Mar 29
Phantasy Star Online
Kireek - The Black Hound (Pt 4.)
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Phantasy Star Online
Kireek - The Black Hound (Pt 4.)
What Is A Sub-Plot In Fiction? 6 Sub-Plots Every Writer Should Know
Learn how sub-plots strengthen a novel. Explore six types of sub-plots writers can use to add depth, conflict, and emotion to their stories.
Too many sub-plots spoil the broth. Don't overdo it. One or two sub-plots are usually enough.
I genuinely hate cheating subplots. Like, reading them gives me the same feeling I got every time I found out I was being cheated on, that cold, sick feeling. And if it's the protagonists cheating? Get the fuck out of here with that.
I despise “parental problem” storylines where the resentment hatred is met with some ‘nobody’s perfect’ bullshit. I want the other characters to promise murder. I want them at an instant to gather their things and just run. I don’t need this ‘holier than thou’ thing, I want them to be extreme and rash and angry. I want them to have that respite.
Do you enjoy writing romantic subplots?
I write straight up romance plots
Yes, I enjoy adding romance subplots to my work
Sometimes, it depends on the work and the content
Only very rarely / occasionally do I feel like adding romance subplots
Not really, but I sometimes add them out of feeling obligation or to get readers
I never add romance subplots, I don’t like them
Not a writer / See Results
The best subplots add layers, create obstacles, resolve internal conflicts, and enrich the main storyline. They create depth rather than mer
If you’ve hit a wall in your novel because your great idea isn’t panning out quite the way you’d imagined, there’s a good chance that what you’re missing is a subplot. A successful novel is quite often the intersection of two good ideas—not just one. As Tony Earley put it, “Every story is about the thing and the other thing.” A subplot is a secondary storyline that complements the main plot of your novel. It is particularly useful for pacing, because it can either add breathing room where you need it or increase the tension. It can also develop your theme by adding layers to the story, and it can add complexity to your protagonist by developing a facet of their character that might not otherwise get attention. You can also use a subplot to give your characters conflicting goals, thus making the outcome of the story more uncertain.
Writing Tips: Subplots!
Purpose of Subplots
Add complexity and depth to character arcs, worldbuilding, and themes.
Create contrast and pacing variety.
Set up sequels or future plot developments.
Support the main story emotionally or narratively.
Common Types of Subplots
Romance: A subplot unless central to the story (e.g. LOTR, Pride and Prejudice).
Secondary Character Arcs: Minor characters show growth that supports the main plot (Haunted House).
Ancillary Goals: Main character has internal goals (e.g. family, identity) alongside external ones (Binti).
Backstory: Flashbacks provide character motivation (Six of Crows).
Dramatic Tension: Side story builds hidden stakes (House of Hunger).
Thematic Resonance: Subplots reinforce central themes (The Grapes of Wrath).
Six Subplot Dangers
Too Many Subplots
Overcomplicates the narrative.
Rule of thumb: Max 3 subplots unless writing an epic.
Overshadowing the Main Plot
If the subplot is more compelling, it may need to become the main plot.
Shoehorned Romance
Forced relationships weaken narrative; consider friendship or alternate pairings.
Pointless Subplots
Must connect emotionally or thematically to the main plot or be cut.
Uneven Pacing
Poor subplot placement disrupts story flow; time it to complement tension.
Unresolved Subplots
All arcs must have a beginning, middle, and end. Use a spreadsheet to track.
Best Practices
Every subplot should advance character, plot, and world.
Use charts or templates to visualize and balance threads.
Revise subplots in later drafts for cohesion.
This summary of writing subplots is gleaned from Quitidian Writer’s video:
Hiiiii!
To premise my ask, I am finding difficulty making my two male characters go from friends to dating subtly. Like in a way that makes the reader go ‘OH’ when it comes out. I'm mostly struggling because these are teenage boys who make gay jokes(nonoffensive, just basic stuff I see people do all the time like “that was a little fruity bro” or “if you like me like that just say it” also if that is offense let me know, I'm straight and struggling a bit😭) in friendly banter.
If that was hard to read let me attempt to summarize:
How to write two non main characters subtly start dating?
Idk. Im also new to romance so anything is helpful!
Thank you for reading my nonsense ramblings!!!!
Hey there! Disclaimer: this blog is fairly inactive now, sorry-- most of the mods got busy and and I lost the energy to run it.
However, this is primarily a writing question, and I like talking about writing, so I'll give my advice:
There are 2 questions here: 1 is if their gay jokes are okay, 2 is how to have a background romance.
1: The problem I see here is, if these characters are not out as queer to the reader (like if the reader knows they're queer but not that they're dating), this could definitely read offensive. I don't like hearing about straight people making jokes about us-- the reason gay people might call each other fruity or other terms is mainly ironic or to reclaim those terms. If I'm in a room of straight people making those jokes it makes me uncomfortable bc they're punching OUT, while amongst other queer people, the jokes are made funny because everyone there knows the others ARE queer. Context is important.
That said, there's definitely times where things like that seem to set up a ship (that we have a history of thinking will never be true, but is more and more common). For this I think the joking flirting is perfect. So I think joking flirting is fine.
"Fruity" and other terms, even queerr and gay-- or jokingly homophobic jokes (like, I say to my partner all the time, "that was gay, we don't do that here" and it's completely a joke), may come off wrong. Some things I just do not want to see as a joke period, no matter who says them, how out they are, even if the speaker is queer. Some things I find fine to joke about irl but don't think should be in books because it does reach a wider audience (there's nuance there, no hard and fast rules, but there definitely are things I wouldn't mind jokes about but wouldn't want repeated in books). And then there's plenty of lighthearted stuff that is perfectly fine for queer characters to joke about just like people do irl. I think "Fruity" as yourr example is probably okay when it's from queeer characters but might cause some discomfort if I think the people saying it are straight. (That said, fruity is usually used for gay men, I am not one, and will ultimately differ to those who have more experience with the term).
That said, I think your best move is: let it slip to the reader, or make it kind of obvious, that ONE of them might be into the others, or is queer. Some comment nearly in, some special focus on that character, flattering descriptions of men, or jokes about themselves being queer (or if you're up to it, they come right out and say it).
2. How to write a romance behind the scenes:
My advice? Write it.
I've seen a lot of advice that writeers first needed a warm-up. Before you geet into writing your main story, spend like 15 minutes writing the two of them interact. Have them flirt, have them confess, have them cuddle or do things for each other. Look up fluff and ship prompts, even AUs.
Then, or at the same time if it jives with you, plot out their romance alongside your regular plot. A few points to decide when they happened: when they each started to like each other, when they admitted it, when they went on a first date, when they had sex for the first time (or if, this is optional), other points in the world relationship-- using your fluff scenes as inspiration.
Then you know where they stand. You can add little moments into the main story now. You can have them have an inside joke that they reference because you actually know what happened! (Though, tell us later, after revealing it, even if it's quick). You can have them spending time together that the MC doesn't think that much of.
This romance will not be in the main story, so you don't have to be good at romance. It can be dumb and cringe, or lack real chemistry, bc no one will see it.
The way I describe this sounds like a lot, but my advice with sketching the beats out and writing small scenes can apply to any sub/background plot you have. Really you may only spend like 4-6 sessions doing a warm up with them, then switch to different characters or background scenes or just rewriting smth from a different character's POV, and then plot out the beats once before moving on to another background thing.
If anyone else has any ideas about writing a suble/background romance, feel free to chime in!
-Mod Emma