"People sometimes wonder if you can have a story without a realization or growth. The answer is “Yes.” You’ll see this most often in slice-of-life literary stories, where the story might focus on a single afternoon in a character’s life. The opportunity for realization and growth arrives, but the character doesn’t “get it.” The moment passes and the opportunity for growth, the opportunity to be a hero, is lost. In many literary short stories, this is the tragedy of the moment and it can give the story a certain sadness that draws readers (or depresses them).
In longer fiction, readers will want to see more growth. And they’re often disappointed if the realization is lost or weak. Keep that in mind if you’re working on plots for longer fiction."
- Mike Foley, Writing Teacher Extraordinaire
"Creating Plots that Sell"
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