Hey-

Just discovered your blog on Scribomatic.

I don't think it's possible to start with "plot," because you can't have a plot without a character wanting something. You might be able to come up with a cool premise, or hook, or setting, but until you have a protagonist, you don't have any sort of story.

The character's desires will ultimately determine where the plot goes, even if external events cause things to happen for the character.

That's one of the big reasons we fall in love with specific actors, no?

I usually start with character, but not always, sometimes it's an idea or a "situation" (like, a priest stuck a porn convention) ... I don't know that plot is how I ever describe story ... to me, story is what happens and plot is how it happens ... so plot is how I figure out how best to tell my story, but it's not what I call "the story".

Not saying that's right or wrong, just how I define what I do ... my opinion, in other words ... LOL!

"Which came first, the chicken or the egg?"

I say egg. (the plot)

For me it's plot. EASY QUESTION to answer. First I need to know the overall story I want to tell, then as I flesh it out I explore characters. THEN as I get to know the characters better, their cource modifies the plot I originally envisioned.
That's how I do it.

I guess you can build a story arround a character, like say you were writing something for Tom Cruise, Will Farrell, Adam Sandler, or Will Smith. BUT isn't that moreless what's called a WRITING ASSIGNMENT, which are typically paid gigs?

I consider myself more of a plot writer. THOUGH I have written some very memorible characters in those plots.

- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA

If you're a half-decent writer, the answer is easy -- both, because characters dictate where the plot goes, and plot informs the types of characters involved.

plot most definitely. if you don't have an interesting idea for a story it won't matter how cool your character is. i can watch stories without incredible characters, but i can't watch characters without stories.

A note for those who answer "plot" -- concept isn't the same thing as plot.

Thanks for the add! I've been thumbing through your recent posts and they're very helpful for us newbies, especially the Script Reader series.

NYU is great, but I'm starting to dread the inevitability of, well, graduation! It's a scary time for a wannabe screenwriter... maybe I should fail a few classes so I can stick around longer.

In response to the people saying plot - isn't the point of a plot to take a character on a journey? No matter what kind of idea pops into your head, you're going to need some type of character to drive the story, even if it's "an ordinary guy who lives an ordinary life."

It's not necessary to have a fully fleshed out character before you come up with a plot, but you can't HAVE a plot without at least some sort of character!

@ Jason S:

Absolutely! Otherwise, one ends up with a non-character-driven plot full of stock characters slotted in to get you from one point to the next. "Episodic" comes to mind.

That's why I feel the answer is both. Without the two working in concert (preferably spawned from a great concept and at least a semblance of theme), how can a great story be formed? I don't think it can.

I like to throw concept in there with plot, which means that plot is definitely what I got for first. Concepts come to me pretty easily, and typically I will start formulating the plot right then and there. Once I have a general idea of where the characters will belong within the story, I will start developing them. My stories always end up being character driven, though, which is interesting when I always begin with plot.

I always have a scene, a situation, an image, that trigs it all.

From there I start with the characters. But I would stay that the plot comes close behind.

I start with plot. A what if situation. Then I ask my self: Who should be the protagonist? Who will make the story the most interesting? What kind of person should the protagonist be?

From here I work both plot and character, tailoring each to the other until they morph into a unique story.

Then I write.

Keep Writing!

Usually a character, a scene or an emotion sparks my story.

What Mike said... except that a what-if is a concept, not a plot.

A plot is the extension of that concept.

@ Luzid:

I agree with you that you can't have one without the other, but saying that the answer is both is SUCH a copout. :D

@ JS:

Well, I truly believe you can't create a great story without both working in tandem -- but I suppose I have to concede that one must precede the other , if for no other reason than it's impossible to write both down in the same instant. :p

As such, I'd have to say concept (which I still contend is the seed of a plot, the plot being the flower it produces), followed by the character(s) that best explore that concept and thus create the plot (e.g. a man who fears the water and can't swim being forced to contend with the killer shark terrorizing his seaside villa by going out to sea to kill it).

i agree with "concept" being the beginning - but it still begs the question; once you have your concept, what attracts you next? developing the character and see what they'd do within that concept? or following the most interesting plot development?

and for me its most definitely the plot development. but i'm finding that now that i've done that (to the tune of 5 drafts), i now need to go back and "go into the story" a different way in order to experience the human/character side of it - the part that actual people connect to when they read your stories. at least all those other humans that aren't fans of law & order.