Plot-Driven Novels

Last week in Women & Literature we read My Ántonia. I was looking forward to it, but I should have known better when my professor prefaced the discussion with this statement about the book:

It was risky, in the early part of this century, to presume to write fiction about ordinary, rough-hewn people engaged in the rigors of dry land farming in frontier Nebraska. The prevailing literary style was for overrefined, predictable, plot-driven novels with characters who held fast to European pretensions and standards of gentility. (from Litlovers.com)

While I can't attest at this moment to preferring "overrefined" or "predictable" novels I did learn the hard way last week that I much prefer "plot-driven" novels. Yikes. 

My Ántonia is definitely not plot-driven. And in fact I couldn't even finish reading the book (please don't tell my professor, thanks). After the first fifteen or so chapters I had to start skimming. 

I know admitting that may forever taint your opinion of me. I am normally the long-distance runner when it comes to novel reading (well, except for The Silmarillion... I haven't finished that one yet... but I haven't given up on it either! Its a work in progress). I was the one in my circle of friends who committed to reading a book and no matter how awful I found it I had to see how it ended! Until I met Ántonia...

Willa Cather, the author, does a great job of making good characters and setting a great scene. AND she can even be a good story teller at times. But the lack of plot made this book far too disjointed to maintain my interest. There was no singular idea that kept pulling me from one page to the next.

Now I've reached a metaphorical brick wall. I know that I want to create works of literature that have the ability to keep a reader's attention from beginning to end. I want to make something memorable. I want plot! But I don't know how to do this. Maybe its something I already naturally do? Or worse maybe its something I struggle with and don't even realize!? 

At the center of plot is tension. I know the main story conflict is especially key to maintaining interest throughout. But how do I ensure its enough to get the job done? 

I suppose the best way to answer this question is by recalling the short story we read in class. If I remember correctly it was called "What Makes a Short Story?" and the premise behind it is that while you may outline the general basics needed to make a good short story there ARE no real rules. One person may be able to superbly craft a story one way while another person may struggle to succeed in using any techniques but the opposite of that first person. 

I'd expect that such a rule applies to all story writing. What works for one story may not work for all (unless you're aiming for common rubbish). I think that's why workshopping one's stories is important. Its the only way to know how people will react to your work. Unbiased feedback is best. 

So there you have it: plot=grand! conflict=important! workshops=fab!

-Jessica