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Writers Discuss - Connecting Plots and Sub Plots (#37)

• Sotek

  

  Member
   

  April 29, 2016

  Writers Discuss

  Topic # 37 Connecting Plots and Sub Plots

   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  You have worked on your plot and it’s going well enough and you’re slowly but steadily fleshing out the characters, giving them more life. Happy days of writing ahead, until… an idea pops in your head. Now it’s nothing major mind, just a sub plot which would add some interesting twist to one of your chars. Maybe the protagonist has been somewhere before and is wanted? Maybe one of his companions/followers are needed to complete a task which they are honor bound from a past favour long since forgotten?

  Here are some questions to consider:

  Have you ever found yourself adding an extra subplot which wasn’t planned at the start?

  If so, what are the difficulties you have faced when you put yourself in this position? Or like me, your characters have put you in the position?

  Whether you have or not, how would you go about linking extra sub plots to your main story?

  What other problems have you come across adding sup plots and how did you get around these?

   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  If you have any suggestions for future topics include them in the comments section!

  Writers Discuss

  Topic # 37 Connecting Plots and Sub Plots

   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  You have worked on your plot and it’s going well enough and you’re slowly but steadily fleshing out the characters, giving them more life. Happy days of writing ahead, until… an idea pops in your head. Now it’s nothing major mind, just a sub plot which would add some interesting twist to one of your chars. Maybe the protagonist has been somewhere before and is wanted? Maybe one of his companions/followers are needed to complete a task which they are honor bound from a past favour long since forgotten?

  Here are some questions to consider:

  Have you ever found yourself adding an extra subplot which wasn’t planned at the start?

  If so, what are the difficulties you have faced when you put yourself in this position? Or like me, your characters have put you in the position?

  Whether you have or not, how would you go about linking extra sub plots to your main story?

  What other problems have you come across adding sup plots and how did you get around these?

   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  If you have any suggestions for future topics include them in the comments section!

• A-Pocky-Hah!

  

  Member
   

  April 29, 2016

  I just knew it.

  Now the major problem for me when linking subplots with the main plot is how not to make it dull, but at the same time, not too long. Currently, I have set up the subplot for when my character goes back to Skyrim, but the draft feels too short. So I added some more ideas but when I read it, it feels kinda bland or boring.

  There's also those extra subplots that come out from my head. For now, I just list them so I could use them for later chapters/arcs.

  I think the hardest position I put my character(s) in are the 'lay back' scenes. Scenes which just focuses on the character(s) relaxing. It's really hard because you're in a peaceful city, no action or adventure and you gotta find someway to make it interesting while making the character(s) feel like they're actually relaxing.

  I think Sotek did a fine job on some of his chapters that involve the characters relaxing.

  EDIT: I would also like to suggest making a WD about how to deal with multiple stories and how to manage them.

  I just knew it.

  Now the major problem for me when linking subplots with the main plot is how not to make it dull, but at the same time, not too long. Currently, I have set up the subplot for when my character goes back to Skyrim, but the draft feels too short. So I added some more ideas but when I read it, it feels kinda bland or boring.

  There's also those extra subplots that come out from my head. For now, I just list them so I could use them for later chapters/arcs.

  I think the hardest position I put my character(s) in are the 'lay back' scenes. Scenes which just focuses on the character(s) relaxing. It's really hard because you're in a peaceful city, no action or adventure and you gotta find someway to make it interesting while making the character(s) feel like they're actually relaxing.

  I think Sotek did a fine job on some of his chapters that involve the characters relaxing.

  EDIT: I would also like to suggest making a WD about how to deal with multiple stories and how to manage them.

• Karver the Lorc

  

  Member
   

  April 29, 2016

  Oh, planning the plot. Now that is an interesting thing. I know that Lissette has everything planned and thought through ahead, she knows everything that will happen, lol. I like to do the same. I have everything planned...

  And when I get there, my plan crumbles. Because it doesn´t make sense for those characters (damn them!). So I improvise, I redo the sub-plot from the ground. Because, my whole story is basicaly about sub-plots lol

  It´s just the problem that I think about plot or sub-plot as...me. I am like "Yeah, you´ll do this, you say this, this will happen." But when I get there with certain character, when I am writing that character (or that character is forcing me to write his/her story) I find that it doesn´t make sense for that character to say this and do that.

  So I start thinking about new plot and sub-plot and continue from there until I hit the wall again.

  Oh, planning the plot. Now that is an interesting thing. I know that Lissette has everything planned and thought through ahead, she knows everything that will happen, lol. I like to do the same. I have everything planned...

