The Subplot: What to do when it is only loosely tied to the main plot?
How do you connect subplots to a main plot?
And as with your main plot, all subplots should follow a narrative arc of conflict, crisis, and resolution, usually wrapped up before the main plot’s climax. Subplots can be what’s happening to secondary characters or an internal conflict your main character is facing in addition to the main conflict of your story.
How does the subplot support the main conflict in the story?
Conflict Subplot
Conflict subplots seek to do what they say on the tin – add conflict and tension in your novel. They’re also a brilliant vehicle for in-depth characterisation as they allow you to show how a character overcomes certain conflicts.
What is the difference between a main plot and a subplot?
In simple terms, a plot is a sequence of connected events that are bound together by cause and effort. The subplot is a side story that exists within the main plot. The subplot is connected to the main story but never overpowers it.
How do you structure a subplot?
Here’s one way the ‘subplot’ might be considered subordinate: The main plot gets the first and last say. The main plot begins and ends a story. Short forms such as short stories don’t have time for subplots. Don’t leave the main plot for too long because the audience will (hopefully) want to get back to it.
How do you handle subplots?
6 Tips for Writing Better Subplots
- Ensure that your subplots play second fiddle. …
- Give your subplots a narrative arc. …
- Write character-driven subplots. …
- Try a new POV. …
- Figure out how to connect the subplot and the main plot. …
- Ramp up the tension with a subplot.
What makes a good subplot?
To write a good subplot, you should support and enhance the main story arc, adding depth and complexity. Subplots are an effective tool for adding more conflict, characterization, and tension to your story. They can be used as a way of foreshadowing future events or can occur in parallel with the main narrative.
How many subplots is too many?
Unless you’re a master writer, you shouldn’t use more than 2 subplots to your main one.
How many scenes should a subplot have?
A subplot is just what it sounds like: A mini-story which plays a secondary, but related role to the Plotline. Here are some characteristics of subplots: A subplot must have at least 3 narrative beats (scenes or moments within scenes), but can have many more beats.
How many subplots should a novel have?
Most novels of typical length contain a main plot and up to three subplots.
What is a subplot example?
A classic example would be a villain capturing a love interest, the protagonist further motivated to defeat this villain as the stakes have become personal (if they weren’t already). In a drama, a romantic/love interest subplot might raise the stakes for the protagonist, providing a barometer for their actions.
What subplot means?
Definition of subplot
1 : a subordinate plot in fiction or drama. 2 : a subdivision of an experimental plot of land.
What is another word for subplot?
In this page you can discover 7 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for subplot, like: storylines, , , plotline, love story, back-story and storyline.
When was the main plot?
July 1603
The Main Plot was an alleged conspiracy of July 1603 by English courtiers to remove King James I from the English throne and to replace him with his cousin Lady Arbella Stuart. The plot was supposedly led by Lord Cobham and funded by the Spanish government.
What are the 4 types of plot?
The plot used in fictions can be differentiated into four types: linear, episodic, parallel, and flashback. The most common plot employed in short stories is the linear plot. Some short stories, though quite rarely, also use flashback plot.
What is the main plot of a story?
The plot of a story is the sequence of events that shape a broader narrative, with every event causing or affecting each other. In other words, plot is a series of causes-and-effects which shape the story as a whole. Plot definition: A series of causes-and-effects which shape the story as a whole.