Writing Stack Exchange
Writing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [subplot]

This tag should be used for questions about subplots, story arcs that center around supporting characters and that are in general only loosely related to the main plot and the main characters.

This tag should be used for questions about subplots, story arcs that center around supporting characters and that are in general only loosely related to the main plot and the main characters. A subplot can be intertwined with the main plot at one point or another and in general has less influence on the world and the main characters than the main plot.

You should use this tag when asking questions about how subplots are handled in your genre, such as or , or for example for questions about the sizing and impacts of subplots.

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Should we add a character in a story for realistic effect?

In my novel, the protagonist is divorced and moves from London to another city in Britain. The setting is 2013. The protagonist is depressed and stressed out; in real life, such a person would see a psychiatrist. This will be a realistic…
White Cloud
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I accidentally added a character, and then forgot to write them in for the rest of the series

I am a young author writing a fantasy series. When I was looking over my manuscript, I realized that in chapter seven I’d added a character named Autumn. She’s a tiny fairy who rides around on the MCs shoulder. She can’t actually talk though,…
Hello.There
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Is it ok to put a subplot to a story that is never meant to contribute to the development of the main plot?

Is it ok to put a subplot to a story that is never meant to contribute to the development of the main plot? In Game of Thrones season 8, a lot of the subplots that were explored in previous seasons were completely dismissed or ignored. While this is…
user36239
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7 answers

I am overplotting my story - how can I figure out what is necessary and cut out what isn't?

I have recently discovered that the plot and cast of characters of my novel is so unbelievably complex that I am the only one who can actually understand it. I have too many characters, with too many subplots, and so many different events involved…
EmmieCG
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How to tease a romance without a cat and mouse chase?

So, my story doesn't have a romance subplot until way later in the series, but I think that there are elements of the romance very early on. A little background info: The story is set in a fantastical world where humans are the dominant race, and…
Kale Slade
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Is It Okay to Write Chapters of a Story Out of Order?

I'm writing the chapters of my story, and I wanted to know if I can skip a chapter that I don’t yet know the details of, and move on to other chapters that are already developed Let’s say I’m on chapter 4, but I haven’t developed chapter 6 yet, so I…
stories of the world
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How much of a character's past/background should I let on?

I've been starting something really interesting lately, which is writing each of my main character's back story before writing the main book (If anyone is having the dreaded block or is looking for a way to know their character's better I really…
J. Roberts
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Subplots better than the main plot

The main plot follows the MC while travelling through the world trying to rescue his family. While doing this however, he must overcome a lot of difficulties. These are subplots focused on other characters' issues and relations, but involving the MC…
scrp
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What to avoid when writing distant and inconsequential POVs?

I'm currently writing a sci-fi novel, where we've got some huge, solar system-spanning stuff going on, with huge stakes. I've got four POVs that are directly involved with this, whose decisions matter and are directly influenced by what…
A. Kvåle
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Does detail obscure or enhance action?

I have two versions of a pivotal scene in my novel (both already written). My SP is a rather impulsive young woman who is learning to be a bit less of a hothead. She saves the MC by literally taking a bullet for him. In version A, she intuits the…
Rasdashan
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Do I have to show my characters making up after an argument, or can it be implied when we see them on good terms again?

Is it okay to have two characters who had an argument to patch things up offscreen, or do readers explicitly need to see how they made up? None of the two characters in question are the protagonist, and the argument itself has little to no bearing…
Klara Raškaj
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Can a fight scene, component-wise, be too complex and complicated?

Okay, there is some preliminary information for you to be able to answer this question: There is a sword of great power, a McGuffin, and a destined one who wields it. The destined one has two companions. These three we'll call Gang 1, for…
A. Kvåle
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What is a subplot based on: conflict or tension?

I'm attempting to understand how subplots work, and one aspect has me confused. I'm trying to create a process by which I can create subplots. When I create the main plot, I start with conflict - two opposing forces. This doesn't seem to work with…
Thomas Reinstate Monica Myron
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How do I know when to include subplots?

Disclaimer: This is not a duplicate of this question. That question deals with subplots being necessary to a story's success, and also loosely how to create them. This question is aimed at knowing when to include subplots, and how many I need. If…
Thomas Reinstate Monica Myron
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When do you reveal a backstory of a character?

Many characters have a backstory and it is usually sad. However I do wonder, when is it that you have to reveal a character's backstory. I've watched some videos of writers explaining how to reveal a backstory and most importantly when we have to…
Crimsoir
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