What are sub-plots and how do you define them. First let's establish what plot REALLY is. To do this let's define STORY. What is story? Given a character (protagonist) in a world (setting) with stakes in that world that they care about enough to struggle in defense of them. A story is when such a protagonist has their stakes threatened in some way.
- Woman loves child... child gets kidnapped... story.
- Man loves country... country goes to war... man fights for country... story.
- Man loves woman ... another man loves woman and wants her for himself ... story. In each of these trite examples... there is the threat... for each problem there is a response. How a protagonist reacts is based on how you model them. Note here that a protagonist might have to solve more than one problem. That SIDE problem is a sub-plot. Kinds of Sub-plots Primary Flag - The 'integral subplot' or the 'story flag' subplot. Meaning, that it's a problem related to the main story problem. It must be solved before progress toward the resolution can be advanced. You've seen these kinds of stories where the character must gather tokens (using a general term)- it can be information (clues), the cooperation of a side character, an item or whatever. Primary Obstacle - The 'difficulty' or 'frustration' sub-plot. This is just excess baggage loaded on the protagonist to up the stakes. An author throws this in when the story problem would otherwise be an easy win. Sometimes these frustration scenarios are added for mood and tone. Frequently, for comic relief. For example, the tag-along who keeps messing up and drawing out the problem. Primary Development - The 'parallel subplot'. The is a side story and is usually related to a character growth arc or an 'unlocking' event. A character coming to terms with their past, making up with an estranged friend or family member, getting over a fear or misfortune. Often these things tie to the main plot in that they lend confidence or somehow boost the protagonist in some way. Example: the estranged frenemy who takes the protagonist's side to help with the main story problem. Supporting Cast Plots and Sub-plots For every protagonist (viewpoint character) their stakes, and threat to those stakes have parallel treatment. So below, you see (protagonist + allies)... Each of your protagonists (viewpoint characters) should have these four characteristics known about them.
- The character's desire(s) - What is the thing they want for themselves, something they will fight and struggle to acquire or achieve.
- The character's goal(s) - People have short term and long term goals, they aren't necessarily the same as their desires. They may desire to please a parent or loved one through some selfless act, but have a separate goal closer to their heart. Note here that the goal may change as the stakes in the story change.
- The character's secret need(s) - this can be the same thing as the character's desire or goal, but in stories with some kind of epiphany or self discovery... the protagonist eventually exchanges their desire/goal for their need. NOTE: the character may be unaware of the need- it is critical the AUTHOR know though. In Star Wars, Luke's desire was to go to the academy and learn to fly. He sympathized with the rebellion but wasn't motivated to join the cause. When his aunt and uncle are killed by the evil empire, his desire for revenge pushes him toward his need, to find purpose in social responsibility and become a user of the force. So, Luke's secret need was to become a Jedi.
- What are the stake(s) for the character - these are the things the person cares about. What are the particular object(s) / person(s) / ideal(s) that when threatened or compromised will catalyze the character to defend them. It's critical that the characters have stakes they are unwilling to give up easily because it's the antagonistic threat toward (or existential compromise of) that "thing" the story will joust over. Thematically speaking, this is the win/lose consequence that marks the story's resolution apex. Meaning, when there is no longer any threat or the heightened threat is reset to status quo, the story ends. The "stakes" for each character are the win/lose consequence for them, and what predicates their engagement with the plot. Note here that side characters often have a stake in the protagonist. The main story problem itself may offer no incentive to take sides. However, the fact that the plot problem is screwing over the protagonist causes the character invested in them to act. For the article these come from see that here: Making Characters Stand Out As we discussed in the beginning, the story will generally revolve around a principle character's stakes. However, bigger problems can affect the stakes of multiple characters. These allies (whether they are a viewpoint protagonist) or just main characters in the story will have goals and desires they are pursuing. So, any of these characters can have a sub-story (or story within a story)... and that is also a "sub-plot". If they are viewpoint protagonists they can have their main linked plot that they share with with other protagonists, and sub-plots (flag, obstacle, development). MAPPING IT OUT How do you know to add a sub-plot? The ANSWER is knowing your characters. A character's backstory will predicate their desires, goal, and need. The stakes and how the back and forth of the story flow will govern what you can feed in (or if you need to add anything at all). Your story doesn't necessarily NEED sub-plots. It just usually happens when you are trying to make your supporting cast feel authentic and relatable. To get these sub-plots in you have map them out. Something like this: In this scene detail, you will see things like Wren and Irodee, Wren's vendetta, the secret, Wren the guilder, More about Wren, Wren's journal This is Bannor's story it is only his viewpoint, but we learn about his ally Wren and things going on with her. So, this is a side-plot and his relationship with her... which is parallel to the main story. For purposes of this explanation, Bannor is going through something his ally Wren experienced at an earlier point in her life. She is trying to help him avoid the mistakes and agonies that she experienced. His being able to trust is one of the through-lines in the story. So there you have it... hopefully it was under the TL;DR threshold.