So, I've got something of a survey to give.
I'm sure you've all heard that there are two types of writers: character-driven and plot-driven.
I'm neither.
I'm a world-driven writer.
I always start with a world, usually involving some system of magic or some technological driver, and I work out from there. Plot and character are tools I use to tell a story that shows off my world.
And, just for the record and to further drive a stake into the idea of writers being either character or plot driven, let me note that I also know writers who are idea-driven and prose-driven, giving us at least five kinds. I suspect there are more.
So what drives your writing? What gets you behind the keyboard? Character? Plot? World? Idea? Prose? Or perhaps you just sort of sit in the back seat and watch what happens? Well?
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I'm character-driven. Having said that, though, this last book feels more like I'm being chauffeured. The characters are telling me what they think needs to happen. Now, this has happened before, but I've always maintained a degree of control. But with this, I'm not. It's more like I've become a channel for these folks.
Not sure how that makes me feel, or if what's happening is a good or bad thing. I just know, I sit, and I write - and that's good. LOL
Stepping back from the story a bit and learning to see where tis focus and its strength lies could be singularly beneficial in constructing the story to work toward that strength, I think.
I could benefit from a hefty dose of that, myself, Sean.
One could argue that the world is really a character, so maybe you are a character-driven writer in disguise, Y. I've been to a few writing lectures given by Mike Stackpole, and he's touched on this point. He say's he considers himself a "plot-driven" writer but some readers consider him a "character-driven" writer. According to him, "character-driven" writers tend to have longer careers. I don't know if I'd agree with that--there's an awful lot of rich formula-driven-genre authors out there--but I think he makes an interesting point. You can think you're one type but be perceived as an entirely different type.
For the record, I think I'm a "character-driven" writer, but I usually come up with my world first. I build the world, figure out what type of people live there, and let them have at it. For short stories, I come up with a situation or theme first, then try to imagine the feeling of the story--how do I want the reader to feel after reading it?--then make up the characters to make that happen.
One of the things that makes writing so great is that every one of them has a different method for getting there.
I never thought I'd be saying this, but I guess I'm a formulaic writer. All of my stories have the same point. Each one arrives at that point from a different angle, which is what determines plot, character and setting for me. So my biggest task in beginning a new story is to determine what the angle is going to be. Once I do that, the characters I need to represent the point always spring to life, fully formed from my forehead, as it were. I cannot change the main character in any way as I write. From the moment the angle is determined, the character then takes over and does pretty much what s/he wants.
Kind of a different definition of "character driven". . . . :)
Sean-For the record, and if forced to pick one, I'd characterize you as idea-driven. It's a sneaky category that's used to bin people who stories around some intellectual concept along with people who jump from type to type and refuse to be categorized.
Mari-I just recently saw a play written by Steve Martin Picasso
at the Lapin Agile and there was a point in the play that really resonated for me.
In it Picasso is saying (paraphrased here):
Painting isn't hard for him, (oh, the craft of it is and takes years to master) but not the vision, and the synthesis is getting easier and easier. A few years ago his vision was months ahead of his craft, and that was frustrating. But now his vision is only a few seconds ahead of his craft and he paint what he wants almost as soon it comes to him.
I hit that point once in a while and that's often when I feel as though I'm being chauffeured.
Kelly-A number of people over the years have argued that I treat world the way many treat character, and thus I'm character-driven. Lyda has often said that I'm plot-driven (or at least I read that way). I can make arguments for both. But I think that each of the major components of writing a story can work as driver for different writers and in F&SF I break that down internally as: Plot/Story, World, Character, Mood/Scene, and Prose. Idea comes in when you add external.
Mike makes an interesting point about character writers having longer careers, but I'd really want to see some data before I agreed to that. Especially since it's been my experience that character writers outnumber the rest of us by a lot. In my experience the writing world seems to be about 55% percent character folks, 30% plot people and the rest of us weirdos in that last 15%.
Your process and mine aren't too far apart. I come up with a world, figure out what sort of story will show all the parts of the world that I want a reader to see, and then hire characters to act the story.
Trev-That's cool! I don't think I've ever heard of anyone else doing it quite that way, and I love the idea. One of the things I talk about when I teach or discuss writing with a group is that no two writers use the same process and that there is no right way to write.
Everybody has to find what works for him or her, and what works is whatever puts the words on the page. With process nothing else matters. With results there are all sorts of things to adjust, but none of that can happen till the initial words are on the page.
"I don't think I've ever heard of anyone else doing it quite that way"
Well, I'm not quite like anyone else. :)
I just recently saw a play written by Steve Martin Picasso
at the Lapin Agile and there was a point in the play that really resonated for me.
I love that play! While I've never seen it performed, I own a printed copy.
I hit that point once in a while and that's often when I feel as though I'm being chauffeured.
I know exactly how that feels. :D
Well, I'm not quite like anyone else. :)
Trev's special. {{hugs}}
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