An author writes a story that uses both characters and events in such a way that the story captures the reader’s attention. The author connects two elements—character and plot. Good stories involve interesting characters, so what’s wrong with the story you just read? Well, it’s true that the story has a character, but he can neither hear nor talk. In fact, he has no thoughts, and for all you know, no motivations or conflicts in his life. In other words, he’s not very interesting. This lesson is about how authors weave their characters and plot to tell interesting stories. Why is this important to the reader? All literary fiction is about human life, stories about what it means to be alive. It is the artful intertwining of character and plot that makes a quality work of literary fiction. Knowing how an author fashions the creative relationship between characters and the events in their lives (plot) allows a deeper appreciation for the author’s craft and provides a clearer insight into his or her message.
