Plot Doesn’t Actually Matter

Today, we’re going to talk about a slightly controversial topic: Why the plot of your book doesn’t actually matter. 

Now, before you jump to conclusions, let me clarify—of course, the plot matters. It’s one of the essential ingredients of a story. You’ve got your characters, your theme, your world-building, your relationships and of course, your plot. These are kind of the five main elements that I personally consider the building blocks of the story.

Do you want to know the least important part of your story?

You guessed it—plot.

I know this might come as a surprise because a lot of writers come into the process thinking that plot is the most crucial part of their story. They feel like if they don’t have a good plot, they don’t have a good story, and no one will want to read their novel.

But that’s not true.

Plot is not the most important thing about your story.

Want to know what is? Characters. That’s right. If you’ve been following me on Instagram, taken any of my courses, or worked with me directly, you already know this. I’m a firm believer that you cannot have a compelling story without strong characters.

The truth is, you can have a great story without a complex plot. And I know this because it’s been done before. Some of the most celebrated classic novels don’t rely on intricate plots at all. Instead, they have strong, memorable characters who drive the story forward.

Now, I know this is a little controversial coming from someone who literally named her business "The Plottery," but hey, "The Character-ry" didn’t have the same ring to it, right? So, forgive me for that one.

In this post, I’ll dive into a few reasons why I believe plot isn’t as important as everyone thinks. Spoiler alert: It’s all about the characters.

1. Passive Protagonists

This is usually what you will get when your plot is placed ahead of your character. Let's say, for example, you were crafting an intricate, really complex plot, with detailed world-building, and sooooo many obstacles and conflict to be had. 

But all of this will be boring if it actually means nothing to your character. 

If you push your protanogist into the plot, then you are most likely going to end up with a very passive person and things are just gonna happen to them because you have already crafted the plot and you are just...putting the person in the situation - instead of letting the person lead the situation themselves.

This is why you should ALWAYS start from your character.  

When developing a story, it's crucial to focus not just on the plot, but on how it genuinely impacts your protagonist. Too often, writers get caught up in the excitement of crafting a detailed world and intricate scenarios, forgetting that the heart of a compelling story lies in how it affects the hero at its core.

Your plot should not only be a sequence of events but should spring from your protagonist’s choices and actions. Your hero should be the driving force behind the narrative, pushing the plot forward through their personal journey and decisions.

2. Stories are never actually about plot

You must be thinking: "Char, what the hell are you talking about? Stories are what happens in stories."

I'd beg to differ.

What truly makes a story memorable is not just what happens, but who it happens to and how it transforms them. 

Stories are fundamentally about the characters and their growth through the events they experience. It’s about the journey they undertake, the challenges they face, and how they evolve along the way.

Great stories go beyond just the plot; they dig into deeper themes, messages, and questions. If your story doesn’t have this deeper layer of meaning or deeper message, something that you are trying to answer throughout your work, plot or characters - then it's gonna be boring. 

Plot can be super fun, and obviously, it is a crucial part of your story, but like I said, it's a device; it's just something that you are using to serve your characters.

3. Plot doesn't actually have to be complex.

A lot of writers get overwhelmed by the idea of the plot, thinking they need a complex system with detective boards, coloured threads, and weeks of intense planning. But guess what? It doesn’t have to be that complicated!

You can always extract your plot out of your characters! You only need three things:

- You figure out who your protagonist is

- You figure out what it is that they are struggling with and

- You figure out how are they actually going to overcome that by the end of the story.

That's it. You don't need anything else, no other intricate details or anything. All you need is this character and their internal struggle and a vague idea of how you want them to overcome it.

This is the foundation of every plot; this should be the meat of your story, and once you have this, then you can add more details to enrich the flavour. Think about subplots, world-building, and developing secondary characters. These extras come after you’ve got your main plot figured out.

All it really takes is you coming up with some flawed characters, letting them be their beautiful, flawed selves, and seeing what sort of obstacles they encounter or what sort of troubles they get into by being who they are. After this, you are going to think about how you are going to resolve them. 

Whether you will let them resolve those conflicts or not is entirely up to you and the type of writer you are!

When you're starting out, you don’t need to dive headfirst into complex plot structures. Forget about intricate plotting tools or weeks of brainstorming. Instead, focus on creating a few strong characters with distinct struggles and flaws. Let these characters drive the story with their personal journeys.

This brings me to my fourth point:

4. Every plot is the same

Whether you're using the three-act structure, the five-act structure, or starting in the middle of the story, most stories follow a predictable flow. They generally have ups and downs, and they usually end either happily or tragically.

The magic happens in the details. You can place the same fundamental plot in different genres—horror, romance, or even a Disney film—and it will take on unique characteristics based on how you tweak the vibe, characters, and execution. So, don't stress about creating an entirely new plot; instead, focus on how your characters navigate their challenges and bring your own flair to the story.

You might have heard this before, but it bears repeating: there’s no such thing as a completely original story. Today, everything is inspired by something else or a retelling of something familiar - but do you know what that means?

It means it takes the stress off of you, and you can stop trying to be original; you can stop trying to come up with this amazing complex, intricate plot twist that no one's gonna see coming - because someone's gonna see it coming if you do it right.

That's the thing about good plot twists; if you foreshadow them and structure them well, then you shouldn't be disappointed if someone does see them coming.

Instead, worry about your characters, the issues that you portray, the topics you want to use in your book, how those translate onto the page and whether you are putting your spark of originality into it.

You are not out there yet, and that's what the world needs. The world needs to hear what you have to say because no one else in the entire world can say it in the way that you can.

If you're struggling with your plot, remember this:

1. Focus on Characters: Most plot issues stem from problems with your characters. Dig deep into their backstories, internal conflicts, and journeys. If something feels off in your plot, it's often because your characters aren't fully developed or their motivations aren't clear.

2. Internal Conflict: Make sure you understand what each character’s internal conflict is. This is crucial for driving your story forward. If you don’t have a clear picture of this, your plot may feel disjointed.

3. Plot Holes: If you encounter a complex plot hole, it might be time to revisit your outline. But remember, most problems can be traced back to character development rather than plot structure.

4. Change Your Approach: Think of your story as driven by characters rather than a complex puzzle you need to solve. This shift in perspective can often help you find the missing pieces and get back on track.

5. Get Back to Basics: When in doubt, return to your character sheets. Sometimes the solution to a plot issue is simply understanding your characters better.

Char Anna

Char is the author of the writing guide ‘Finish Your First Novel’ and the founder of The Plottery. She’s been in the biz since 2021, and holds a BA in Film & Screenwriting as well as an MA in Creative Writing from Edinburgh Napier University.

Char resides in rainy Scotland with her pup Lavender (who is anything but calm, contrary to what her name suggests), and she writes darker fiction that focuses on unusual family dynamics and lots of queerness.