I cut off the rest of this one-page synopsis of Disney’s Pocahontas, which has Avatar’s characters and plot plugged into it…I didn’t want to create a spoiler for the movie, if you haven’t seen it. This is something that’s been circling the internet for about a week. You can see the full story on Media Bistro.
This is one reason why I’ve never been worried about sharing my WIP (work in progress) ideas with other writers—there are only so many plots out there. They could take my basic premise and come up with a completely different novel. Why? Because they’re different from me. They think differently, have different experiences, and have a different background.
No one is saying James Cameron hasn’t made an innovative film.
But what makes it innovative? The cutting edge technology and his characters. He brought all his creativity into the project and that made it fresh.
It’s been said that there are only seven basic plots in all of literature. Actually, there have been said to be several different numbers of basic plots, but seven is the number mentioned most frequently.
Those are:
- man vs. nature
- man vs. man
- man vs. the environment
- man vs. machines/technology
- man vs. the supernatural
- man vs. self
- man vs. god/religion
Writer’s Digest proposes 20 basic plots:
- Quest
- Adventure
- Pursuit
- Rescue
- Escape
- Revenge
- The Riddle
- Rivalry
- Underdog
- Temptation
- Metamorphosis
- Transformation
- Maturation
- Love
- Forbidden Love
- Sacrifice
- Discovery
- Wretched Excess
- Ascension
- Descension.
Then we have Georges Polti’s The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations. I’ll let you click over and scroll to the bottom of the page if you’re interested, considering the length of this post.
Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that there are as many as 36 basic plots or dramatic situations. That’s not very many.
But do we get bored with the books we’re reading? Not usually. Because each author brings something fresh and new to the plot. It might be a unique setting. It might be a fabulous character or a fun twist ending. It might be the writer’s voice, itself.
I think we could give twenty people the same basic plot assignment and we would get twenty wildly different books in varying degrees of complexity, humor, and even genre.
It’s our different takes on life that make plots unique.
Do you ever notice the repetition of plots? Or are the authors’ different voices enough to help you forget the plot similarities?
I was a big fan of Christopher Booker’s ‘The Seven basic Plots’ which was subtitled “Why we tell stories”. The book was recommended to me while at university and I absolutely loved it. The argument being that there are only seven basic plots and it gives literally hundreds of examples and compares texts that seem utterly unrelated until you are convinced that there is never going to be a new idea again, only new ways of telling them.
It does however discuss variations and mixes of story ideas and discusses some of the more radical interpretations of those plots.
The seven plots presented are:
1. Overcoming the Monster
2. Rags to Riches
3. The Quest
4. Voyage and Return
5. Comedy
6. Tragedy
7. Rebirth.
Thanks for raising an interesting point. I always like hearing the different view points and ideas when this issue is raised. I let my intuition guide me on this, if something feels fresh then it is fresh, if it feels stale then it is stale.
Elizabeth – Cassandra is right; this is a fascinating topic! There is a finite number of basic plots, but there is really no end to what one can do with them, so even when I know that a plot is one I’ve seen before, that doesn’t bother me. It’s in the individual author’s creativity that we find the beauty of most novels. I liken it to the differences in people, really. We all have the same basic human structure (206 bones, muscles, a heart, a pair of lungs, etc..) but the infinite variety among us is all one needs to know how many variations there can be on a theme.
I find it comforting that there are only so many basic plots, at least those that appeal to the human psyche. Who knows what aliens from another planet might come up with? It’s comforting because you don’t have to strive to think up something “new”–just pour your individuality and talent into your writing and its bound to be unique. Humans basically have two arms, two legs, etc, but each of us are special.
(And I loved Avatar and Pocahontas both)
After reading all these different lists, I have decided my WIP is about rebirth. I agree with you, there’s nothing new under the sun but we all keep reading and going to the movies because we are examining and re-examing the human experience continually until the day we die, trying to make sense of it all, I suppose.
Take even one fiction writing course (with shared projects), and you’ll see after the first assignment what X different imaginations do with Y situation. No one writes the same story.
