What a conundrum I have for you.....
By celticeagle
@celticeagle (158680)
Boise, Idaho
January 21, 2011 8:49pm CST
I am a writer. I have published articles to several sites online for about three years now. I enjoy it and I enjoy the process. I especially enjoy finding a curiousity and then starting to do research on it and then writing the article. I also have a couple of short stories that I am writing. They are romantic ones, fantastical ones that I will share with you folks when i am done with them. Oh, and there is a novel i have been writing since I was in Junior High. But my quandry to you folks is this: What is the most important part of a story? Is the style you use or the characterization of characters? Or is it the storyline? I think it is the latter because without a unique and interesting storyline you have no book! You can be a whiz kid at doing the description, and you can characterization until the reader knows these people like special friends but if you don't have a good story to tell then all these other things are silly bits of rubbish on a piece of paper. But on the other hand, if you have a good story the characterization and the style all fall into the story telling. What say you? What part of writing is the most important?
2 people like this
6 responses
@angelic123 (1108)
• United States
22 Jan 11
In my opinion it is the plot that really matters.If the plot is to easy to guess or bland then the character though is strong and greatly emphasize or done, there will be nothing to it.But if the story has a good plot and the reader can not guess the twist and turn of events, the readers will continue to read more.They will want to find out what is next.What is the climax and what is the conclusion of the story. I love Dan Brown's twist of event in his book "Angels and Demon". I could not really guess what will happen next.So I continue to read until dawn and eager to find out the rest of the plot.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (158680)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Jan 11
Yes, certainly the plot. And if easy to guess then you feel let down. I do love a good page turner.
1 person likes this
@hedgielady (96)
• United States
22 Jan 11
While I agree that the plot is vital, I tend to lean more to characterization as most important. The reason for this is I've seen really great, interesting, cool plots ruined because the characters sucked. I've started a book, thinking "Ooh, I love the storyline here" and then put it down in disgust because the characters annoyed me. I -hate- when that happens, because I still want to know what the resolution to the storyline was, I just can't stand to read it because I want to kill the characters.
@isabelwakeford (57)
•
23 Jan 11
Dear all
As an unaccomplished, ever-hopeful, writer of short stories, ( and small-time Astro-profiler), I would agree that the plot is the silken-thread that holds the
whole effort together; there again, creating a sense of place and setting with 'word-painting, credible characters and a modicum of stylistic newness all help to gild the narrative-lily, but a good 'twist-in-the-tail' ending to your plot.Ahhhhh....that's the key to Pandora's box. Namaste.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
22 Jan 11
when i was getting lessons from the writing school,my instructor said the most important thing is to draw in the reader right off. thats what i did and she was quite impressed. but, i quit to work on raising kids, and surviving. now im to old. anyway. i made good grades and may try again some day if i could just feel good several days in a row.
@celticeagle (158680)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Jan 11
Yes, and that is one of the things that erk me. I am really picky about books. If they don't start out interesting then I move on. One thing that is very frustrating. Hope you get those good days.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
22 Jan 11
I think it is a combination of them all. I have read stories with great storylines but not enough description to pull me in. Then I have read those that were so descriptive that I got lost in the description...does that make sense?..lol.
I think it is the writer that can concoct a potion of a story that brings you in... Oh those are the best.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (158680)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Jan 11
Yes, Jen, I see your point. A concoction of all makes for a great story. I can name some names. I think Edgar Rice Burroughs was one of the best.
@hedgielady (96)
• United States
22 Jan 11
Oh, it completely makes sense that some were too descriptive. I once read a book where it took over a page to describe something, and I found myself bored to tears, thinking "Would you just get on with the bloody story, please?!" I like a balance, but I've got a short attention span for too much detail. If someone spends more than one paragraph describing a character's hair, for instance, I'm likely to toss the book in disgust.
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
22 Jan 11
CE-
I enjoy books that not only develop the character, but also develop the plot line with great description. One piece of advice I received from a fellow published author was to read more books in the genre I wished to write on and that would provide me with the comparison of what is currently being published.
Namaste-Anora
1 person likes this
@Toadsticker (246)
• United States
23 Jan 11
I think the best stories are always character driven. You can have the greatest plot line in the world but if you have wooden characters it falls flat. Whereas if you have a very interesting character people will forgive a sorry plot just to see what this character will do next.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (158680)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Jan 11
But if you are wondering what the characters will do next the plot must be pretty good.
