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A subplot is a plot. As such, it has the same shape, the same components, the same effect as a regular plot. The reason you have a subplot is to provide thematic counterpoint of elaboration to th...
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#4: Attribution notice removed
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System
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2020-01-03T20:41:53Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/27858 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added
by
System
·
2019-12-08T06:25:03Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/27858 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision
by
System
·
2019-12-08T06:25:03Z (over 4 years ago)
A subplot is a plot. As such, it has the same shape, the same components, the same effect as a regular plot. The reason you have a subplot is to provide thematic counterpoint of elaboration to the main plot. You need to to be sufficiently worked out to provide the desired elaboration or counterpoint. (Note how in _How I Met Your Mother_, Barney's philandering and Marshall and Lily's solid relationship provide different counterpoints to Ted's fruitless search for on true love.) Don't fall into the trap of using a subplot simply as a device to move characters into position for some grand event. Subplots are not about logistics. Ursula LeGuin talks about "Crowding and Leaping" as essential parts of storytelling. Stories don't plod through the mechanics of one event after another. They crowd a bunch of stuff into one place and then make a big leap to the next place that is significant to the development of the story arc. All you need to bridge the gap left by a leap is a few sentences of narrative bridge, not a full subplot.
#1: Imported from external source
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System
·
2017-05-01T19:23:38Z (almost 7 years ago)
Original score: 3