Does your novel have a sub-plot?

by Adrian Sroka
4th May 2014

And good luck if you’re dealing with more than one plot.

I believe Trollope is one of the few authors who successfully managed to integrate more than one plot in a novel. It takes considerable skill and is best avoided.

Replies

I think if you don't have any sub-plot then the novel will be too flat. There has to be more than just the primary story.

If you think visually picture a favourite feature film of yours - determine what the main story is then think about all the other threads and story lines it has. Chances are it has lots. Good stories will have many sub-plots - not so many as to confuse or slow the story down to crawling pace - but enough to add dimension.

Quite often the sub-plots help build & develop character, which can only be a good thing.

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Andrew
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Andrew Goodman
05/05/2014

I always think sub-plots can make or break a story. Not only do they help hold a reader's interest through the inevitable lulls in a realistic main plot but interweaving them often rounds out many secondary characters who would otherwise appear a bit flat and lifeless, like Mehdi says.

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Jonathan
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Jonathan Hopkins
05/05/2014

I don't have a sub plot. i did plan having one, but it disrupted everything I was working on! ;)

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Neeraj
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