(And that’s a good thing, isn’t it? At least, I think so. :)
An when are YOU publishing a book on writing? Your posts are always so spot on. I need a whole favorites folder just for ESC (that’s you) advice posts.
Honestly, this is among the smallest worries when sharing my WIP. But it is interesting to see it in full article form. And I love the James Cameron jab!
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
Do Beautiful Things
There are plenty of plots to go around, I think, especially if we make it our own. By putting our own experience and style to it, I think it can be different from other same plot stories.
I kind of look at it like when we see people whose appearance is like someone we know, but if we get to know that person, we see how different they are from the one that is familiar.
So very true. The voice, the approach and the WAY the problem is solved always make it unique :)
Ha! We’re not on the same page today (although I’ve addressed a similar topic a while back, from the “voice” perspective!). It’s pretty clear that voice, or variations, or whatever keep things fresh, or we’d have run out of stories while our ancestors were still sitting around in caves.
Lee Child once said that man is the only species that “lies”, which had an adaptive benefit in survival. and that’s where story telling began. I think I might have blogged about that topic, too!
Very interesting post. It makes you stop and think about different stories that you’ve read that are similar, but yet different. Our outlook on life does make the difference, even in the way we understand what we’ve read.
Sometimes I notice, but most times not because of voice and character. Mostly it’s that I choose not to pay attention to those kinds of things when I read for pleasure. But if voice isn’t there, then I definitely notice and usually stop reading for a number of reasons.
Oh my word… so funny… The post I wrote for Wednesday talks about this too. I think we’re channeling each other. :0)
I never notice the repetitions of plots. I don’t analyze. I just enjoy stories. When I break them down to much it becomes tedious, not pleasure.
Yes, I have thought about this and came to the same conclusion. The stories are unique because of the writer’s voice, imagination and way of telling the story.
Karen
Hey, Elizabeth, because our posts deal with similar topics, I linked to this one on Wednesday’s post. I think most of my followers are yours too, but just in case I wanted them to know where they could read more.
This is so, so true. I don’t think it’s possible to have an “original” plot anymore because it’s been done, but we keep on buying and reading books because of the author’s new and different take on the story. Great point and great food for thought!
Wow, I didn’t know that there were so few plots. We are definitely emcompassed with writers who know how to bring a unique voice, setting, and character dimension that keeps things fresh.
I’m heading over to check out the links. Great post! I never get tired of learning about this writing haven we all inhabit.
I wish I could remember the person/author’s name whose quote I’m paraphrasing here, but it went something like:
“The best an author can do is to try and plagiarize with as little obviousness as possible.”
Something like that. The point is there’s nothing new under the sun anymore and it’s just different creative ways of rehashing the same stuff forever.
Interesting topic today.
Marvin D Wilson
If there really are so few plots, I’m grateful each of us think in our own way. This type of thing makes me woozy; I’m just writing a story, I’m not thinking of writing on some large, meaningful theme. However, if it’s there by accident, I’m extremely grateful.
Elspeth
In one of the writing groups I belong to we sometimes do writing prompt assignments to share at the next meeting. I am always amazed by all the completely different approaches taken on the same subjects and I’m seldom bored.
If the story is fresh and well-written, I tend not to notice the similiarity.
But you nailed it. My husband mentioned the same thing – Avatar’s plot is not original, but the way Cameron tells it makes it good.
Interesting comparison between Avatar and Pocahontas. I hadn’t thought of it – probably because the Disney movie just wasn’t that memorable. So I guess that’s the difference between telling the story and telling it well!
Loved this post.
Am going to print.
I seem to be attracted to man vs. self quite often.
~ Wendy
That would make a fascinating experiment! (Giving twenty different people the same plot.)
