If you’ve been writing for any amount of time, chances are you’ve asked yourself, What’s the difference between Plot vs Story? It can be easy to confuse the two, so we’re taking a peek under the hood to see what makes them different.

But Don’t Plot and Story Both Mean “What Happens” in a Book?

Yes and no. Kind of. Some people use them interchangeably, but for those in the know, the difference is clear.

The plot of a book, movie, or play is the chronological series of events that take place.  The story contains the plot but includes literary devices like character development, setting, themes, and other important elements.

Still unsure on plot vs. story? Let’s dive a little deeper.

Your Plot Is What Takes Place from Start to Finish

It’s that simple. Plot is the who, what, where, and when of your story. It covers who did what (to whom), where it happened, and when in the timeline it took place. You can think of it sort of as a list of bullet points that outline how events unfold. In other words, the plot is the baseline of your story.

For example, let’s take a simplified look at Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

The plot:

  • Harry learns that he is a wizard on his birthday.
  • He is pulled from his daily life to attend a boarding school for magical children.
  • Harry attends classes where he makes friends and learns more of his new world.
  • Harry confronts Professor Quirrell / Voldemort and comes out victorious.

While this list is missing a few (okay, a lot) of bullet points, you can see how the plot creates a kind of story “skeleton.”

Now let’s take a closer look at story.

Your Story Is Your Plot + Everything Else

If you’ve ever heard someone ask, “But what’s the book really about?” that person is asking about story!

The story is the complete narrative that combines plot and other elements to give your narrative depth. Like we said above, this includes things like character development, themes, and setting. Story also includes the perspective that the story is told from—either a character, or a detached narrator. It may even have elements of philosophy or social commentary that the author wants to explore. The story may also take a chronological plot and tell it out of order for dramatic effect. These elements, when paired with a well-structured plot, create full reading experiences that go beyond the surface.

We’ve already talked about the plot of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, so let’s look at the story elements beneath the plot:

  • When we meet Harry, he is an abused orphan who yearns for acceptance. This gives the reader context for Harry’s status quo, allowing us to how he changes as his circumstances change. This is also known as character development.
  • Although he’s brought into the wizarding world, Harry is still an outsider in many ways. He feels this to varying degrees, which invites us to explore themes of transition, change, and personal acceptance. Other elements of the plot bring in additional themes like good vs. evil.
  • There’s more than just Harry. The wizarding world is rife with classism, corruption, and power-grabbing individuals. J. K. Rowling uses these details to draw parallels to the real world while providing commentary on it.

The above list doesn’t cover all the story elements in The Sorcerer’s Stone, but it shows how the story—or how the plot is presented—affects the meaning.

Plot and Story Are Important in Nonfiction Too

Just because we used Harry Potter as our example doesn’t mean story and plot only affect fiction. Creative nonfiction, such as memoirs or true crime, also uses story elements to enhance the real history they cover. While nonfiction covers real-life events, nonfiction authors look beyond the facts to find the themes, human connection, and other storytelling elements. This allows the story to become much more than a textbook. Look at the facts at your disposal (the plot), and get clear on the story you want to tell.

Plot vs. Story

We’ve covered a lot, but let’s do it one more time for good luck. What is plot, and what is story? The plot is the chronological series of events that make up your tale; it’s what “happened.” The story is how you choose to tell it—sometimes the reason you’re telling it. Balanced well, the two work together to create an impactful and enjoyable experience for the reader.

 

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