#sub-plots

This workbook will help you create compelling sub-plots.

We want you to:

1. Find out why you need sub-plots. 2. Learn about the six sub-plots. 3. Find out how to use them in your book. 4. Have fun while you’re writing.

How to Write A Sub Plot

If you look back on every single bestselling book ever printed, the chances are that most, if not all of them, contain sub-plots.

A sub-plot is part of a book that develops separately from the main story, and it can serve as a tool that extends the word count and adds interest and depth into the narrative.

Sub-plots are key to making your novel a success, and, although they aren’t necessary for shorter works, are an essential aspect of story writing in general.

However, sub-plots can be difficult to weave into the main plot, so here are a few tips on how to incorporate sub-plots into your writing.

1. Know Your Kinds of Sub-Plots and Figure Out Which is Best For Your Story

Sub-plots are more common than you think, and not all of them extend for many chapters at a time.

A sub-plot doesn’t have to be one of the side characters completely venturing off from the main group to struggle with their own demons or a side quest that takes up a quarter of the book. Small things can make a big difference, and there are many of these small things that exist in literature that we completely skip over when it comes to searching for sub-plots.

Character Arcs

Character arcs are the most common sub-plot.

They show a change in a dynamic character’s physical, mental, emotional, social, or spiritual outlook, and this evolution is a subtle thing that should definitely be incorporated so that the readers can watch their favorite characters grow and develop as people.

For example, let’s say that this guy named Bob doesn’t like his partner Jerry, but the two of them had to team up to defeat the big bad.

While the main plot involves the two of them brainstorming and executing their plans to take the big bad down, the sub-plot could involve the two getting to know each other and becoming friends, perhaps even something more than that.

This brings me to the second most common sub-plot:

Romance

Romance can bolster the reader’s interest; not only do they want to know if the hero beats the big bad guy, they also want to know if she ends up with her love interest in the end or if the warfare and strife will keep them apart.

How to Write Falling in Love

How to Write a Healthy Relationship

How to Write a Romance

Like character arcs, romance occurs simultaneously with the main plot and sometimes even influences it.

Side-Quests

There are two types of side-quest sub-plots, the hurtles and the detours.

Hurdle Sub-Plots

Hurdle sub-plots are usually complex and can take a few chapters to resolve. Their main purpose is to put a barrier, or hurdle, between the hero and the resolution of the main plot. They boost word count, so be careful when using hurdle sub-plots in excess.

Think of it like a video game.

You have to get into the tower of a fortress to defeat the boss monster.

However, there’s no direct way to get there; the main door is locked and needs to have three power sources to open it, so you have to travel through a monster-infested maze and complete all of these puzzles to get each power source and unlock the main door.

Only, when you open the main door, you realize that the bridge is up and you have to find a way to lower it down and so forth.

Detour Sub-Plot

Detour sub-plots are a complete break away from the main plot. They involve characters steering away from their main goal to do something else, and they, too, boost word count, so be careful not too use these too much.

Taking the video game example again.

You have to get to that previously mentioned fortress and are on your way when you realize there is an old woman who has lost her cattle and doesn’t know what to do. 

Deciding the fortress can wait, you spend harrowing hours rounding up all of the cows and steering them back into their pen for the woman.

Overjoyed, the woman reveals herself to be a witch and gives you a magical potion that will help you win the fight against the big bad later.

**ONLY USE DETOUR SUB-PLOTS IF THE OUTCOME HELPS AID THE PROTAGONISTS IN THE MAIN PLOT**

If they’d just herded all of the cows for no reason and nothing in return, sure it would be nice of them but it would be a complete waste of their and the readers’ time!

2. Make Sure Not to Introduce or Resolve Your Sub-Plots Too Abruptly

This goes for all sub-plots. Just like main plots, they can’t be introduced and resolved with a snap of your fingers; they’re a tool that can easily be misused if placed into inexperienced hands.

Each sub-plot needs their own arc and should be outlined just like how you outlined your main plot.

How to Outline Your Plot

You could use my methods suggested in the linked post, or you could use the classic witch’s hat model if you feel that’s easier for something that’s less important than your main storyline.

