--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Plot is a literary convention. Story is a…" description: "\"Plot is a literary convention. Story is a force of nature.\" — Teresa Nielsen Hayden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/teresa-nielsen-hayden-31945_conventions_plot-is-a-literary-convention-story-is-a_2104982.jpg" --- # Plot is a literary convention. Story is a force of nature. ![“Plot is a literary convention. Story is a force of nature.” quote by Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/teresa-nielsen-hayden-31945_conventions_plot-is-a-literary-convention-story-is-a_2104982.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/teresa-nielsen-hayden-31945_conventions_plot-is-a-literary-convention-story-is-a_2104982.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/teresa-nielsen-hayden-31945_conventions_plot-is-a-literary-convention-story-is-a_2104982.jpg) > “Plot is a literary convention. Story is a force of nature.” [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Plot is a structured framework; story is the raw, elemental force that drives meaning. **In simple terms:** Plot organizes; story energizes. Key Takeaway Balance structure with raw energy. Themes structure energy creativity Mood reflective inspired Type analytical creative When to use this quote - writing workshops - novel planning - screenwriting - teaching literature Key Concepts narrative theory literary analysis Questions to Reflect On - How can you let story’s force shape your plot? - When does structure hinder authenticity? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on structure can stifle spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conventions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventions/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Force Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force-nature/) [Force Of Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force-of-nature/) [Forces of nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forces-of-nature/) [Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary/) [Literary Convention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-convention-4222921/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Plot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plot/) [Plot Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plot-literary-4222920/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [Hope is a force of nature. Don't let anyone tell you different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/hope-is-a-force-of-nature-don-t-let-anyone-tell-you-different/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [The polynomial xn−1 is a force of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-abramovich/the-polynomial-xn-1-is-a-force-of-nature/) [Roman Abramovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-abramovich/) > [ \[Seeds Are Small.\] Becoming a force of nature doesn't mean that all of our aspirations must be "grand." First steps are often small, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/seeds-are-small-becoming-a-force-of-nature-doesn-t-mean-that-all-of/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [For the first time since life appeared on earth, one species- us- is single-handedly altering the physical, chemical and biological nature of earth. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/for-the-first-time-since-life-appeared-on-earth-one-species-us-is/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [There is only one healing force, and that is nature; in pills and ointments there is none. At most they can give the healing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/there-is-only-one-healing-force-and-that-is-nature-in-pills-and/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Our new technologies, combined with our numbers, have made us, collectively, a force of nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/our-new-technologies-combined-with-our-numbers-have-made-us/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [We have become a force of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/we-have-become-a-force-of-nature/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [The trouble is that sex is a force of nature, and reason is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/the-trouble-is-that-sex-is-a-force-of-nature-and-reason-is-not/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [Like a force of nature love can fade with the stars at dawn...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/like-a-force-of-nature-love-can-fade-with-the-stars-at-dawn/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [Although gravity is by far the weakest force of nature, its insidious and cumulative action serves to determine the ultimate fate not only of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/although-gravity-is-by-far-the-weakest-force-of-nature-its-insidious/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) > [An ancient custom obtains force of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/an-ancient-custom-obtains-force-of-nature/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Space exploration is a force of nature unto itself that no other force in society can rival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/space-exploration-is-a-force-of-nature-unto-itself-that-no-other/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [If you can be your own force of nature and have a positive heart, then you can actually do something good in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/if-you-can-be-your-own-force-of-nature-and-have-a-positive-heart-then/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [We have become a force of nature Not long ago, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, drought, forest fires, even earthquakes and volcanic explosions were accepted as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/we-have-become-a-force-of-nature-not-long-ago-hurricanes-tornadoes/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [It is difficult to resist a force of nature, Maman. His seduction is like all my senses struck by bolts of lightning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-jordan/it-is-difficult-to-resist-a-force-of-nature-maman-his-seduction-is/) [Nicole Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-jordan/) ## More by Teresa Nielsen Hayden > [If you ask 20 different readers why they read, they will all be right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/if-you-ask-20-different-readers-why-they-read-they-will-all-be-right/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [There's a rule for what makes good fantasy work, and it's as strange as any riddle ever posed in a fairy tale: In fantasy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/there-s-a-rule-for-what-makes-good-fantasy-work-and-it-s-as-strange/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [Writers say many true things about their own experiences with publicity and promotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/writers-say-many-true-things-about-their-own-experiences-with/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [“Writer: It's not an occupation; it's a compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/writer-it-s-not-an-occupation-it-s-a-compulsion/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [So many problems are solved simply by knowing enough verbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/so-many-problems-are-solved-simply-by-knowing-enough-verbs/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [If there is no willingness to use force to defend civil society, it's civil society that goes away, not force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/if-there-is-no-willingness-to-use-force-to-defend-civil-society-it-s/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [I have to go make books. Sorry about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/i-have-to-go-make-books-sorry-about-that/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [Didn't need the user icon to know you're white and male.