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When it comes to writing a screenplay, you can find an infinite amount of material on how to do it. You could spend a lifetime procrast—I mean, researching—all the different ways writers have explained how they do what they do, and my efforts in this article aren’t offering anything revolutionary. But sometimes how a person explains something their way clicks for us, even though we’ve heard it explained a dozen different times in a dozen different ways.
Which is why, in this article, I will attempt to explain how I understand the difference between story and plot. This is a product of my own experiences as a writer, as well as over the years reading and listening to others on their own understanding.
Let’s start with definitions of each:
Plot is the sequence of events in your story. It is the thing that happens to the characters in their environment that drives the narrative forward. It is what is happening to who and why. In screenwriting terms, these are your beats, and they work to keep your audience engaged and informed.
Story, on the other hand, is the outcome. It is what your characters learn and how they change as a result of the plot. It is the answer to the question, “What is your movie about?” as well as the emotional core of your script. Ultimately, story is the part of a film that sticks with us after the credits roll and the lights in the theatre brighten.
Both a good story and a solid plot are necessary ingredients to a good script. You can have a profound idea on the meaning of the universe, but a well-told story requires engaging events and controlled rhythm to reach its full effect. On the other hand, you can have all the coolest car chases and plot twists and turns, but if you don’t know what you’re trying to say to your audience, you’re not going to have an impact.
In this interview between Jon Favreau and Martin Scorsese, Scorsese talks about his own understanding of the difference between plot and story and discusses how oftentimes the films he returns to have an emphasis on story.
So a strong sense of story is important, but without plot, it’s hard to imagine an audience sticking around. But how do you develop both story and plot in your screenplay? As is the case for most artistic pursuits, there is no perfect formula. It takes practice and discipline to sharpen both in your screenplay. And again, as you grow as a filmmaker and storyteller, you’ll discover what works for you, and you’ll find that your instincts get better at guiding you through your writing journey.
In my own writing practice, when I have an idea for a screenplay, it usually begins as a kernel of a story. From there, I build a plot around it, usually in the form of an outline or beat sheet.
This happens:
Then this happens:
But then that happened:
Etc.
During these beginning stages, a funny thing takes place: the plot points I’m developing begin to influence my story. Suddenly, something happens to a character (plot), and I discover their reaction takes my narrative down a road I hadn’t considered (story). Sometimes this is thrilling; other times, it can be disheartening, especially if the original idea, that kernel of a story that got you excited in the first place begins to evolve or fade and something entirely different emerges.
So to understand the difference between story and plot is to accept that they go hand in hand and influence one another.
An exercise I've practiced to help understand the difference is looking at a movie I've watched and writing out its beats and identifying any character arcs. This helps me recognize where the two overlap and where they function on their own. It also in a way demystifies the story into something tangible, and hopefully, replicable.
And all this doesn’t just help you while writing your script; producers, interested talent, distributors, and audiences are all going to ask, “What’s this movie about?” And “What happens?” And by having an understanding of what those questions are actually referring to, you’ll be better equipped to answer them thoughtfully and with confidence.
