Every viewpoint character adds a subplot with his own set of goals and obstacles. Subplots can begin in a new chapter and in a new point of view. Whatever side story you create it must impact your protagonist either immediately or later. Problems and needs of secondary characters can lead to subplots as long as they advance the story.Ī good subplot will escalate the conflict by creating obstacles that make it more difficult for your protagonist to achieve her goal. These issues could impact the protagonist directly or involve her through friends or relatives. Subplots may include: physical or psychological issues, romance, conspiracies, addictions and grief. Each of these areas could give rise to a subplot. Start by considering what is going on in a protagonist’s life? Explore personal and professional issues, relationships with secondary characters including colleagues, friends and family, past experiences and hopes for the future, troubles and conflicts. How do authors create and use subplots? Carefully. A subplot can add complexity, tension and dimension to a story. Subplots are essential to the success of a novel. Subplots are comprised of the same elements as a main plot only on a much smaller scale-a character pursues a goal, encounters conflict and works to resolve it. (note that more than 3 becomes less impactful.A subplot is a secondary strand of a story plot that supports the main plot. C could be the setup for the story after that, or it could be something else, as in my next section… B and C are subplots.ī is often the plot of the next one. In a series on TV, writers often describe “main plot” “b plot” “c plot”. The sub-plot in one becomes the main plot of the next one. Sub-plot in A Seriesįellow writer Autumn Birt has what I view is a good approach to sub-plots: If for one novel, it has to pay off by the end. Using a sub-plot to hint at an element of the main storyline in a solo novel or a part of a series. More than that you may make your overall storyline too muddled. If it’s just for one novel, try to keep it to one overall character arc/plot. They are often used as part of a series, where characters have more room to grow - but they can also be a part of single novels too. In a way, these are subplots… but if they`re really a part of the main plot of the novel. In a series, they can also add depth, also by foreshadowing the further storylines. In a solo novel, they are a complement to the main storyline, a way to add depth to it. Definition of SubplotĪs the name suggests these are below the main plot of the story. Subplots can be overused in many kinds of prose. Many were throwaways, concepts and characters never mentioned again. He was a tremendous idea man, excellent with dialogue and also created some strong, memorable female characters, but he too overused sub-plotting.Ī guy I knew kept a binder to track all his subplots. Using an example suited more to writing: starting in the 1980s writer Chris Claremont began a long and popular run in the X-Men comicbooks. (Here in Canada we vacate politely rather than make a scene.) I thought I was being clever said games at most lasted maybe six sessions before all of my players stopped coming. They had nothing to do with the main storyline, nothing to do with anything of the characters actions either. When I was a Game Master (GM) for tabletop games, in several of my games I dropped a new subplot every few minutes.
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