3. Don’t Push It

If you don’t think your story needs a sub-plot, don’t add a sub-plot! Unneeded sub-plots can clutter up your narrative and make it unnecessarily winding and long.

You don’t have to take what I’m saying to heart ever!

It’s your story, you write it how you think it should be written, and no one can tell you otherwise!

Guys ‘n girls ‘n all those who identify as neither, welcome to my WIP introduction!

I started writing this one in February 2017 and a few months ago my writing on this work came to a halt. I had taken down every idea that popped up in my head and wrote it out neatly until I realized a very important thing about myself: Getting ideas out of my head, by physically writing them down, is all fun and games until they’re about single scenes in a longer work; because once I’ve written a scene, unattached to the current state of plot, it kinda vanishes from my memory.

But here we are! I’m picking up writing again, working through everything I’ve put down to maybe one day finally being able to present you a finished work.

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/chelsea-v-tottenham-jose-mourinhos-return-loaded-with-sub-plots/

Chelsea v Tottenham: Jose Mourinho's return loaded with sub-plots

Jose Mourinho won three Premier League titles during his spells at Chelsea

When Frank Lampard meets his old mentor Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, the stage will be overloaded with sub-plots.

Chelsea manager Lampard is suddenly struggling to maintain a place in the top four after one win in six Premier League games, and they were beaten 2-0 at home by Manchester United on Monday.

Spurs, who closed to within four points of Chelsea after their 3-2 win at Aston Villa, have seen their optimism punctured – first by Son Heung-min joining Harry Kane as a long-term injury absentee, then when RB Leipzig left their Champions League hopes in jeopardy with victory in the last-16 first leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Mourinho’s return to the club where he won three league titles is always pure theatre. Returning with bitter rivals Spurs only adds to the sense of spectacle.

So what are the big questions before Saturday’s lunchtime meeting at Stamford Bridge?

Is Lampard feeling the heat?

Lampard is facing the first serious questions during his time as manager of Chelsea – not from the supporters but simply because his team has lost momentum badly.

He performed impressively in the early months of the season, blooding youngsters such as Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount while Chelsea operated under a transfer embargo.

But in recent weeks, with a barren January transfer window clearly causing consternation as Chelsea failed to bring in a striker, the gloss has faded somewhat.

Lampard had every right to criticise VAR on Monday after Manchester United’s Harry Maguire was not sent off for kicking out at Michy Batshuayi and what would have been a Kurt Zouma equaliser was arguably harshly ruled out – but the current Chelsea malaise cannot be disguised.

He has major issues to resolve, not least the failure to convert possession and chances into goals that is now threatening Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Lampard’s own selections must also come under scrutiny.

He showed conviction by dropping £71m keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga but there was surprise in many quarters when he kept faith with 38-year-old Willy Caballero on Monday after suggesting the Spaniard had responded well to being left out.

It may also have dawned on Chelsea’s decision-makers that a lengthy Arrizabalaga absence means they will have trouble clawing back anything like that exorbitant fee, should Lampard want a new keeper in the summer as seems likely.

As a Chelsea player, Frank Lampard won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup trophy, two League Cups and the Community Shield under Jose Mourinho

And what about Lampard’s refusal to use Olivier Giroud?

Lampard gave Batshuayi his chance with Abraham out injured against United but he looked short on confidence and quality, feeling Stamford Bridge’s wrath on occasions before being substituted.

The 33-year-old France striker, who may even have joined Spurs had Chelsea signed a forward in January, looked more dangerous in 22 minutes than Batshuayi did in more than an hour, providing a focal point and having a goal ruled out.

Lampard announced “the season starts now” on Monday – a bold statement and one his team must back up quickly.

Worryingly, Chelsea have lost seven home games in all competitions this season, the most since 1994-95, and have lost all five home games when conceding first.

Mourinho will have noted this flaw.

Lampard is right to say few would have expected his side to be fourth at this stage of the season given they started it operating under transfer restrictions – but that will be no consolation if their season now falls away.