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/didn-t-need-the-user-icon-to-know-you-re-white-and-male/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [Just because you’re on their side doesn’t mean they’re on your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/just-because-you-re-on-their-side-doesn-t-mean-they-re-on-your-side/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [I believe God put that itchy spot on our backs just exactly where we can't reach it in order to encourage us be nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/i-believe-god-put-that-itchy-spot-on-our-backs-just-exactly-where-we/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [Don't use metaphors in fantasy; your readers will take them literally. Or they may take them figuratively - but if so, they'll also take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/don-t-use-metaphors-in-fantasy-your-readers-will-take-them-literally/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [Sometimes writers say true things about the overall nature of publicity, promotion, and the publishing industry; but alas, not always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/sometimes-writers-say-true-things-about-the-overall-nature-of/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [The advent of the internet has made so many things possible. Self- published recreational journalism has always been around; but back when you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/the-advent-of-the-internet-has-made-so-many-things-possible-self/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [If this power could be used for good, it wouldn't be this power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/if-this-power-could-be-used-for-good-it-wouldn-t-be-this-power/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [That's the great thing about doing good: Anyone can do it, any time, no waiting periods or batteries required.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/that-s-the-great-thing-about-doing-good-anyone-can-do-it-any-time-no/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) [Explore all 16 Teresa Nielsen Hayden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) ## More Conventions quotes > [All progress in literary style lies in the heroic resolve to cast aside accretions and exuberances, all the conventions of a past age that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/all-progress-in-literary-style-lies-in-the-heroic-resolve-to-cast/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [ \[James\] Madison pointed out in the discussion of the constitutional debates - the constitutional convention - that democracy would be a danger. He used… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/james-madison-pointed-out-in-the-discussion-of-the-constitutional/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ \[The Massachusetts constitution\] resembles the federal Constitution of 1787 more closely than any of the other revolutionary state constitutions. It was also drawn up… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/the-massachusetts-constitution-resembles-the-federal-constitution-of/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [Nobody can live in society without conventions. The reason why sensible people are as conventional as they can bear to be is that conventionality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/nobody-can-live-in-society-without-conventions-the-reason-why/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I joked at our National Convention that our party was nominating a candidate for president who was charismatic, larger than life, memorable, so they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/i-joked-at-our-national-convention-that-our-party-was-nominating-a/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The President? Hmmm, I wonder who that might be? Could it be, perhaps, the sitting two-term incumbent of the same party holding its convention?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fallows/the-president-hmmm-i-wonder-who-that-might-be-could-it-be-perhaps-the/) [James Fallows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fallows/) > [The sophists were as a rule men who had traveled widely and seen different forms of government. Both conventions and local laws in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/the-sophists-were-as-a-rule-men-who-had-traveled-widely-and-seen/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [As so often, a political event involving Donald Trump looks like swinging wildly between melodrama and farce. The Republican National Convention in Cleveland has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-colvin/as-so-often-a-political-event-involving-donald-trump-looks-like/) [Mark Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-colvin/) > [Once we realized that there were these 25 invariable types - the class politician, the frigid popular girl, the kid who tags along behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/once-we-realized-that-there-were-these-25-invariable-types-the-class/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [On the surface the avant garde as a whole seems united primarily in terms of what they are against: the rejection of social institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-innes/on-the-surface-the-avant-garde-as-a-whole-seems-united-primarily-in/) [C. D. Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-innes/) > [My characters are all kind of geek archetypes of people I've encountered at gaming and comic book conventions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/my-characters-are-all-kind-of-geek-archetypes-of-people-i-ve/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [Based on the considerations of history, ancient history, and international axioms, the logic of following up a citizen with his shadow for the purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saddam-hussein/based-on-the-considerations-of-history-ancient-history-and/) [Saddam Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saddam-hussein/) > [The psychotherapist ... tries to help the individual to be himself and to go it alone without giving unnecessary offense to his community, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-psychotherapist-tries-to-help-the-individual-to-be-himself-and-to/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [ Everything \[Ted\] Cruz was doing was legal, it was aboveboard, but it was portrayed as Cruz is the villain, and here's \[Donald\] Trump and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/everything-ted-cruz-was-doing-was-legal-it-was-aboveboard-but-it-was/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [2004 was a great year for Boston! The Patriots won the Super Bowl! Boston hosted its first national political convention! And - the Red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-menino/2004-was-a-great-year-for-boston-the-patriots-won-the-super-bowl/) [Thomas Menino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-menino/) [Browse all 853 Conventions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Plot is a literary convention. Story is a force of nature.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Teresa Nielsen Hayden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/plot-is-a-literary-convention-story-is-a-force-of-nature/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conventions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/plot-is-a-literary-convention-story-is-a-force-of-nature/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/teresa-nielsen-hayden-31945_conventions_plot-is-a-literary-convention-story-is-a_2104982.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/teresa-nielsen-hayden-31945_conventions_plot-is-a-literary-convention-story-is-a_2104982.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/teresa-nielsen-hayden-31945_conventions_plot-is-a-literary-convention-story-is-a_2104982.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Plot is a literary convention. Story is a force of nature.” — Teresa Nielsen Hayden", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Teresa Nielsen Hayden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Plot is a literary convention. Story...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/plot-is-a-literary-convention-story-is-a-force-of-nature/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/plot-is-a-literary-convention-story-is-a-force-of-nature/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```