How to Write a Book: What you need to know about Story and Plot

Hello Writers! Are you ready to write a book?

Today I wanted to share a piece of advice that I found eye-opening. Have you ever wanted to write a book but didn’t know the difference between story and plot? Have you heard others speak about either and not fully understood what they meant by it? I am currently taking a class on writing, and when this section came up, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t learned this yet.

I have a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. I took several writing classes while in college and even worked as a writer for a local paper and never knew this. Weird, right?

Well, here is what I found out.

You know when you’re reading and the main character/protagonist gets put into a situation that makes you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. The character changes and grows as a person because of these events.

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Those two paths or journeys are the story and plot.

Story

The story is the emotional journey or internal change the character goes through. When a book starts, you may notice “flaws” the character may have. These can be as apparent as a lack of adulting skills that often get the protagonist into sticky situations. Or they may be smaller or internal like a lack of self-confidence or fears due to something in their back story. Either way, the story is the inner/emotional journey that will change the character in the end. Not always for the best.

Plot

The plot is the physical journey the protagonist takes. You may have heard of plot points. These are points in the character’s journey where certain events happen, such as an Earthling jumping aboard an alien ship (wink, wink) or a regular boy finding out he is a wizard. Each plot point is an inciting event that pushes the story, reader, and characters forward.

For more about Story and Plot check out this post.

I hope this information helps you on your journey to learn how to write a book. Leave a comment if you have any questions or anything to add.

Happy writing!

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