Examples of Sub-plots

Elladog · May 29, 2008

I tend to get so wrapped up in my main plot that I find myself really struggling with sub-plots. I would be forever grateful if people would share some examples of sub-plots that have really worked for them, whether in something you've written or something you've read. In particular I am trying to get a better handle on how the two mingle together to move the overall story forward.

If you're willing, would you post a sentence or two outlining the main plot, and a sentence or two about the sub-plot(s)?

DeleyanLee · May 29, 2008

It's not a book, but it's a good, simple example of main plot/sub plot:

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Main Plot: Getting the Ark before the bad guys

Sub Plot: Indy & Marian

Just try not to enjoy it so much that you don't look for the plot structure.

BlueLucario · May 29, 2008

Harry Potter:

Main Plot: Harrt Potter & Voldemort.

Sub Plot: Quidditch- (The Deathly Hallows search)

ishtar'sgate · May 29, 2008

I wanted to keep my last novel fairly simple. My through plot centered on the protagonist's struggle for survival during the black plague. My main subplot focused on attempts made to acquire her lands by whatever means necessary. So while this poor young woman is struggling to keep herself and her household alive and safe she must also contend with an enemy who wants to murder her for her land or obtain it by deceit and treachery. Minor characters become entangled in both plot lines and some are sacrificed for the furtherance of the subplot.
My current WIP has one through plot - a conspiracy by three men to open up ancient Babylon to the advancing army of Cyrus the Great. There are also three subplots which follow the three men and their motivation for being part of the scheme.
Hope that helps.
Linnea

jannawrites · May 29, 2008

Great thread, Elladog, because it's making me consider my story and whether I've laid the plot and subplots well enough. Though my explanation of the main story feels... not quite where it needs to be (it keeps evolving - not the plot itself, just my understanding of it), I feel confident in knowing exactly what my subplots are, and how they assist the primary plot.

Plot: MC's life changes in drastic ways and she tries to determine true happiness for herself.

Subplots: How she comes to lose her job. Her aunt's health. The friends (and enemies) she makes after her relocation. A new romance. Etc.

zegota · May 29, 2008

I'm not sure everything mentioned in this topic qualifies as a subplot, in my mind at least. Quidditch is certainly a subplot, as it is completely tangential to the main conflict, Voldemort. The search for the hallows, however, is not a subplot. It is a crucial part of the overall conflict.

Janna, your subplots seem more like a breaking down of the main plot into smaller events; I don't think those really qualify either. Wikipedia has a good example for anyone who has read Much Ado About Nothing: "the comic mis-adventures of Dogberry and his parish watch is a subplot."

Wikipedia says that "subplots are distinguished from the main plot by taking up less of the action, having less significant events occur, with less impact on the 'world' of the work, and occurring to less important characters," which I mostly agree with. I think this is easily seen in most sitcoms. Take Seinfeld -- there is generally a main plot, usually involving Jerry, but all the characters are involved. Sometimes the subplot is as minor as Kramer or George getting into some mischief.

That's not to say the subplot can't tie in to the main plot in the end, expectedly or unexpectedly. Seinfeld does this in nearly every episode.

RJK · May 29, 2008

In the WIP I've just started, the MC must track down and catch a serial rapist/killer (main plot). While he is engrossed with this, his rebellious teenage daughter runs away from home, and he must find her before she come to harm. (sub plot).

Although both of these plots involve the MC, the antagonist lives in the main plot. (unless you could consider the daughter another antagonist).

The novel is about the need for the MC to balance his personal, family life against his chosen profession and his need to protect the community from a killer.

Now that I write it out, I'm not sure this fits the definition of sub-plot. Comments?

Calla Lily · May 29, 2008

In my WIP:

Main: Vampire wants to chomp on heroine, but discovers he loves her
Sub #1: Vamp's boss is committing murders at the nursing home
Sub #2: Vamp's enemy is going to convince her hangers-on to stake vamp

In my mystery:

Main: ex-nun PI needs to ferret out stalker to keep job and stop stalker from killing her
Sub #1: Can she make it in the real world?
Sub #2: She's falling for boss and vice-versa, but stalker screws that up big-time

zegota · May 29, 2008

RJK: It sounds like it could be a subplot; I'd have to read it first ^_^. If the antagonist kidnapped the daughter or something, that probably wouldn't be a subplot. If she runs away because of a totally different conflict, I think it would qualify.

BTW, I didn't mean to be condescending or anything in my comment, haha. There's no rule that says you must have X number of subplots, or any subplots for that matter. Tons of successful novels have a very narrow range as far as plot is concerned. As long as the story works, you're good!

sunandshadow · May 29, 2008

zegota said:
I'm not sure everything mentioned in this topic qualifies as a subplot, in my mind at least. Quidditch is certainly a subplot, as it is completely tangential to the main conflict, Voldemort. The search for the hallows, however, is not a subplot. It is a crucial part of the overall conflict.

