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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/13534-Plot-or-character-driven.html
Mystery: January 07, 2026 Issue [#13534]




 This week: Plot or character driven?
  Edited by: Arakun the Twisted Raccoon Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Quote for the week:
"Mystery spread its cloak across the sky.
We lost our way.
Shadows fell from trees.
They knew why."
~ From "House of Four Doors" by the Moody Blues


Letter from the editor

Are your stories focused most on events or people?

A character driven story focuses on a character's internal development and transformation, while a plot driven story is driven by internal events and action.

As a reader and a writer you might be drawn to one type over the other without realizing it. When I read, I definitely prefer action and dialogue, while I hate long sections of narrative depicting a character's internal conflicts and thoughts. However, as a writer, I know that a good mystery story is dependent on both character and plot development.

A well developed plot is essential to a mystery story, while plot holes or weak plotting can ruin it. Just like real life detectives, the investigators in your story will need to analyze the events leading up to and resulting from a crime to determine who did it. Mystery readers also love trying to figure out the ending in advance. If the ending doesn't make sense or isn't possible based on the events of the story, the readers will feel disappointed and cheated.

While it may seem that plot development is more important than character development in a mystery, remember that the events of a story happen to people, and people don't all react to events in the same way. Even a perfectly plotted story will be disappointing to readers if the characters are one sided or unrealistic. Resist the temptation to make the heroes of your story completely good or the villains completely evil.

In a mystery story, events and characters are not always what they seem to be. A helpful next door neighbor might turn out to be a killer, or evidence may not show what it seems to show. Plot twists like these are important to mysteries, but make sure that they make sense. If a character is not what they seem to be, leave subtle clues so the readers have a chance to figure this out. Also, if a character does something "out of character" make sure you show a reason for it eventually. Misinterpretation of evidence does happen in real life, but make sure you show how and why it was misinterpreted.

Something to try: Write a mystery story that is both plot and character driven.


Editor's Picks

STATIC
The Ramstein Gate: Chapter One Open in new Window. (ASR)
An old stone doorway is found, following a storm, in a garden in Germany...
#2255702 by LightinMind Author IconMail Icon


STATIC
Watching Always Open in new Window. (13+)
Some say I'm crazy, just a little touched -
#2234521 by iKïyå§ama Author IconMail Icon


STATIC
The Men From Macon Open in new Window. (18+)
Strangers always seem to bring bad tidings or bad luck.
#2341984 by Daisan Author IconMail Icon


BOOK
Homicide in South Bunker Open in new Window. (E)
The former Mayor is dead. Small town secrets are revealed. It's pay-up time for whom?
#2337996 by Ichabod Crane Author IconMail Icon


STATIC
The Ritual  Open in new Window. (13+)
Be careful what you wish for
#2348670 by Intuey - Blessings For 2026! Author IconMail Icon

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

Question for next time: What subjects would you like to see discussed in future mystery newsletters?

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