May 2021
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May 2021
May 2021
IndigoShirtProd
May '21

Let's start with the poll. Do you think your comic/novel is more character driven or plot driven. Now be honest, really consider what is pulling you story forward. Is it your characters or are they just along for the ride?

  • It's all about the characters, I put them first!
  • Who would the characters be without the plot?
  • It's a mix of both, to be honest, an either or depending on what's happening.

85voters

Votes are public.

For me I think my comic is more plot driven. I have my own problems with that being the case, but it was also kind of unavoidable with the premise of my comic and the tropes it falls into. I usually don't have a problem with tropes and clichés, but I feel in this case, where they take way from character agency, I see them as a negative.

I only bring this up because I'm struggling with my writing right now and I want to hear how other people view their comics or novels.

I feel as though a general audience is more attracted to an active protagonist or characters rather than passive ones. For me personally, I think there space for protags that are more passive, though maybe not all the time. How do you feel about active characters vs. reactive characters?

And then there's the issue of having characters, usually side characters, that are solely fountains of exposition. Their dialogue feels impersonal and only there to inform the other characters (and the reader) what is going on. They lack the layers that make them a character, to a point where they could be replaced with an information booth. I think it's easier to personalize and flesh out main characters as opposed to side characters, even if the side characters are important to the plot. Ever struggled with this?

nathanKmcwilliamsIn the making of Bunneh The Rabbit
May '21

I'd say right now, I'm focused on characters. But when I first started it was kind of on plot rails, which I think showed my inexperience with writing because I didn't trust myself to write dialogue.

And yeah. As you know :speak_no_evil: Exposition is tough to deal with, as a little is necessary, but it's all too easy to go overboard.

IndigoShirtProd
May '21

Especially since if you don't give certain exposition i.e., context, then later scenes and story beats will jus not make sense.

nathanKmcwilliamsIn the making of Bunneh The Rabbit
May '21

Exposition shouldn't be used to dump lore either, unless it's specifically relevant to that moment in the story. Even then you want to be careful to word it in a way that the character would speak, so as not to make it feel like a wikipedia article is being read instead of dialogue.

IndigoShirtProd
May '21

Yea, an I also think it comes down to really understanding the character, which is something I've struggled with when it comes to my present comic. I guess I have a fear of be inconsistent in a way that is distracting and doesn't make sense.

nathanKmcwilliamsIn the making of Bunneh The Rabbit
May '21

I've made a character or two that I didn't really think all the way through. At times like this I try to either find ways to make them more important so I can get a better idea what to do with them. Or I find a way to remove them from the field temporarily.

But, I'm a pantser so I'm a little more fluid and can adapt when stuff changes. Not sure if that helps you though.

IndigoShirtProd
May '21

I think me being a plotter is a major contributing factor to my plot driven story telling. I already know how things end and the character story arcs, so now I'm stuck trying to mold the characters to fit that. It feels somewhat unnatural.

djourner
May '21
1

Though I do believe a balance has to be struck between plot moment and characters moments.

I can watch a show with terrible plot but excelent characters,
I cannot watch a show with great plot but uninteresting characters.

So I tend to believe character > plot any day of the week... But having both is what makes it really fun.
A good set of characters can only carry a story so far before their poor little backs break.

I also find it very boring when stories focus a whole lot on certain plots, particularly the political and or 'demon king' stuff. like it's ok to have that as a backdrop for the characters... But i've seen to many times
the empire of darkness vs the kingdom of light,
or the red army vs blue army,
or the widely diverse set of culturaly stereotypical nations colored after the same basic primary colors and representing real life cultures preparing for war for any petty reason.

I get why people do that, but it never feels fresh or interesting,
Regardless, I'm digressing...

Secondly, I do not believe wether the character is passive or active in the plot is really the main factor. It's all about framing... A passive character can be so to emphasize how desentized they are, how they feel like they have no hope or desire to fight back and instead just experience everything as if it didn't matter, and it can often create dramatic tension for the moments they do decide to act.

Expo-Dump characters can go die in a fire though. Especially the annoying and useless sidekick variety.

TheDoublekey
May '21

I would say a mix of both since my characters wouldn't be able to develop without certain plot events and the plot would feel empty without my characters. Plot gives meaning to the characters, the characters give meaning to the plot and bring the themes of the story to life.

polochon
May '21

Though I think plot is important, I tend to put the characters first in my comics, as it is usually what the readers (at least me, as a reader) relate to and get attached to. I think having lovable, funny or charismatic characters is what hooks the readers at first, and then they continue reading if the plot is as good as the characters.

I also think the characters' strength is how they evolve, so of course, if the plot is non-existent, the characters can't evolve, or they might look blend, hence I do think the plot is very important as well.

But that's only my way of seeing it! Others artists or readers might see it completely differently. I'm sure if the plot is excellent, the characters will naturally shine anyway.

And I totally agree with @djourner !

Rhonder
May '21

My comic is undeniably character driven- it's a D&D adaptation and most everything that happens is driven by the character's (and by extention, player's) decisions, curiosity, & whim. I've accordingly taken a semi-slice of life approach to telling the story. There's an underlying plot there that kicks off a ways into the adventure, but the focus is definitely on all of the antics that the party gets themselves into, and they're at the center and focus of it all~

IndigoShirtProd
May '21
djourner

This is part of the reason why I feel like I'm stuck between a rick and a hard place. I really wanted good banter between the characters, and I think I achieved that but, on the other side...
I don't my characters are bad, I think they're likeable but unrelatable. I traded a more streamlined and plot focused narrative for a loss of grounded and relatable character moments.

Good thing my characters are important to the plot and not annoying :rofl:

ShoresofAcadie
May '21
polochon

I like your take on this!

I have a similar approach. I am all about my characters - I get very attached to them as a reader, and as a writer I really love watching them evolve and grow right in front of my eyes. That said, I think it's a good idea to have an overall sense of where you want the plot to go, because that is what will keep things driving forward (and also helps you from accidentally writing yourself into a corner!).

An_Alias
May '21

Maybe I’m misunderstanding, but shouldn't the plot be driven by the characters? I can’t think of any “good” stories that have a plot with characters that were just along for the ride.

IndigoShirtProd
May '21
An_Alias

I can't speak too much on this property because I haven't read the books or watched the movies. I also don't think this aspect is all encompassing an speaks to the story as a whole.

What comes to mind for me is Frodo from Lord of the Rings, though you can debate on if it's a plot driven story or characters driven. On the one hand, Frodo chooses to take the ring to Mordor, on the other, them getting to Mordor is kind of set in stone and any deviations didn't change the final outcome.

Though, maybe LOTR isn't the best example, there's much to debate there.

polochon
May '21
ShoresofAcadie

Oh dear, in my very early stories (the dark past) I made the mistake of not having the overall plot written, and I got totally lost in my own story after 2 or 3 chapters, which led me to dropping the whole thing out. Thankfully it wasn't anything I published anywhere hahaha.

So I usually have at least an overall plot with beginning / middle / end + some trivia ready, and then fully constructed characters with how I want them to evolve.

As for LOTR, I think if both the story and the characters are excellent, you can't know which one drives the other haha.