Not much going on here lately so I thought I would stir the pot a little. In a story, which do you think is more important, plot or characters? I know you need both, but if you could only have one really strong one of the two, which would you pick?
I am probably alone in choosing plot, but that is what I look for when choosing a book to read. When I read the back cover of a new novel, the type of character in the book is never the deciding factor on weather I am going to buy it or not, it's how interesting the plot sounds (once in a while even the setting has sold a book to me). I think, if you have mediocre characters, but a truely original and interesting plot, it would still grab my interest, but if the characters are great but the plot is substandard, then I wouldn't even pick it up in the first place.
So, what do all of you think?

Plot will get me to start a book, characters get me to the end. If either one suck, I probably won't finish the book, unless it's very short (a la Weed Species...which had neither plot nor characters).

I think the story is probably the most important part of the book...why else read it? But if the characters aren't likable, then I find it really hard to give a shit what happens next. That takes all the suspense and tension (and therefore enjoyment) out of the tale. Again, why bother reading it?

I don't know if you can put more weight on any one aspect of a book. You can probably make an argument that any aspect of a book that causes you to stop reading it is the most important aspect of that particular book. I've read books with awesome stories and good characters that had such rotten, unrealistic dialogue, that I just had to stop reading. In an instance such as this, the dialogue became more important to me than the story or the characters because it actually caused me to stop reading the book.

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Ken

I agree with Kreeps. When I look at the back of the book (or movie) I look for the type of story I'd like to read or see.

But what keeps me reading or watching? The characters.

All of it - plot, characters and setting have to work together to form one unit. In a well written book characters react to plot and setting. Plot elements react (by twisting this way and that) to the characters. Setting imposes on or helps the characters - even if it's used just to give us a glimpse further into them or where they live.

I can't tell you how many books I've set down midway through because, although the story seemed promising, I simply didn't give a wit if the characters lived or died. One of those 'nice story, nice theory...but why should I care if giant mutant rats eat this town?'

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<b>~Raven Bower
Author of Horror & Dark Fantasy

I agree that if you have unlikeable characters, its hard to keep interested in it, but I think if you have to have one aspect be marginal, the characters, rather than the plot would be the one I would choose. An intricate, involving plot will keep me reading longer than interesting characters will. Ultimatley you have to have both, but I read and hear so often how characters are the driving force in writing, that I think plot gets the short end of the stick much of the time.

I think plot is an extension of character. In other words, you can't have a plot if you don't have a character. Simply put, a lot of books and stories just don't work because the author is too caught up in constructing crafty plots. You know, if you write an interesting character, you will have an interesting story. If you write an interesting plot, but you don't have somebody interesting to place in it, you're in trouble. Another problem I see while reading is that characters are actively shoved into contrived plots that don't fit them. So, as a rule, I have never worried "plot" construction as a writer. I know that if I have a good character, the plot will always work itself out.

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Ristow - well put.

My characters tend to take over and do unexpected things that pleasantly surprise me. At first it was unnerving. In Apparitions for example I clicked along great until the middle. Then at a major plot point Bailey (my main) decided to go in a completely different direction than I had planned for her to go.

When I forced her the writing came out wooden, the plot (though it stayed on track) seemed contrived. Bailey lost the spark that made her Bailey Khane.

So after a week of trying to force her, bribe her or plunge on ahead the way I had originally plotted I gave up and let her go her way. I think I ended up with a far better plot than what I had planned.

Now I plot out scenes that I know (or think I know) need to be in the story. I break those down into chapters and then just let it fly. Usually I end up adding scenes I never thought I'd add and taking out scenes I thought would be important.

Characters are the life of the plot, without living characters the plot is dead.

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<b>~Raven Bower
Author of Horror & Dark Fantasy

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One of the positive things is about what I suggested is that there remains the kernel of somebody you like in your character. Use the change-a-roo exercise as a starting point, but, in terms of drafting, once you find yourself saying, "No, Bob [the character] doesn't talk like that and he wouldn't act that way" you know you're onto something

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