Will ‘the happy one’ haunt his old club?

Mourinho is the man who brought the glory of the title back to Chelsea after 55 years but a spell at Manchester United and now his appointment at Spurs means there will be little love lost on Saturday.

He has been spiky in recent days after those two setbacks with injury and defeat – but overall Mourinho has cut a happier, more relaxed figure at Spurs than he ever did at Old Trafford.

Mourinho: Loss to Leipzig like ‘going to fight without bullets’

Former Chelsea and Scotland winger Pat Nevin told BBC Sport: “He looks quite relaxed at the moment but he tends to be that way when he’s doing pretty well.

“He seems happy most of the time and at one with himself. He’s in a position where he has got a bit of backing and there seems to be a good understanding with the ownership of the club, which was a big question mark a lot of us had when he took over.

“Usually with Jose it is a control thing. He seems to be smiling a lot more and that could be because he is getting what he wants and there is a good line of control at Spurs.”

Nevin, however, is not so sure about the reception Mourinho will receive at the club where he won those titles.

“We’ve seen him reminding Chelsea fans what he’s won before when they’ve criticised him,” says Nevin. “Like holding up three fingers to remind them of his titles.

“I think he’s going to be OK with Frank on Saturday because he and Frank were pretty good together. He likes the fact Frank stands up to him a wee bit.

“What is most intriguing is that Chelsea fans have been quite up and down with him and now it’s Spurs at home, which is the ultimate for Chelsea.

“In Chelsea fanzines they don’t actually write the words “Spurs” – they do dashes in between and if players have played for Chelsea then go to Spurs they don’t get their name. They get dashes as well.

“It’s a serious rivalry, much more than Chelsea and Arsenal, so the reception will be very interesting.”

Mourinho raised those three fingers during Manchester United’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Chelsea in March 2017, adding fuel to the fire saying: “When they have somebody who wins four Premier League titles I’ll be number two – for the moment ‘Judas’ is still number one.”

The move to Spurs may have broken any remaining bonds completely.

Jose Mourinho raised three fingers during Manchester United’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Chelsea in March 2017

Can Lampard win tactical battle with Mourinho?

Mourinho will have started the week with spirits soaring after the dramatic late win at Aston Villa – and while there has been adversity since then there are still reasons for optimism.

He plots his return to Stamford Bridge having closed a gap between Spurs and Chelsea that was 12 points when he succeeded Mauricio Pochettino on 20 November to just four – so victory on Saturday would mean a return to the top four.

Only Liverpool, with 42 points, have picked up more than Mourinho’s 26 in that time but one defeat may just shape the Stamford Bridge agenda.

Mourinho’s elephantine memory will recall how he was totally outflanked tactically by Lampard when Chelsea won 2-0 at Spurs on 22 December.

Spurs have won 14 points to Chelsea’s nine in the period since then but Mourinho is unlikely to have forgotten how he was so comprehensively outsmarted that day.

Lampard’s decision to use a three-man central defence of Antonio Rudiger, Zouma and Fikayo Tomori caught Mourinho, who usually prepares for all eventualities, totally off guard and Chelsea eased to victory.

How will the Portuguese respond on Saturday? Will the pupil Lampard have another surprise up his sleeve against the seasoned tactician?

Nevin said: “Frank did him tactically in the first game. It hurts him when anyone does that. I think he will now be ready for everything, although you have to remember Jose was just in the door then.

“He was learning about his players, their capabilities and what suited the team best but he doesn’t like anyone tactically outflanking him.

“I think it was because Frank used something that was so unexpected. He went so similar in style to the Maurizio Sarri system and it was the last thing that was expected. Chelsea managed to get ahead in the game, establish that platform and pushed on from there.

“I suspect Frank has more questions to answer at the moment, more decisions to make system-wise. It will be a really intriguing tactical battle.

“I think the two of them will try to pull a surprise. I don’t know what it will be but I can certainly see that happening. I’ll be almost as interested in what’s going on in the technical area as the game.”

So im still angry that InGen wanted to militarize the raptors in the film.

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