Premise vs. Plot

[kitty_fic]

I found this very enlightening! I thought I'd share it here in case it might help anyone else!


Do You Have A Premise or a Plot? by Janice Hardy

I keep a file with all the book ideas that come to me. It’s closing in on 40 ideas right now, but that doesn’t mean I have 40 books waiting to be written. Many (okay, most) of these ideas are nothing more than premises.

And a premise isn’t a plot.

Great ideas can make great books, but only if that idea includes the vital components of a plot. A character with a problem that must be solved or they will suffer the consequences of that failure.

Goal–Conflict–Stakes.

Quite often, a premise lacks at least one if not all three of these. It’s usually a great idea filled with lots of potential, but it’s all setup or setting and there’s no story.

(Excerpt from this article by Janet Hardy)

Comments

[tryslora]

This is a problem I have wrestled with forever. I'm fabulous at premise, I'm terrible at plot. Although the biggest thing I've been learning is that character plot is OKAY and I don't always have to have an outside situation to create the conflict. The goal, conflict, and stakes can all revolve around the characters' wants.

[kitty_fic]

Yes, I have so many notes on premises... but they havent' been expanded into actual plots XD
And yes, character plot sounds good to me :D

[tryslora]

I have learned to take my premise, through in a character-oriented plot (er, romance), and then let the premise be the thing that causes all kinds of conflicts around them. So far, it seems to generally work... I hope. Or else people are telling me at works, and I like hearing it, so I'll listen.

[ashindk.livejournal.com]

Very intersting article!
This: When you’re devising your story conflict, try looking for problems that connect your conflicts with your goals and tie the premise together. For even stronger conflicts, look for things the protagonist did to cause their own trouble. made me realise that I have some tidying up to do on the plot for the book I'm trying to write writing.

[kitty_fic]

Good luck with your book! <3 I'm glad it was helpful <3