Plot vs. Story: What’s the Difference Between Plot and Story?

The plot of a book, film, or play is the series of events that unfolds from start to finish. The plot explains not just what happens but also the causality—how one event leads to another. In Poetics, Aristotle identified the basic form of a plot as containing three parts: a beginning, middle, and end. According to Aristotle, a plot should advance with events occurring in chronological order. German novelist Gustav Freytag expanded on Aristotle’s concept of plot by adding two additional components: rising action and falling action. Freytag’s dramatic arc, also known as Freytag’s Pyramid, includes exposition (beginning), rising action, climax (middle), falling action, and resolution (end).

Writing a good plot isn’t just about having a chronological timeline of events. For a plot to be interesting, it must include key plot points","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>plot points that create drama, action, or conflict. Many plots start with an inciting incident to get the ball rolling. Others may start by providing a backstory to help the reader understand the main character’s point of view. Having a plot structure can help organize plot points to define the moments that give the story structure.

A story is a complete narrative. It contains the plot, as well as also other literary devices such as character development, settings, and themes. A story includes the point of view, which is the perspective from which the story unfolds: Who is telling the story? Is it from the point of view of one of the characters? Is it from the point of view of an omniscient narrator? A story may also include a lesson or philosophy. A good story helps the reader feel emotion and care about the action. A short story usually has a single plot, but a novel or series may contain multiple plots or subplots. Having a great story is the bedrock of successful fiction writing, whether you’re screenwriting, developing a novel, or hosting a podcast.

A plot is the sequence of events within a story: a description of what happens and why it happens. A story is a comprehensive narrative. Plot is a part of the story, but a story also includes settings, characters, themes, and other factors that influence how the events (or plot) are told. While a plot is chronological, a story may unfold nonsequentially, combining the action with sections that focus on character development, philosophy, or building atmosphere and setting.

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