Plots and Stories - Are they the same?

Part II of IV

What about 'Plot'?

You need to know that famous experts in story writing say that there are only 'X' master plots that have ever been written, and that the plot of each story ever published, is merely a variation of these master plots. So, what is the magic number 'X'? Rudyard Kipling said there were only sixty-nine plots. Karlo Gozzi said the magic number was thirty-six, but that was a long time ago, and, as some of his plots are hopelessly out of date, this number has been narrowed down to eighteen. Aristotle said there were only two plots - action plots and plots of the mind.

Who is right? All of them, to some extent. Don't believe anyone who says there are only 'X' number of plots in story telling. How do you compartmentalize the range of human emotions and possible reactions? There is no such magic number as 'X'.

What is the difference between a Story and a Plot?

In days long gone, when the masses were relatively uneducated, a story was told from narrator to listener, and so went from mouth to ear, repeatedly. This story consisted of a number of events narrated in the sequence in which they occurred. It didn't say why something happened; just that it had happened. A Plot, however, is a pattern of action and reaction; a cause and the effect thereof. It answers the question 'Why?'. 'Why' did this happen? It is thus more than just a sequence of events. It is a pattern that in one form or another is found in any plot.

There are three stages to a Plot.

The first stage is the beginning. This stage generally set up the nature of the problem that must be solved. It introduces your main character, (the protagonist, and possibly the antagonist as well) his nature and belief system, and his wants or needs that require satisfaction if he is to be happy and contented. It is good to set up some form of conflict in this first stage.

The middle stage follows on from the events of the beginning stage. Your main Character pursues his goal and meets with serious barriers, events, or great adversity, which set him back in his course of action. This causes tension and conflict as he attempts to achieve his purpose, while his welfare seems to be in serious decline. Only at the end of this middle stage is there some emotional change in the main character/s. This is called recognition.

Finally, we have the end stage. This contains the climax or final solution where all is revealed and clarified.

By now you will realize that the plot needs a structure, and there is a craft to writing which needs to be studied and understood.

Where to next?

In my next article I will look at some of the major common plot attributes as well as the two major types of plots.