Pouring Cement and Laying Block

For an excellent discussion of Plot-driven vs. Character-driven fiction check out the discussion board at Faith In Fiction--click on the arrow above.
Now back to our house building. Every book contains plot and character, every one. If you're entrenched in writing groups I'm sure you hear plenty of argument about which drives a story. The truth is, both do. Real characters like real people will make choices that promote plot, and outside events affect the growth of your characters. You can't have one without the other. That said, most books do focus more on one over the other. One word of caution--focus too much on plot and neglect character and you'll end up with paper-thin characters who leave your readers scratching their heads ("Why did he do that?"), likewise if you focus only on creating great characters without a dynamic plot and readers will just put the book down and never finish it.
So, what is plot? It is the main purpose within your story, the driving force that keeps readers engaged. What does the main character want? If you can answer this question you know the plot. In Pirates of the Carribean, Johnny Depp's plot was to get back the Black Pearl, while Orlando Bloom's was to get the girl. Two plots equally important to the story. What obstacles stand in the way of your main character attaining their goal? You must have obstacles--if the goal is easy to achieve there's nothing to engage your reader. So, what kept Johnny Depp from getting the Black Pearl? The fact that Captain Barbossa already had possession of the Pearl. What kept Orlando Bloom from getting the girl? His sense of propriety--a gentleman wouldn't be so "forward"--and the girl had been taken away on the Black Pearl. The choices of the characters along the way moved plot, their motivations were understandable (we'll cover motivation later in our discussion!). They worked hand in hand to create a believable, fast-paced story.
But start with the basics. Who is my character and what do they want? What will stand in the way of them getting what they want? Answer these questions and you'll be on your way.
More later,
Traci DePree