Newswire
Posted on 04/15/2021 at 12:53 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek
Author Sharon Oard Warner has frequently been asked, often by graduate students, whether a story's plot or character should be established first.
The answer is that you really can't separate them, so the question is moot — but don't think this is because Warner is avoiding the question.
It’s because, as Greek philosopher Heraclitus is credited as saying, character is destiny.
Or, if you prefer a more modern analogy, you wouldn’t commit to taking a road trip with someone if you didn’t have both a reason to hop along and a willingness to spend time with that person.
Even if the plot-versus-character debate has never crossed your mind or troubled you, check out Warner’s explanation of her answer on Jane Friedman’s blog.
Categories: Behind the scenes