Character driven plots are more focused on character development, using flaw, fear and secret to create strong realistic characters. Usually those characters drive the plot forward by their actions. Those actions are the characters reaction to the situation based solely on their personality.

For example: In Harry Potter and the Prisoner from Azkaban, Harry’s reaction to Aunt Marge insulting his parents unleashes his magic causing Aunt Marge to inflate and float into the sky. Thinking his use of magic will get him kicked out of Hogwarts, Harry flees the safety of the Dursleys home. This sets in motion a number of events including Harry deciding to use his invisibility cloak to get into Hogsmeade, where he overhears the story of Sirius Black.

This is an example of a story that is character driven. If Harry hadn’t reacted that way towards Aunt Marge he wouldn’t have run off on his own, he would have gotten permission to go to Hogsmeade from his uncle so he wouldn’t have needed to use the cloak and he never would have over heard the teachers talking about Sirius Black.

A story where the cause of the protagonists’ problems and the driving force of the entire plot are his/her own desires and actions is often considered stronger and deeper than an action driven story.

An action driven plot uses events to force the character into motion. Basically, things happen to the characters instead of the character doing things themselves. Often, characters in an action driven story seem stale and under developed this is because the author spends more time planning and writing the action. These stories are the ones where events seem to happen out of the blue – a car blows up for seemingly no reason, a tornado rips through town, or even nine wraiths come after the one ring which just happens to be in the protagonists possession.

Yes, that’s right Lord of the Rings is an action driven story. The characters do not develop much, if at all, and still it is considered one the most influential fantasy novels ever written.


Can you think of any other examples of either Character driven or Action driven stories? Which kind do you write? Which do you prefer?

I’m striving to reach a middle ground but I still think my writing is a little too action driven.

Hard to say which I like more. I've read very entertaining types of both. The nature of the momentum or driving force of a novel definitely changes the entire characteristics of the story itself.

My work seems to have the Plot revolving around an event driven scenario. However, I think the most interesting parts of the book are about some of the character interactions. I wouldn't go so far as to proclaim that I've "achieved balance". I'm not even sure one should try to balance the two.

When I think back to some of my favorite books, they are clearly written in either one style or the other, and I don't think that is a bad thing. It is what makes the book memorable. Seeking balance may weaken the two halves in order to balance the whole. maybe not a good idea.

I think it is part of a writers style that should be embraced. If you feel that you are an action driven writer, then I say, take advantage of that and exploit what you are good at.

I definately like character driven stories better than action driven ones. I see you mean about balencing the two. I try to do the same in my writing.

Personally, I think of character driven plots as the ideal but it can be difficult to achieve that quality so I am striving for a sort of balance where my action is exciting but isn't the only thing pushing the story forward. I want my characters to be fully developed enough so that they can, and do, influence the outcome of the story even when certain events happen that are out of their control.

Actually, I think the ideal is a mixture of character and action driven plot. On one hand, you need the character's actions to have meaning, and for them to be able to make decisions rather than just being railroaded by events. On the other hand, you need some sort of external 'nudge' every so often to keep things going. To use the Harry Potter example Elune used, Harry's initial actions drive the plot to where he sneaks into the bar, but then an external event (Sirius) give the actions another nudge. Think of it like rolling a ball down the street; it'll roll of it's own inertia, but every so often it needs a push to keep it going at a decent speed.

Mokele

Great analogy Mokele!

Personally, I always thought that the character/action thing was one big blob of nothingness.

Any action requires a reaction. Thus, it's basically the matter of the chicken and the egg all over again.


That being said, your characters are your story. Movies can afford shallow characters, but we should have higher standards than that.

You're right RoberII we should have higher standards but there are so many books published that are strictly one or the other. I've read way too many books to count where the characters are flat or the action boring. It is a reality.