Question About Good Storytelling

[Tiel]

I had two very different conversations about writing. I think they're both great advice, but looking back, it seems they contradict each other. Can anyone help?

So the first conversation was all about character will power, and how stories are most interesting when a character overcomes obstacles with a strong will rather than super strength or something. We were watching a show where the protagonist had a strong will and my friend observed that any other writer would have made them conflicted about their choices, but it is much more interesting that they are so passionate about what they are doing that where most might have been conflicted they remain decisive. I agreed. The scene really impacted me.

The second conversation was about character dimensions, and my other friend said that it is much more interesting to have a character conflicted about their actions. We were talking about a story where this was the case, and I agreed. It was interesting.

But don't those things contradict each other? I thought both stories were powerful, so maybe it could go both ways. Where do you guys stand? Is one method better than the other? I was just thinking about this in a story I was writing, and I wanted to hear what everyone thought about it.

[Deleted]

I personally enjoy reading and writing stories where the character leads the story, not what happens to them. It’s not the situation that keeps the story going, but what the character does. If the character doesn’t feel conflict or pain they become boring and Mary-Sue-ish. Having them torn between what is right and wrong, their own personal interest, and those they love, and the greater good will truly make the story. Of course world building is great but the world is only part of the story. Try to find a balance, but reminder the characters should drive the plot.

As for whether they overcome it by will or by personal powers, I’d say either. Take Spider-Man from the new Homecoming movie. “If you’re nothing without the suit, you shouldn’t have it.” In the end, after his physical powers failed him, it was his will that saw him through. Just remember that the characters personality should be the main point in the end. And feel free to not solve the situation, having a character fail is always s good idea for progress in the character.


I don’t know if that answers your question, because I was unsure of what you were asking. If you could clarify I could more easily solve your problem.

[Fierfly]

There's beauty and strength in both story-telling techniques, for the characters to be steadfast in their ideals and to have to rely on their belief in order to make it through rather than by superpowers (this is why I hate Superman so much).

But there's also beautiful conflict in the idea that maybe the character isn't sure and is torn both ways by what they do.

Both techniques are used in the Michael Vey series, I highly recommend it by the way, it's first-rate story-telling with the best of both worlds, specifically in books 3 and 4. The stead-fast characters are great and our heart aches for them when they've been stripped of every hope they have and they're just clinging to what they know because it's all they have left (("There are four lights!")), but the characters insecurities of the journey as they travel to what they're trying to do, the whole "Ends justify the means" debate is some wonderful deep story-telling as well and honestly the one I prefer. No one makes perfect choices all the time and so for us to question our paths to our destination is perfectly normal and something the audience can relate to. They don't contradict at all, I feel like they build on each other, you can be a soldier solidly believing in what you're fighting for, and then suddenly after watching an enemy soldier die at your hands feel that killing is wrong and maybe shouldn't be involved ((Fin from "The Force Awakens" is the first example of this I can thing of)). Both contribute beautifully to the character arcs and how the character grows and changes which - I agree with Shiv - those are the better stories anyway.

Really it all depends on your personal taste, but both techniques are great and I love using both.