  And when I get there, my plan crumbles. Because it doesn´t make sense for those characters (damn them!). So I improvise, I redo the sub-plot from the ground. Because, my whole story is basicaly about sub-plots lol

  It´s just the problem that I think about plot or sub-plot as...me. I am like "Yeah, you´ll do this, you say this, this will happen." But when I get there with certain character, when I am writing that character (or that character is forcing me to write his/her story) I find that it doesn´t make sense for that character to say this and do that.

  So I start thinking about new plot and sub-plot and continue from there until I hit the wall again.

• The Long-Chapper

  

  Member
   

  April 29, 2016

  Oh, planning the plot. Now that is an interesting thing. I know that Lissette has everything planned and thought through ahead, she knows everything that will happen, lol. I like to do the same. I have everything planned...

  I plan everythings? Really? Hehehe, sort of. Sometimes, Albee doesn't cooperate though. Like he totally got bogged down by soap in Part 4. 

  I'll add more of my thoughts to this discussion later. 

  Oh, planning the plot. Now that is an interesting thing. I know that Lissette has everything planned and thought through ahead, she knows everything that will happen, lol. I like to do the same. I have everything planned...

  I plan everythings? Really? Hehehe, sort of. Sometimes, Albee doesn't cooperate though. Like he totally got bogged down by soap in Part 4. 

  I'll add more of my thoughts to this discussion later. 

• Meli

  

  Member
   

  April 29, 2016

  Hmm, I have a basic plan, but I have an imagination that likes to ramble and jump around quite a bit.

  The amount of times I've caught myself working out how an argument between Auguris and Tullius will go, to then realise I'm also working on an underlying conspiracy, and not having a clue how it joins together when I'm only typing up chapter five.

  Once I'm typing it starts coming together as it evolves and is fleshed out (well so far anyway).

  Hmm, I have a basic plan, but I have an imagination that likes to ramble and jump around quite a bit.

  The amount of times I've caught myself working out how an argument between Auguris and Tullius will go, to then realise I'm also working on an underlying conspiracy, and not having a clue how it joins together when I'm only typing up chapter five.

  Once I'm typing it starts coming together as it evolves and is fleshed out (well so far anyway).

• Exuro

  

  Member
   

  May 22, 2016

  Iz Needz Moar WD's Sotek! Necro'ing this one

  Linking Sub-plots isn't a challenge for me, it's usually why I add them in the first place, the other main reason being that one of the characters decided they needed one. Often the transition between the main plot points can feel rushed or not leave enough time for character development, so I'll add in a subplot to smooth out the pacing and probe deeper into characters' facets. 

  For instance in ADWD Ch25, the main plot points of the story were summoning the DB and his meeting with the Solitude court, but there was a time gap between the two events I needed to fill with something. I used the opportunity to add a subplot of sneaking through the  Blue Palace, which gave a chance to develop the student/teacher facet of Amari and Trebonde's relationship and expand on some magic mechanics.

  I also like to include links and references to other plots, so nothing is completely independent. The same example introduces two longer subplots: Amari's desire to become a better mage when she steals some of the Court Wizard Sybille's books, and whether Sybille is a vampire, which also references back to the Molag Bal plot.

  I actually love it when the characters seem to come to life and make their own plots. These ones usually feel the most natural and real to me. Life doesn't strictly follow an outline; why should a story?

  Determining when a subplot becomes story bloat is more difficult. That's an advantage novels have over blogs, once the story is finished it's easier to see what was necessary and not during editing. I figure as long as it relates back to the main plot or develops character you're good.   

  Iz Needz Moar WD's Sotek! Necro'ing this one

  Linking Sub-plots isn't a challenge for me, it's usually why I add them in the first place, the other main reason being that one of the characters decided they needed one. Often the transition between the main plot points can feel rushed or not leave enough time for character development, so I'll add in a subplot to smooth out the pacing and probe deeper into characters' facets. 

  For instance in ADWD Ch25, the main plot points of the story were summoning the DB and his meeting with the Solitude court, but there was a time gap between the two events I needed to fill with something. I used the opportunity to add a subplot of sneaking through the  Blue Palace, which gave a chance to develop the student/teacher facet of Amari and Trebonde's relationship and expand on some magic mechanics.

  I also like to include links and references to other plots, so nothing is completely independent. The same example introduces two longer subplots: Amari's desire to become a better mage when she steals some of the Court Wizard Sybille's books, and whether Sybille is a vampire, which also references back to the Molag Bal plot.

  I actually love it when the characters seem to come to life and make their own plots. These ones usually feel the most natural and real to me. Life doesn't strictly follow an outline; why should a story?

  Determining when a subplot becomes story bloat is more difficult. That's an advantage novels have over blogs, once the story is finished it's easier to see what was necessary and not during editing. I figure as long as it relates back to the main plot or develops character you're good.