Janna, your subplots seem more like a breaking down of the main plot into smaller events; I don't think those really qualify either. Wikipedia has a good example for anyone who has read Much Ado About Nothing: "the comic mis-adventures of Dogberry and his parish watch is a subplot."

Wikipedia says that "subplots are distinguished from the main plot by taking up less of the action, having less significant events occur, with less impact on the 'world' of the work, and occurring to less important characters," which I mostly agree with. I think this is easily seen in most sitcoms. Take Seinfeld -- there is generally a main plot, usually involving Jerry, but all the characters are involved. Sometimes the subplot is as minor as Kramer or George getting into some mischief.

That's not to say the subplot can't tie in to the main plot in the end, expectedly or unexpectedly. Seinfeld does this in nearly every episode.

One thing the wikipedia definition misses is that subplots are generally a different type of action from the main plot, as well as happening mostly in-between sections of the main plot. (The major exception to the 'different type of action' rule is if you are taking turns showing the viewpoint of two different factions or main characters doing the same thing, usually in opposition to each other. This would more properly be two parallel plots or plot strands, but if one gets more screen time it can be seen as the main plot while the other is seen as a subplot.)

So with the examples above we see an action/adventure main plot with a romance subplot, a romance main plot with a comedy subplot. I didn't read the whole Harry potter series but it's probably an example of a mystery/detective subplot, another common thing to alternate with adventure or romance. Some people may find it more helpful to instead think of one plot being physical and another being psychological or emotional, or one being set in the present while the other consists of memories and artifacts of the past, or one being about giant events happening to groups of people while the other is the quieter personal reactions of individuals to events.

nevada · May 29, 2008

callalily61 said:
In my WIP:

Main: Vampire wants to chomp on heroine, but discovers he loves her
Sub #1: Vamp's boss is committing murders at the nursing home
Sub #2: Vamp's enemy is going to convince her hangers-on to stake vamp

In my mystery:

Main: ex-nun PI needs to ferret out stalker to keep job and stop stalker from killing her
Sub #1: Can she make it in the real world?
Sub #2: She's falling for boss and vice-versa, but stalker screws that up big-time

THose are not true subplots, those are part of your main plot. THey may be secondary but they are not subplots

Example of subplot in your case. would be if heroine had a brother and he is having his own problems at work, for example someone is stealing his ideas and presenting them as his own. In order for it to be a subplot, the POV would have to be the brother's and things will happen that are not related in any way to the heroine or her main plot. A really good subplot should mirror the main plot in some way, such as it has the same journey, or it is the opposite of the conflict in the main plot, or the solution that solves the conflict in the main plot is the solution that fails in the subplot.

Subplots aren't just thrown in for fun sake or to pad the word count. They have a vital role in the overall structure of the main plot. And if at the end, it all ties together, that's even better.

zegota · May 29, 2008

The plot in a book I just reread (Temple of The Winds... sigh) focuses on a plague spreading throughout the world and the MC's efforts to stop it. The subplot involved a predator raping and mutilating prostitutes. Every 20 chapters or so, there would be a chapter from the POV of the predator, whose identity is not revealed until the end. In the end, the subplot affected the main character, and the MC's main mission affected the predator, but they remained separate.

I think that's the main key -- even if a subplot ties in to the main plot, you should be able to remove the subplot completely, and still have the main plot survive. Subplots, I find, help to add tension, give more character depth, etc.

Edit: Sunandshadow, I'm not sure I totally agree that the plots have to be of different "types," though they often are. I definitely agree, though, that the subplots need to be narrower in focus then the main plot. Two separate but concurrent plots involving the end of the world are definitely a no-no.

Charlie Horse · May 29, 2008

Best example I can think of is a love interest developing over the course of the main obstacle being overcome by the protagonist.

Works every time.

Jake Barnes · May 29, 2008

If you want subplots, create more characters. When these characters start doing whatever they are going to do, you'll have a subplot.

nevada · May 29, 2008

Charlie Horse said:
Best example I can think of is a love interest developing over the course of the main obstacle being overcome by the protagonist.

Works every time.

again, not a subplot. it's a secondary aspect of the main plot.

Zoombie · May 29, 2008

My main plot...

Has no sub-plots. It's just the main character and the main female character alternating running for their lives and falling madly in love.

