Plot vs Story

Plot vs Story

 Things are coming together in my brain.  Slo-o-o-wly.  But little pieces here and there, floating around in the empty spaces of my brain matter, are migrating to other little pieces and latching on.  Whether they'll stick or not is another matter. 

I've always felt plotting to be my weak point.  But on thinking on a story I want to write and haven't been able to yet, I realize this:  I have a plot.  I don't have a story.

Here's the difference, or what my brain perceives it as.  Plot is what happens *to* the character.  Story is how the character relates to the plot.  Story is intertwining the plot and the character's growth and motivation into one cohesive piece.  I can think up a million plots, plus a million characters, but bringing in the character's internal struggle and motivation and growth into the plot to create a story is what I struggle with.

And sometimes, you just have to wait.  I've had this basic plot idea and characters for a long while, at least a year, but couldn't quite figure out why the plot would resonate with my character and cause her to move in the direction that the plot demands.  Today I'm watching a documentary on the Munich Olympics and BANG! comes my character motivation.  It makes me very happy.  Dunno when I'll be able to write the story, but I've written down the idea.  Now for some gel-ing.

Happy Easter Everyone!