watched GATE too, I see your point xD Let's read each other's books when they come out ;) I'm writing in norwegian however so unless you understand that language I don't know if you'l be able to :o
And none of my schools ever teach this stuff... This feels more impactful to writing than what I learned in all my years of school.
Ikr all my school teaches is grammar, if you have garbage plot and characters, as long as u have grammar, you get an a
I don't think my school even has a creative writing class.... FML. Can't wait for college.
A Song of Ice and Fire seems to fit both.
To you I just want to say, thank you. I'm trying to write a story, for the first time in my life purely just for trying out new a hobby. But I kinda getting into it more than what I expected, so learning what kind of story was the first step, and you've helped me a lot with this video. Once again, thank you.
It’s cool to know that my story is character driven :)
It might be really interesting to see stories where the focus shits between the two, with some parts being more character driven while others more plot driven. Maybe in a story told episodically.
Steven Erikson's The Malazan Book of the Fallen is your 10 novel epic for such a ride.
I'll have to check it out when I get the chance. Thanks
Thank you for a superb video. Very well explained.
Thanks Shwaapy!
Have you ever considered explaining how to write a good work of nonsense fantasy?
Breaking Bad imo is actually mix of the two and it makes it so good. Plot is great and the characters develop very much.
I looked up this topic and instantly fell in love with your videos. Please make more so my insecure ass will get the knowledge write good XD
Thank you, i find this video to be both useful & insightful. I think Kaiji & Ashita no Joe are great examples of character driven stories which i like. Parasyte & Vinland Saga being like a mix between plot & character driven storylines.
Thanks for the descriptions of both. Now I know that the story I'm writing is more plot-driven. Strangely, though, I started it off with an introduction of the main character.
I'll try
Taxi driver is best example for charactr Driven film
so youtube just recommended you and boy you are one good hidden gem. subscribed
I learned so much, thank you for explaining it so well!
Great video. Short, sharp, but clear and engaging. Thanks :)
Using this in my creative writing class. Thank you!
Great break down on the difference, thanks!
Great explaination , million thanx 🥰
This was Very helpful Thank you so much please plan more in the Future
Nate Simpson Busy with work and other projects at the moment but I have scripts for more episodes and hope to release them soon. Thanks for the support!
Thank you very much ! I learned a lot
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! You earned a subscriber my friend :)
So I recently read Gulliver's Travels, it seemed neither plot driven nor character driven. Could it be world driven? Is that even an option?
So basically, Fullmetal Alchemist vs. Fullmetal Alchemist, or Cars 2 vs. most Pixar movies.
I agree on Fullmetal Alchemist. FMA 03 is definitely character driven; it's more about emotion than action. Brotherhood is more plot driven, but still has a good deal of complexity in characterisation and gives Ed his redemption, which I see as the core of the story.
I've been conflicted about FMA for years, because I can't decide if I prefer raw emotion or coherency.
@@Matthew-fx7qo I also felt that FMAB was leaning towards plot-driven (but still a lot of character-driven elements like the story of how they planned on getting back Elric's body)
is it possible to have a mix between both character and plot driven story
Mr. Hat Maybe if you're writing an episodic story, otherwise both plot and character driven stories are contradictory
I would say yes, you can mix both. It's actually difficult to write a balanced story with too much focus on character and no plot, or too much plot and no character. But as he says, most stories will lean a bit more to one side than the other.
Not from a Jedi
Yeah a story might start character driven then convert to plot driven.
Cherry Bomb game of thrones 🙂
Thanks you so much 👍👍
[Honest Question] What if the characters are the plot, if that makes sense?
Venstre like character’s personality and development drive the plot? Without their personality, certain plots wouldn’t happen.
ASOIAF has broken a lot of rules including this one.
How would you describe lost ....
Plot driven or character driven ??
Shitty driven
Mostly plot driven
hi, should stories for ages 8-12 be more plot or character driven? my thinking is that it's both, but writing for that age I'd like to know what is considered better, more enjoyed by that age group and ideally what becomes memorable and sells. thanks!
Character-driven.
I read a very unique book titled "at night I become a monster". It's very interesting. The plot is just there and it doesn't matter for the story.
At first I don't understand what the hell is it, but I thought it's good. But why is it good? The plot never finished, but weirdly the story already ended perfectly.
And now I know. That's character driven. The plot really doesn't matter.
I don't think that there's a difference. It's all just story. Plot drives character decisions, character decisions drives plot. Same thing.
