Driven vs. Reluctant Heroes

There’s an adage about plot, probably originating in something John Gardner once said, to the effect that there are only two plots: either someone leaves on a journey, or a stranger comes to town.

I think the more useful way of looking at this part of the plot question is: either the protagonist goes looking for trouble, or trouble comes looking for the protagonist.

“Looking for trouble” is not as literal as it sounds at first hearing. To me, it sums up the active protagonist, the one who sets o...