One question that comes up quite often among fiction writers is "What's more important – plot or
character?"
(Often, this crops up in the planning stage as "which should I think about first?")
If you've been writing
fiction for a while, you'll probably already know that the "right" answer to this question is to say that both are equally important, and that they can't be separated from one another.
Characters are instrumental in creating the plot; the plot affects who those characters are (or reveals who they really
were all along).
I think that's fine as far as it goes ... but realistically, for most writers, either the plot or the characters will get more of the story's focus.
For instance, if you write thrillers, they pretty much have to be plot-driven. Even psychological thrillers have a strong emphasis on plot (often through the revelation of back story and/or through twists and surprises). You're unlikely to have a good thriller if you spend chapter after chapter inside your character's head, with nothing happening.
Literary novels, on the other hand, tend to be quite strongly character-driven. There may not be a lot of action, but there's plenty of exploration of characters' internal worlds – or of the relationships between characters. Other genres, like romance, tend to have rich characters but a straightforward plot.
Know what's expected from your genre. Make sure you match up to that – and, if you can, try to exceed expectations. For instance, you might write a thriller that has compelling, memorable characters (think Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs). Or you might write a romance novel that's intricately plotted.
In general, I feel that characters are what readers remember. If you want to keep them coming back for more, you need deep, interesting characters who grow and change. But a weak or slow plot can lose those readers before they ever get to really know your characters ... so that matters too.
Recommended Reads:
Not quite clear what "plot" really means? That's something I explore in my post What is Plot ... and is it the Same Thing as Story or Narrative?
Unsure how to come up with interesting, three-dimensional characters? Try my post Five Different Approaches to Developing Characters.
If you're struggling to bring together plot and character, K.M. Weiland's book
Structuring Your Novel does a great job of demonstrating how great plotting and great character arcs work hand-in-hand. You can find out more and grab a copy here ... or, if you're not quite ready for a whole book, check out her blog posts on novel structure here.
