Plots vs. Subplots vs. Side Plot

Weaving layers for storytelling

Carrow storytime!

When I drafted Queen of Swords and Silence, I attended a writing group and would read my first attempted wordsmithing to a group. In those settings, new and experienced writers came and went. On one particular week, a woman came and circled one paragraph with ‘There are too many beats here.’ My understanding of writing craft at the time was minimal and my first thought when I read her words was that she was talking about music. I’d just set out on my journey and was going hog wild, so I didn’t understand her intention (and she never came back for me to ask) so I wasn’t sure if she was speaking nonsense or plain sense.

Doing what most individuals do, I took to the internet! What started off as “book beats” had me landing on various books such as Save the Cat and Creating Character ARCs. I bought and read both books and many more. My personal has more craft books than I know what to do with. Since then, I hear others talk about plots and beats and while there is universal agreement, there is also some misunderstandings.

I implore you to make sure you have a firm grasp on these elements if you are looking to get an agent or traditionally published as these will be possible questions asked of you. Nothing says ‘I don’t know my story’ like not being unable to answer fundamental questions about your book.

Let’s clear that up!

What is the Difference in Plots, Subplots, and Side Plots?

This question—what is the dissimilarity between a plot and a subplot—can confuse a lot of new authors. Knowing the difference between the two is pivotal to writing an intriguing story that generates sales. The plot is the complete flow of your story—what ensues from the opening to the conclusion. The plot offers the main characters, their objectives and motivation, and their struggles—the problems that keep them from attaining their purpose. A plot is where you’ll find the story’s subject or central idea. Most story plots have a rational, tempting format that pulls the reader in. The plot varies from "story" in that it focuses on a particular and persistent cause-and-effect relationship between arrangements of main events in the story.

I like to think of plots, subplots, and side plots like layers of a tiramisu cake—all working together to make something delicious. As someone who use to work in a kitchen at a hotel, I can tell you firsthand that tiramisus are hard work, but crafting easy reading with engaging stories is also hard work. No one really appreciates it until they have to do it themselves, but its still good.

Let’s dive into our layers.

Main Plot is our mascarpone and if you skimp on this, your readers will have something to say, and none of it is positive. If you promise a certain kind of story and theme, then it needs to be present and well crafted. Is your story is about war and assassinations? You’ll need plenty of strategy, subtlety, and courtly politics integrated into your story background. Promised ladies a heart-pounding romance with steamy warlords? Give the steam and plenty of broody warlords (and let them cuddle after sex, ladies like that). No one wants to bite into cake expecting mascarpone and then find out they were bamboozled by whipped cream.

Side Plots are the ladyfingers and are labors of love because if you mean to put them in the cake, you need to make the substantial and meaningful. In my reading experience, I see these either use to discuss the political situation around a war in a book that does have some effect on the story or lead-ins to other characters in a romance series. I am sure you know a subplot off the top of your head from a book you read. Which one was your favorite?

Subplots are the flavor details we enjoy like the rub was and the powdered chocolate on the top of the cake. And because there is so much that goes into them, I have all those lovely flavor profiles written in detail for you below.

What is a subplot?

If the main plot is our mascarpone, then the subplot will be the ladyfingers of our story cake.

The subplot is a secondary plot (also known as a side plot) developing in your story. The subplot adds difficulties and puts hindrances in the way of the protagonists, and becomes a story dispute. Occasionally a subplot will emulate the struggle of the protagonists, and though the character knows her friend's argument, she can't narrate it on her own until something happens to aid her to see that she has the identical problem and now has the solution.

Types of subplots

Foil subplot

A secondary character comes across a predicament comparable to the main character’s journey but struggles to solve the conflict differently, a difference (or “foil”) that highpoints the protagonist’s potential and individualities.

Bookend subplot

A trivial secondary conflict presented early in the story remains fundamentally unaffected until the central conflict settles. Having been transformed by their voyage, the main character can now resolve this secondary conflict, every so often strengthening their transformation and inaugurating their fresh normal.

Mirror subplot

A secondary character lives through a conflict that reflects the protagonist’s principal predicament, knowingly or accidentally offering the protagonist with the understanding or enthusiasm they need to solve their conflict.

