How to Choose the Right Type of Story (Plot vs Character vs Epic)

This post is part 5 of a short series on story structure for fiction writers—practical, straightforward, and designed to help you build stories that actually work.

One of the reasons stories go wrong is this:
The writer hasn’t quite decided what kind of story they’re telling.
Not the genre—that’s something else.
You can know you’re writing:

• a thriller
• a romance
• a piece of science fiction

…and still be unclear about the type of story underneath.
And that uncertainty tends to show up as:

• a story that drifts
• a middle that loses focus
• an ending that doesn’t quite land

So what do we mean by “type of story”?
At a very simple level, most stories fall into one of three broad types:
👉 Plot-driven
👉 Character-driven
👉 Theme-driven (Epic)
These aren’t rigid categories.
They’re more like… different centres of gravity.
They tell you where the weight of your story sits.

1. Plot-driven stories (what happens)
In a plot-driven story, the main focus is:
👉 the action
Something needs to be done, solved, reached, escaped, or survived.
The story moves because:

• there’s a problem
• the character responds
• things escalate
• a resolution is reached

Think of:

• detective stories
• thrillers
• adventure stories

The character matters—but mainly in how they deal with the situation.

Example (simplified)
A detective solves a major crime despite overwhelming obstacles.
The focus is outward.
👉 What happens next is the driving force.

2. Character-driven stories (what changes)
In a character-driven story, the focus shifts inward.
👉 What matters most is the change within the character
The events of the story still matter—but they exist largely to:

• test the character
• challenge their beliefs
• force some kind of transformation

These stories ask:
👉 Who does this person become?

Example (simplified)
A lonely man learns to connect with others despite his fear of rejection.
Same kind of setup.
Very different emphasis.

3. Theme-driven stories (what it means)
This is where things become more abstract.
In an epic or theme-driven story, the focus is:
👉 the idea behind the story
The narrative becomes a way of exploring something larger:

• love
• justice
• fate
• morality

These stories often feel:

• broader
• more reflective
• sometimes more tragic

Example (simplified)
Love is stronger than death.
Here, the story exists to demonstrate something.

The important part: these can overlap
Most stories aren’t purely one thing.
A thriller might also explore:

• the psychology of its main character
• a deeper moral question

But usually:
👉 one element dominates
And that’s what gives the story its clarity.

Where writers get into trouble
Problems tend to appear when the story is pulled in different directions.
For example:

• the plot demands fast movement
• but the story keeps pausing for deep introspection

Or:

• the story wants to explore a big theme
• but the plot doesn’t support it

The result?
👉 a story that feels slightly out of sync with itself

A quick way to check your own story
Try asking yourself:
👉 What matters most in this story?
Is it:

• what happens?
• what changes?
• what it means?

Your answer will usually point to the dominant type.

Why this matters more than it sounds
Once you know your story’s type, a lot becomes clearer:

• what to focus on
• what to trim back
• how to shape the ending

For instance:

• Plot stories tend toward clear resolutions
• Character stories tend toward meaningful change
• Theme-driven stories often aim for a lasting impression or message

You don’t have to get it perfect
This isn’t about locking yourself into a category.
It’s about:
👉 recognising the direction your story wants to go
Once you see that, you can:

• lean into it
• support it
• and avoid pulling against it

Final thought
Stories don’t usually fall apart because the idea is bad.
They fall apart because the story is trying to be two things at once—and not quite succeeding at either.
A little clarity about the type of story you’re telling can solve that.

If you’d like the full guide when it’s finished, you can join my email list here. I’ll send you a copy when it’s ready.

Next week: The 14 Story Types Explained (Without the Confusion)