BlueLucario · May 29, 2008

I'm 50% done with the book and I could use some sub-plots myself.

windyrdg · May 29, 2008

A subplot has to rise organically from the main plot. That's why I like parallel chapters so much.
For instance, man and woman fall in love. He goes somewhere and disappears...presumed dead. The reader, but not the main character, finds out that he's actually been captured and carried off as a slave. Book splits into alternating chapters: his life in slavery and her attempts to reconcile to his death and put her life back together. You can then introduce a subplot within each of these scenasrios...there's another character, also a slave, maybe?, she meets someone new, but he's not who he leads her to believe he is, etc.
I'm currently reading A Thousand Splendid Suns. He begins with one MC and her storyline. Then she moves to another city and he introduces the person who lives next door and her story. Then he merges them and tells their story together.

tehuti88 · May 29, 2008

Main plot of my current WIP:

* Group of people must find the West Wind and get him to fight an evil spirit before he can destroy their Island. Basically.

Subplots...gaw. Well, a few off the top of my head...

* One character coming of age and learning to utilize her own power before she basically destroys everything with it.

* Another character having to make a sort of return to the first story in the series and free an evil creature she imprisoned, in effect facing down her dark side.

* Two other characters in a feud over the accidental death of a minor character early in the story.

* Another character having to face HER dark side, but nobody knows this yet.

* Father of a girl the evil spirit kidnapped must learn to be a better father and utilize his own powers to save her, because so far he's pretty wimpy compared to the evil spirit. (And oh yes, he happens to be the West Wind's son, whom the West Wind doesn't give a rip about.)

* Two other characters (bad guys working for the evil spirit) attempting to become all powerful and having to deal with the possibility that their boss is going to betray them.

Ergh...I know there are tons more but those are just a few of the bigger ones...ugh. I always have subplots up the wazoo. They usually tie in with the main plot (all but one of those listed above have a direct bearing on the main plot in these examples).

Charlie Horse · May 29, 2008

Charlie Horse said:
Best example I can think of is a love interest developing between the protagonists best friends over the course of the main obstacle being overcome by the protagonist.

Okay, I'll be more specific.

Zoombie · May 29, 2008

Uh, I once read a book that was made entirely of subplots!

The main plot was an alien invasion of the globe. the subplots range from aliens trying to figure out the downright (from their POV) insane humans they're fighting, humans trying to live, laugh and love under alien or human heels (did I mention it takes place around 1943ish?).

My two favorite subplots are: A youngish ballplayer who joins the army and begins to fall in love with a secritary, who's husband is missing and presumed dead.

and

The missing and presumed dead husband desperatly trying to get back to his wife. On byicle. In the wintertime. In Michigan. WHILE ALIENS ARE INVADING!

The fun thing is that the sub-plots compliment one another nicely, if a bit depressingly, and they also manage to push along the main plot too, by showing how the invasion is going in various parts of the US and stuff. There are also a bunch of other sub-plots, but I don't want to write a 10 page long post ^_^

maestrowork · May 29, 2008

I'd say in Pride & Prejudice, Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley romance is a subplot. Sure, they have something to do with the main plot (mainly how Darcy tries to "sabotage" Jane and Bingley, and then redeem himself) but that thread is a subplot.

Contrary to what nevada say, subplots CAN and often DO connect with the main plot, but they have their own story line and often involve secondary characters (in P&P's case, Jane and Bingley).

In the Great Gatsby, the main plot is about Jay and Daisy. But there's also a subplot concerning the romance between the narrator (Nick Caraway) and Jordan.

In my own novel, The Pacific Between, the main plot is the protagonist's search for truth and "growing up." The subplots are the reveal of the relationship between his father and mother (which mirrors his own), and his best friend's daughter's illness.

Elladog · Jun 2, 2008

Thanks a lot, everyone. This has been really helpful.

nevada · Jun 2, 2008

maestrowork said:
Contrary to what nevada say, subplots CAN and often DO connect with the main plot, but they have their own story line and often involve secondary characters (in P&P's case, Jane and Bingley).

Whoops, guess I didn't make myself clear. Ray is absolutely correct in that subplots often do connect to the main plot. I did before say that they should echo the main plot but I guess I didn't talk about the connection of it. my fault.

jannawrites · Jun 2, 2008

zegota said:
Janna, your subplots seem more like a breaking down of the main plot into smaller events; I don't think those really qualify either. ...

Obviously, I expound upon these events within the story itself, thus making them sub-plots. For the sake of the thread question, I was listing them simply, and with brevity.

Examples of Sub-plots

Writing Anarchist

Blood Elves FTW

living in the past

no, really

Fantastic!

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

On hiatus

Fantastic!

Impractical Fantasy Animal

Fantastic!

Speaking in metaphors

Dragon of the Multiverse

Blood Elves FTW

New kid, be gentle!

Mackinac Island Fanatic

Speaking in metaphors

Dragon of the Multiverse

Fear the Death Ray

no, really