I agree with Michele: When are you going to publish a writing book? :)
~ Corra
from the desk of a writer
I laughed when I read this article… I was actually going to do a blog on the 36 plot lines today and I guess I wont. I like to do blogs on all the writing subjects so I can refer articles from my blogs to those I review for. Anyway, loved a bit about the Avatar/Disney crossover.
ann
If you follow the Media Bistro link and check out people’s comments, you’ll read one person’s comparison between “Avatar” and “Dances With Wolves.” I’ve not yet seen “Avatar,” but I’ve heard more negative than positive about it. The essence of the negative comments is that despite Cameron’s use of new technology, there isn’t enough “fresh” in the treatment of this story to satisfy a goodly number of viewers. Characters are deemed “cliched” and “flat.” The plot is labeled “worn-out.” This is a powerful reminder to all writers of fiction that regardless of the medium used or the genre, the story — its plot and characters — must receive top priority and not be neglected.
I really enjoyed the thriller I finished last night (raced through the last 100 pages), but still, large parts of the plot reminded me of a Danish thriller I read three-four years ago. It didn´t bother me the least, because as you say, there are only so many stories. And the fact that I remember the first plot at all tells me that thriller was also fabulous.
I think you have better powers of observation than most people. I love you pulling stuff in and tying it to the writing process.
I loved Avatar, but on seeing it noticed it’s similarity to the plot of Terminator Salvation (bad guys create hybrid between selves and ‘people’ they are conquering. Hybrid turns out to be ‘better than that’ and sides with the good guys). Are the two movies similar to watch? Not at all. Loved both, but that is a lot more overlap even than just the basic one-line plot.
Good posts here. Thoughtful ideas.
I agree, there are only limited plots. The difference is what you the writer does with the plot. It was clear that Avatar was not some new plot. What made it great was what he did with the plot and the technology. That’s true of books. The author makes the difference.
Wonderful post.
Helen
Straight From Hel
It really doesn’t matter that there are a limited number of plots or even a limited number of ways plots can be combined, because there are unlimited numbers of authors’ viewpoints, chararcters, settings, etc.
It’s like performance magic. There are a limited number of kinds of tricks a magician can do, but ask 100 magicians to make something disappear and you can have everything vanishing from coins, to cards, to rabbits, to elephants, and so on. Some of them might be funny, some classic, some dramatic–it can go on and on.
Lee
http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/
The three of us that write murder mystery weekends for our company, Catchword Productions, sure know there aren’t too many plots! We’ve been writing them for twenty-four years and have hundreds of stories. Why do we write new ones? The plots might be more than similar but the characters aren’t. If a woman was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta and grew up all over North America and decided to be a writer, therapist etc… she still wouldn’t be me and my life would still be worth living! Does that make sense? It has only been since the last century or two that humans have even needed their stories to be novel. Before that they were quite content to go to plays or hear story tellers tell the same stories over and over again but differently dependent on the playwright (the Greek plays and Shakespeare), the story teller or the actors. Children don’t even mind if the same teller (mom or dad) reads the same story (Goodnight Moon) every night for four years! Novelty is not the thing, plot isn’t neccessarily the thing – it is something else that makes us wonder ‘what will happen next?’ when watching a movie about Lincoln going to the theatre.
I’m sure my first book won’t be viewed as terribly orginal in theme – just hope I’ve told it in a unique manner!
I’m aware there are only so many basic situations where you can
“get your protagonist up a tree, then throw rocks at him.” But that doesn’t trouble me and rarely…make that never…have I recognized one story obviously mascaraing as another. An exception, of course, would be where the author intends for us to see the parallel.
You’re right, each author spins it uniquely. I’m normally caught up in the tale. I do like to look at how the author has structured his story, but that’s a different topic.
Best Wishes, Galen.
Imagineering Fiction Blog
One fascinating example of the re-use of a great plot is Agatha Christie’s Endless Night – she re-used one of her earlier and most ingenious ideas, but gave it a completely different ‘feel’.
Cassandra–Very interesting! I need to find his book…I’d love to read it. I like his 7 plots better than the others.
Margot–Great way of looking at it! We start with the same blueprint, then take it in wildly different directions.
Elizabeth–Great point. We’re trying to figure it out, aren’t we? Not so easy to do…
Lorel–You’re right…it IS comforting, isn’t it? But I’d love to take a gander at those alien stories!
