People will probably be surprised that I'm asking this question because any good writer should know this, but could someone clearly define the difference between STORY and PLOT for me? I have a working understanding of both concepts, but I would like to know the distinctive difference between them. Could someone please help me out?

I think that you draw a plot from a story.

-Chris

The story can be a logline.  The plot is much more detailed.


Phil

Hey, could be something like this?

A story - A decorated officer comes from the front and is accused as traitor.

A Plot - How the officer will prove his innocence

There you have it.

You story is an overview; what your script is about.

Your plot is the ins and outs of what happens in the process.

Thanks a lot guys. It was kind of a stupid question, but I just like putting fine points on things. It helps me think better. Thanks again.

I read different opinions about the topic you bring to discuss, Ghostwriter. In case you're still around here, here is one which haven't been mentioned yet, and I think that makes sense.

The story is the character's journey. If you take Mr. Incredible as an example he moves from happines to frustration, then to overconfidence, then to despair, and then to a new equilibrum; he's happy again.

The plot is the vehicle that the writer uses to facilitate the character's journey. In the example above: the lawsuits against superheroes, Syndrome's evil plan, etc.

As I said, there surely are other opinions about this. "Story" according to the above theory doesn't seem very different from what others may call "character arc".

I suppose I can chime in too from a different angle. The way I see the difference between these two is that a story is the total complete side of the tale. When you sit down with someone, you tell them a story that has feeling and characters and substance. The story is what you hear and the whole movie. Even if there isn't a plot, there's still a story. Even if the plot has holes in it, that will not change that there is a story taking place.

A plot is a piece of a story. This is the forensic element that details what happens from a engineering perspective. If a story is a house, the plot is a blueprint. A house has walls, wallpaper, carpeting, paint, furniture, and all kinds of knick-knacks. A blueprint tells you where stuff goes and how to build it, but lacks all of the color the final product possesses.

You can build a house without a blueprint if you want to. It can be done, just as a story can exist without a plot. However, a house without a blueprint might have holes in it. Stuff is missing that could have been corrected if you drew out the blueprint first. Adding that missing closet or bathroom is a lot easier if you put it in the blueprint before you build. Adding it in once the house is built is a lot harder. By the same respect, fixing that plot hole is easy before you write the story, but once its completed, filling that plot hole is development hell.

That's my opinion.

Quoted from Acroname People will probably be surprised that I'm asking this question because any good writer should know this

Whoa... Whoa... Must we not be so "egotistical" here?

CLOSE ON: Me rolling eyes


A STORY (to me) is basically - The telling of events as they happen or happened.

A PLOT (to me) is basically - A technical construction of how things will work in your story/screenplay.

Tell me I'm wrong, that's fine. I live by these rules and to rip a page from your "egotistical" post... (I'm a good writer)

Egotistical? I think you have a slight inferiority complex about yourself as a writer, whoever you are. I said that because if someone asks an even mildly silly question on this site then sometimes other members will dive in like vultures to voice their frustration, because they're expected to already know the answer. Everyone has individual standards which they believe writers must meet, and different concepts which they believe writers must master before they can be classed as a serious writer. So I was trying to be cautious with how I worded my question. But hey, as usual, there's always one person with a chip on their shoulder who has to veer off topic in order to make their point, having not even read the post properly!

Anyway, thanks again to everyone for your opinions, including Mr.Z and George Willson. You've definately cleared that up for me.    

I believe that Story and plot are very easy in recognition, As posted earlier on, Plot is something that your characters will go through. Example: A mass murderer must evade the police at all costs, HOW WILL HE EVADE THE POLICE, WHAT WILL HE DO IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THIS GOAL? and from your story what plot turns will stand in his way?

Story Example: A mass murderer is on the run, only one cop can stop him from killing again, and again, and again. More story is added, (just a quick example)

The story is your drive, what happens, but plot on the other hand is something more, is it essentially how this character will go about certain aspects of evasion. How he will achieve his goals, what stand in his way of these goals.

You get the point.

simplest answer:

STORY - what happens

PLOT - how it happens