During the three days a year it's cool enough hear to wear long sleeves, I have a beloved Writing Shirt...it says [on the back], Plot is a literary convention;story is a force of nature And it's signed by Teresa Nielsen Hayden. [ETA: For sale right here.]I think that one sentence sums it up. Anyone can have a plot, just like anyone can have a metaphor or a simile or alliteration. It's just a literary convention: if you know what it is, you can recreate it. Story, however is more. If you have a series of events, you have a plot. But to have a story, then you actually have to be good.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Plot vs. Story
This is a debate I've never heard of: plot vs. story. Sherwood Smith has a great post on her blog that details the difference. What I'm going to talk about, though, is her t-shirt.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Nice topic!
And it does remind us that we can have all the key elements, but we need to strive for that extra stuff which really makes the difference!
I agree! I want that T-shirt!
I know, PJ...I have to keep reminding myself that a brilliant plot is nothing without a brilliant story, too!
Winter--there's a link to buy it; I'm thinking of getting one, too.
Post a Comment