Simon–I think it’s very inspiring,yes. It takes some of the pressure off, doesn’t it? We don’t have to wrack our brains to figure out a plot that hasn’t been done.
Michele–You’re sweet. :) I really see myself as a fiction writer..love that creative part of it, unless I can discover the creativity in nonfiction…
Marvin–Great point. We’re all being influenced by other writers…and should be. There really are only so many unique ideas, but we bring so much to the table with our uniqueness.
Teresa–We’re always looking for similarities, aren’t we? Especially in people that we meet. But, like you mentioned, when we really get to know the person (or the plot), then we see all the little things that make them different.
Jane–Sounds like you’re in a great group!
Diane–Your husband is so right..it’s the WAY he tells the story. And he did a better job than Disney.
Jemi –Thanks!
Wendy–I like those, too…at least for subplots or internal conflict. Murder mysteries have to be man against man, primarily.
Terry–I never thought about our origins in lying. :) That’s a cool thought!
Corra–If I figure out what I’m doing with nonfiction, I wouldn’t be able to work on it until 2011ish. :) Thanks, though.
Mason–Good point–the reader is ALSO bringing experiences and their background to the plot on their end.
Ann–So funny! I’ve heard that from both you and Kristen! No, you should go ahead and post on it…I’d be interested to read your thoughts.
Carol–I try not to. I really, really try! But it’s hard. And it’s harder for me to read for pleasure, too. I’ve got my writing brain on too much. Bleh.
Kristen–We’re simpatico! :) It definitely happens.
Karen–And since we’re all so different, it keeps our stories fresh, too. It’s nice to have that built-in originality.
Kristen–Thanks so much! :)
Hart–This one wasn’t my observation, but I loved what it said about writing in general. We’ve got “Salvation” on TiVo but haven’t seen it (it was on PPV)…glad it was good! I’m going to watch it with Avatar in mind.
Julie–We want the story told in different ways by different people, don’t we?
Helen–And Cameron made everyone go “wow!” Even with a plot that wasn’t fresh.
Tamika–Thanks! I love learning about it, too.
Elspeth–The nice part is that our personality, shining through our voice can overcome all the repetitive plots. It’s a good thing!
Lee–Nice comparison! Yes, it’s a lot like performance art. I hadn’t thought of it that way.
Jan–You’re so right. We get caught up in the stories, if they’re well-told, even if we know the ending. My kids have listened to the same books and watched the same videos over and over again! And I read my favorite books over and over. If it’s good, the repetition doesn’t matter.
Alex –Mine definitely aren’t. But if our voice is good, it’s overlooked.
Suzanne–You’re so right. We’ve got to be especially careful to make sure our story is top-notch and as unique as we can make it.
Dorte–That’s true–if it’s really, really good…we’ll forget that we’ve heard it all before.
Galen–Structure makes a big difference, doesn’t it? Yeah, I’m usually caught up in the tale, too. If I’m not, it’s either SO GOOD that I’m taking notes on what worked (which, obviously brings me out of the story) or else it’s because it’s so bad that I’m ready to throw it across the room.
Cassandra–Thanks so much!
Martin–That book scared me to death! I read it BEFORE I’d read the one that you’re referring to, so I didn’t know the twist going in. You’re right…she was able to repeat herself in an amazing way.
So true.
Whether we tuck our napkins into our collars, lay them neatly on our laps or forget they’re there, we all come to the table with a unique style and approach.
I’ve read the books on the seven basic plots, etc., but do appreciate having them all together here.
Often it is long after I read a novel or see a movie that I realize it is based on a familiar fairy tale. I’m captivated when the telling is fresh.
(I’ve seen your comments on Straight from Hel and finally made it by…and I’m so glad I did!)
Kathy–Thanks so much for coming by! I’m glad you did, too. :)
I may be slightly deranged, but quite often, when I really like a book and want to savour it, I skip to the last chapter, so I know how it ‘turned out’. With that out of the way, I can give myself up to enjoying the journey of reading the book.
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