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Questions tagged [subtext]

This question should be used for questions about subtext, such as when asking questions about how or when to introduce subtext to your writing. A subtext in this context could mean the information that the author wants to convey without ever explicitly stating as such, either intentionally or unintentionally.

This question should be used for questions about subtext, such as when asking questions about how or when to introduce subtext to your writing. A subtext in this context could mean the information that the author wants to convey without ever explicitly stating as such, either intentionally or unintentionally. See What is subtext? for an example of a definition of the term.

You should mention what kind of writing you are interested in and how the topic of using subtext is giving you difficulties in your writing .

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Where in the writing process do you work in subtext?

In the BBC Sherlock fandom there are many lively discussions about how a lot of the story takes place in subtext: Person C is a "mirror" for Protagonist A, water symbolizes emotions, drinking tea means X and drinking coffee means Y, the phone…
Lauren-Clear-Monica-Ipsum
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What are techniques for romantic subtext in a first-person novel?

In a first-person narrative, how do you effectively make it clear to the reader that a second character likes your protagonist, before it dawns on the protagonist herself?
FalseEpiphany
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What is subtext?

In this question about creating subtext, Where in the writing process do you work in subtext?, the question of what the word subtext means was raised. This question is to address this issue. Of course, as all good writers know, there are not enough…
user16226
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Is there a name for layers of subtext?

For each line of dialog, I have three pieces of text: the dialog itself, and two things I call Subtext1 and Subtext2 for now. Dialog: Self-explanatory, the only thing actually "visible" to the reader Subtext1: Shows what I want the reader to think…
user23083
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Is there a balance on being subtle?

I love literature that leaves clues that readers can connect or makes them discuss their own theorys/interpretations. I'm making my own, but how do I make one. Like, looking deeper in the words per se without the need of just saying it outright. I…
Carambamucho
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How to have subtext with a character who's blunt, direct and straightforward?

I know what makes dialogue interesting is what characters don't say as much as (or more than) what they do. How do I achieve this with a character who prides herself on 'saying it like it is', and not beating around the bush. If she thinks…
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Writing Longer Flashbacks

In my story my MC has suffered a severe injury and has no recollection of who he was before it occurred. He knows what happened and where he was when it occurred as he was told by the people who found him and nursed him back to health. I want a…
J Crosby
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Is spelling out the subtext a terrible mistake in writing?

https://youtu.be/UPbhK3TF8VM?t=645 Is spelling out the subtext a terrible mistake in writing? Is that related to "show and not tell" or is it a different thing? In the movie Predator, the subtext is that a woman who is underestimated is the biggest…
user36239