So for example, the Phantom Menace not having a "traditional" protagonist is because it's a plot driven movie? Never seen it that way before.
Character driven = Bumblebee
Plot driven = Infinity War
Correct?
I came here to know how to make a story with just using one character
Thanks
How would you put Quentin Tarantino movies? i think it's more plot driven but I would like your opinion
Depends on the movie I’d say movies like inglorious bastards are more plot driven while django unchained is character driven
When consuming any kind of narrative, either something with an over-arching plot or something more episodic, I always prefer character driven stories. For example, Aqua Teen Hunger Force is a strictly episodic series, but the comedy comes almost entirely from the characters and their interactions.
Can you do a video about a setting driven or concept driven stories?
what would pulp fiction be? 60 character 40 plot?
The best character driven story that I can think of is Welcome to the N.H.K.
Yes!!!that anime is the reason i started to want to write
But if I want to be a horrible writer, how can I write a story where characters change or deform for the sake of plot? While at the same time the plot and subplots stall, go nowhere, make no sense or are abandoned?
mine is character driven but i thought up the plot first.
I have a character and his plot is to take over the world.
Is Harry Potter plot or character driven?
Plot driven
Character driven all the way!!
ASOIAF is both. I can't tell which direction it leans.
Plot driven: and I'm sure of it by the way.
Yes, this one is extremely tricky, and as he said, just because something is plot driven doesn't mean it hasn't a LOT of character driven.
First of all, yes, I know ASOIF uses the multi perspective narrative device; for that reason alone, all of you think it is character driven .
But, your failing to notice the most important thing here: ASOIF is foremost the story of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms in a given period of time. That's it, that's the main story George R.R Martin is telling us.
In that sense, he has picked, in each book, some of, if not the most, important historical figures of Westeros and the Seven kingdoms in a given period of time.
Think it like this, if you are going to tel the story of the United States during the war of independence using the multi perspective, which characters will you pick? George washington, Thomas Jefferson or some random villager? That's right, the historical figures.
In that sense, the reason Eddard Stark's death and many others were hard blows but not mortal to the plot, is because the story being told, is first and foremost the story of Westeros and the struggles of power both between humans and against supernatural forces
Would Iron Man 3 be character driven? The movie is about Tony dealing with his inner struggles.
can anyone give a good example of what about a 50/50 blend of the two may look like?
Steven Erikson's The Malazan Book of the Fallen. It has rich detailed characters motivated by their own desires and goals, yet still driven by the external conflicts of the world around them. Some books in the series are more focused on one ore the other, however, the entire series is a great blend of both.
If I'm not mistaken, Avatar: The Last Airbender is plot-driven while Steven Universe is character driven.
So Death Note would be character driven?
Plot driven. Character driven anime would be more like cowboy bebop
Sherlock Holmes was never about Sherlock to me, moreso Watson and his development as a character. I would not put Sherlock Holmes a plot driven story, as I all I read it for is to see how Watson and Sherlock bounce off one another and with Sherlock's genius the case may be solved, but not without the help of Watson. In my eyes Watson was always the genius of the stories but that is a post for another day.
arent the characters causing the plot
So fantasy can't be character-driven?
@Felipe Correia Borges But what if the fantasy-elements is in themselves character driven? Like a deep psychological drama used to explain how magick works, for example,
Also I would say that GoT focuses on it's characters, imagine a simular setting where there are more fantasy elements that the chatacters actually know about and use
@Felipe Correia Borges Yeah I think GoT is...overrated? Also I see your point, I just think that combining these epic stories with mythological tendencies, with character driven, down to earth plots, is an uncharted territory, and one that I'm actually quite excited to explore
@Felipe Correia Borges Whaaat you sound like me xD
What's this "twist" you're talking about?
Mine is that fate is non-existant and that everything that happens is just a result of worldly events, strife and causality from historic events.
Some characters are thrown into it,
being victims of circumstances,
others are moving the events of the world forward due to various motivations (one character is a blacksmith another is the emperor of the largest kingdom in the continent, for example)
Even the classic fantasy-concept of "light and dark" is just an institution set up by the gods long ago (and even the gods are subject to random forces of nature)
I feel like I've already said too much explaining this :|
@Felipe Correia Borges Cool! I've watched GATE too, I see your point xD
Let's read each other's books when they come out ;)
I'm writing in norwegian however so unless you understand that language I don't know if you'l be able to :o