so you know abt the "if they're my favorite character i'm gonna be excited to see them hurt" thing but.. am i the only one who gets Annoyed when characters i dislike get whumped? like. they didn't deserve the honor, what an injustice that this is canon đ đ
Oh, yeah, I feel that too. Like the character I like was right there for the whumping, why would you choose that one?
This scene got me and my Silbling cracking, we were the only people besides one lady in cinema that laughed at it. Because it's true, British did steal all of their stuff.
"Hey, hey, it's okay"
"Shh, you're safe, you're safe, it's alright "
"Look at me. Hey, look at me"
"Stay with me. Come on, just stay with me"
"It's over. It's over now."
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry"
"I'm here. I'm right here"
Who doesnât love a good subplot? Some of my favorites books are the ones that have super interesting subplots because who doesnât love hearing about that secondary character development arc or those lovely side characters with the inevitably doomed romance? Whatâs not to like? But, subplots can often be one of the hardest to write and the most misunderstood storytelling elements. They arenât part of the main narrative thread, so they canât overtake it, but they also need to have their own story arc separate from the main plot. Itâs a delicate balance that can be kind hard to strike, because subplots arenât just secondary plot-lines, they have to serve a narrative purpose and engage with the storyâs central conflict.Â
First, let us define some different kinds of subplots
Mirror Subplot:Â A subplot where a side character experiences a conflict that mirrors the protagonistâs main conflict and gives the protagonist the insight or motivation they need to resolve their own conflict.
Romantic Subplot:Â The protagonistâs relationship with a love interest complicates their journey to resolve the storyâs central conflict.
Parallel Subplot: a subplot where something seemingly unrelated occurs at the same time as the main plot and then all of a sudden the two plots collide towards the end of the book.
Complicating Subplot: a subplot where a secondary characterâs actions actively complicates the protagonistâs journey with the central conflict
Foil Subplot: a subplot where a secondary character experiences the same or a very similar conflict as the protag but wants to resolve that in a different way (this contracts or creates a âfoilâ that highlights the protagonists qualities and characteristics)
There are a lot more different kinds of subplots, but these are some of the most common, so here are some tips for writing subplots!
This is the first question we should ask ourselves anytime we add anything to our stories, but especially subplots. Sometimes, authors (meaning me) will get to the end of writing their first draft and realize that they are not anywhere close to their goal word count. To remedy this, they will just throw in a cute little subplot. Unfortunately, friends, this does not work. The best, effective subplots should be integral to a storyâs central conflict. If you can remove your subplot from the story without their being a big impact on the central conflict, then the subplot doesnât really serve a strong narrative purpose. We most often see this problem arise in romantic subplots. Authors will just throw in a romance or the dreaded love-triangle as a subplot for absolutely no reason. Iâm the first person to admit I love a good romantic subplot, but I also like it to be there for a good reason. That is why the Hunger Games will never go out of my top five all time books/series because despite what a lot of people think the romantic subplot in that story is essential. Katniss and Peetaâs love story is the reason they both survive the Games which is the central conflict of the book. It works perfectly, and if you want a good example of a subplot done well, look no further.
Honestly, sometimes the subplot really is better than the main plot. Thatâs not necessarily a good thing, but I think we have all read a book where the main plot just drags and you just canât wait to get back to your favorite side characters and their little adventure. But, a good subplot shouldnât steal the limelight from the main plot. It should enhance the main plot and maybe add a layer of complexity but never overshadow. Going back to my example for the day, the Hungers Games does a really good job of this. I read something once where someone said Katnissâs romance overshadows the Games and the Rebellion, and I was like, did we read the same book? If you go back and read the books, Katniss doesnât think about her romance with Gale or Peeta all that much. Sheâs mostly thinking about her own survival and the survival of her family. Both of which relate directly to the main plot. We never forget about the romance in the book because it is important, but in my opinion, it never overshadows the main plot of the Games and the Rebellion even in the first book where itâs more heavily featured.Â
On the flip-side of that, even though the subplot shouldnât overshadow the main plot, it still needs to follow its own narrative arc. This is where a lot of new authorâs get lost. A subplot is way more than just a short conversation or a quick event that inconveniences or helps the protagonists. All your subplots need their own beginning, middle, and end. Make sure that you definitely developed all of your storyâs subplots accordingly. That includes paying attention to all of your charactersâ goals, motivations, and the conflict that they experience. Generally when Iâm in the development stages of the subplot, I develop it the same way that I develop one of my main plots. While they do not necessarily need the same attention or development as your main plot, developing them with the same goals in mind will only help you in the long run!
Grits my teeth. Why do people always assume I want to fuck a character when I post about them enthusiastically
Sorry for my absence guys I just started my junior year in high school đđ
Anyways have this art of the silliest of bros which has been sitting in my gallery for weeks and I barely decided to color it
Art Base/reference belongs to @/E_meres.zzoA
Youâve heard of one shots, now get ready for none shots! Itâs when you think of an idea for a fic and then donât write it
he/they | đ¸đť | I write fics and make translation in ao3
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