In a post on Writers in the Storm, Janice Hardy suggests five questions you should ask before adding that subplot. “Subplots can add depth and resonance to a story, but sometimes, they just knock the whole novel off track,” Hardy says. “Unnecessary ones steal all the action, distract the protagonist, or in the worst cases, shine brighter than the actual plot. Helpful subplots enhance the story, support the theme, and brighten what’s already there.”
So, how can you tell which is which? Hardy recommends asking a few questions:
- Will this subplot make the story better or just longer? “A distracting subplot adds more of what you’ve already written, just with different details,” she explains. “A good subplot changes your protagonist’s goal, life, or experience in a way that matters to the overall story.” Ask yourself if the reader will understand something new once the subplot wraps up. If not, you can probably cut it.
- Does your subplot raise the stakes? Any side quest should create higher stakes or tension for your protagonist. What do you gain with this subplot? “Maybe it reveals a bigger threat on the horizon, or they formed a bond with someone they don’t want to lose, or they discover a secret that changes how they feel about what they’re trying to do,” Hardy suggests. Whatever route you take, the subplot should make things tougher for your hero.
- Does it require more attention and page space than the main plot? Does your subplot require a few scenes throughout your story or do you need to add an extra third to your page count to make it work? Ask yourself why you are spending so much time on this subplot. “If you’re spending that much time on it, there must be something there you either find compelling, or that you instinctively know the story needs,” Hardy says. “However, it could also be your subconscious trying to ask you…
3A. Is that subplot the story you really want to tell? Is the subplot better or more interesting to you than your main story? Would you be happier if you shifted gears?
- Does it connect to the theme and/or character arc? “Subplots can tie a story together because they can slip into any aspect of it and make that aspect relevant,” Hardy writes. Ask whether your subplot shows your theme or helps your hero learn something valuable. If the answers are yes, the subplot may strengthen your story.
- If you cut the subplot, would it change how your protagonist resolved the problem in the end? If the subplot doesn’t change your character, it’s not changing your story in a significant way. “An unnecessary subplot won’t affect the resolution, because it won’t tie into the core conflict,” Hardy says. “If the protagonist never learned about that subplot, or met the character who has the subplot problem, things would have turned out basically the same.”
