they're in the motel room and where they're on their way to and it's important to the whole story, then you're into the plotty zone.

Even if the answers are: they're in a motel room because they're in love and want to have sex, they're driving home because they want to, and it's important to the story in the sense that 'falling in love and going home' is the story?

This is interesting, because mine isn't as long as PMM's but I'm asking similar questions about it.

Hey, I'm either at the 2/3, 1/2, or 1/4 way point! I've slowed from my 1500+ word a day pace, though. You guys are a distraction.

But yeah, I'm asking myself any number of questions about the plotty/lack of plotty stuff. Thus far, only three characters have actually spoken. Again with the freaking claustrophobic corner thing.

There's also the MICE spectrum to consider. Stories tend to group in SF as

• M (Milieu, where the world/universe/culture is explored),
• I (Idea, where some central conceit is explored, like "What if dogs could talk!?"),
• C (Character, where the focus is on one or more characters and their reactions)
• E (Event, where "something extraordinary happens" (or even "something ordinary"))

Note that most suscessful stories are mixtures with strong subsidiary MICE qualities. You could say that Lord of the Rings is a Milieu story -- hey, Middle Earth, anyone? -- but it also rates high on Idea (The One Ring), Character (duh), and Event (The End of the Third Age).

they're in a motel room because they're in love and want to have sex, they're driving home because they want to, and it's important to the story in the sense that 'falling in love and going home' is the story?

I think so, because that assumes the couple is part of a larger world. For some reason, they decided the motel was a better venue. Those reasons are based in something outside the walls of the room. Though I've read stories I've thoroughly enjoyed that take place solely within four walls.

that assumes the couple is part of a larger world. For some reason, they decided the motel was a better venue.

So to write a story that's not plotty at all, you have to assume that they aren't part of a larger world? That there is nothing outside the situation?

So to write a story that's not plotty at all, you have to assume that they aren't part of a larger world? That there is nothing outside the situation?

For me it's a vibe issue, and tough to define exactly. (I very much like connie's definition, FWIW.) It's not so much that there isn't a larger world but whether or not it matters to the characters.

It's not so much that there isn't a larger world but whether or not it matters to the characters.

Ooo! I like this.

It's not so much that there isn't a larger world but whether or not it matters to the characters.

Ooo! I like this.

Yes-- put that way, it feels like it works.

Works for me.

Is there a thought going on that plotty is better than non-plotty? That plottiness is something that should be worked towards? I'm wondering at the provenance of the original question.

Hah, used provenance in a sentence, yay, me.