Romantic subplot

The protagonist’s association with a love interest obfuscates their journey to settle the story’s fundamental conflict. This particular subplot can be extra details because there is so much that goes into an interpersonal relationship. I could—and will—write an entire blog post about all that goes into this particular (sub)plot, but there is a wonderful book called Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes if you don’t want to wait and are interested in taking your romance plot to the next level.

Parallel subplot

An unconnected plotline occurs in partnership with the main story until the two crash in an exciting fashion. On the other hand, a subplot shows readers the story’s fundamental conflict through the perspective of a secondary character, showing dual sides of the identical story.

Complicating subplot

A secondary character’s actions confuse the protagonist’s experience with the story’s fundamental conflict. On the other hand, a protagonist’s error results in a minor disagreement that makes matters worse.

As you can see, a subplot is one more extraordinary situation in the story that produces conflict, generating profound tension and, therefore, emotion. At the same time, the protagonist tries to settle these individual issues while struggling to reach the objective that’s significant to them.

Why Use Subplots in Your Writing

A subplot is a plot thread that is interlaced through a book to back the fundamentals of the main plot. A subplot can create conflict in the main plot or be a medium for a secondary character’s narrative. Whatsoever, subplots have their individual story. Here are several whys and wherefores authors utilize subplots when writing a novel:

Subplots add complexity. Intertwining numerous plot lines through a story generates a multifaceted story arc. A story with just a main plot can be monotonous, but a story with subplots over and above the main plot has complication and profundity. This makes the story more appealing to readers.

Subplots strengthen the conflict. Subplots are a way to intensify the pressure and exaggerate the conflict in a story. They can insert new plot points that bring problems for the main character resulting in a more melodramatic climax.

Subplots supplement character growth. A secondary plot can disclose innovative information about the main character. How the main character interrelates with secondary characters in a subplot can show readers their personality, qualities, and character imperfections, making them more exposed and convincing.

How can you foster operative subplots for your story?

Secondary plotlines often appear as you would expect as you fashion your story’s central conflict, but you can generate new subplots should the necessity arise. Whatsoever, here are three essential tips to take into consideration as you cultivate your story’s secondary plotlines:

Your subplot must assist a narrative determination.

Operational subplots are essential to a story’s central conflict. If you can eliminate a subplot from your text without austerely influencing your story's major conflict, then your subplot probably doesn’t aid a resilient narrative purpose.

When making subplots, be honest about whether the secondary plotline adds to the general achievement of the story you’re trying to express. For example, how does it impart complexity and lucidity to your main characters’ drives? If throwing sprinkles onto your tiramisu doesn’t add to the presentation or flavor, don’t add it.

Length and intricacy aside, if you’re adding a subplot to your story to upsurge word count, ask yourself if the story is truthfully unfinished without those words—better a concise novelette than a boring, monotonous, and poorly conceived novel. Granted, this used to be a writing style back in the 1980s where authors would go on for pages about details, people, or items for pages and then we would never see them again. The Hunt for the Red October is the first (and great) book I can think of with frivolous details.

If you’re eager that a subplot will make your story more intricate, then think through whether your story lacks the essential tension to occupy readers without that additional plotline. Unneeded complications can effortlessly create a tortuous story.

Summon up that a subplot is also a story

A secondary plotline is more than just a speedy event or tête-à-tête; it’s a story arc that needs its opening, climax, and conclusion. Cultivate your story’s subplots appropriately, paying special consideration to the characters’ objectives, inspirations, and the conflict they’ll go through.

Ensure your subplot doesn’t overwhelm the main plot

A decent subplot doesn’t overwhelm your story cake—it adds to it. Still using our tiramisu reference, the coffee syrup (side plot) shouldn’t be overwhelming in terms of taste, but add to the layers of filling and cake you labored over. If you or your readers find your story’s secondary plotlines more exciting than its central events, then it might be time to reassess the arrangement of your story.

A subplot can emphasize one more aspect of the protagonist or trail the story of one more prominent character and their growth. It can direct the main theme and help in thickening the story. Subplots will augment your novel and make your story a more compelling read.

And with all that said and done, I am off to find myself some tiramisu. For those of you who want to try making your own, I found this outstanding recipe by Natasha Kravchuk for you to consider.