Having a strong sense of their defining traits and how these traits might mesh (and clash, for that matter) is crucial to creating a satisfying romance! That’s not to say your couple’s dynamics can’t evolve on the contrary, they absolutely should. To avoid situations like this, develop your key characters’ dynamics before you begin writing your story. This is jarring in any story, but especially when romance is involved: one moment the characters are ready to rip each others’ throats out, the next they simply can’t live without each other. ![]() One of the biggest issues I see in romantic subplots is inconsistent character dynamics. ![]() Of course, romantic subplots can only do all that when written well. A poorly constructed romance is merely a distraction that dilutes the plot, and should be avoided at all costs! That’s why I’m here to share my best tips on how to write stellar romantic subplots - in any genre, between any sort of characters - just in time for Valentine’s Day. Indeed, weaving romance into your story is an excellent way to develop your characters, heighten the emotional stakes, and recapture romance-inclined readers whose interest in the A-plot may be waning. Savannah Cordova is back with some tips on how to whip them into shape.Īs a reader and writer, one of my favorite story elements is the romantic subplot: a blossoming romance between two characters that, while not integral to the main plot, often makes it more intriguing and enjoyable. Use wisdom and select the most powerful subplots that will make a difference to the characters and that is affects the original goal of a main character.Does your story contain a romantic subplot? They can be tricky to write well while not allowing them to take over the main plot line. When a novel is too burdened with subplots, the reader can lose the original story. Stories of 80,000 word count is open to perhaps two subplots. Shorter novels of from 50,000 to 65,000 word count can handle one subplot well. Subplots helps a book's pacing by adding deeper conflicts, but too many subplots can complicate a story unless the book is the length that can handle them. She wants out of the marriage.Īs you can see, a subplot is another significant situation in the story that causes conflict, creating deeper tension and thus emotion while the main character tries to resolve these personal issues while striving to reach the goal that’s important to them. Subplot - The detective's wife is tired of his long hours and dangerous job. The bad guy is getting more dangerous and pressure is on the detective. Suspense - Plot deal with a detective who is struggling to solve a crime that keeps alluding him. The sub-plot might be the heroine's former fiancé shows up in her life again trying to rekindle their old relationship. Romance - Plot deals with hero and heroine falling in love as they meet conflicts and issues that keep them from admitting the love they feel or that keep them from accepting the love that's within reach. ![]() Sub-plot would be the daughter's husband's business is going under adding stress to her life and their relationship. ![]() Sometimes a subplot will mirror the struggle of a main character, and though the character has wisdom for her friend's issue, she can’t relate it to her own until something happens to help her see that she has the same problem and now has the answer.įamily saga - Plot deals with a mother-daughter relationship and the struggles they have to resolve their problems. The subplot adds complications and puts obstacles in the way of the main character and therefore becomes a story conflict. Sub-plot is a secondary plot (or side story) that is unfolding in your story. The plot is where you’ll find the story’s theme or main idea. The plot provides the main characters, their goals and motivation and their conflicts-the obstacles that keep them from reaching their goal. Plot is the full flow of your story-what happens from the beginning to the end. This question-What is the difference between a plot and a subplot-came to me a short time ago, and though I responded to the questioner, I decided others might enjoy an explanation. On the Writing Fiction Right blog, I often receive questions within the comments from writers, and sometimes I receive emails from newer authors asking questions.
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