Talking about story writing and not discussing story plots is something that cannot be done! Deciding to write a story without delving into story plots would be like trying to bake a cake without flour—it just doesn’t work! The plot is the backbone of any good story; the only thing that keeps readers engaged till the end of a story and invested in what happens next after every scene in the story. Whether you’re writing a mystery novel, a romance novel, or an epic adventure, the plot is where all the action, twists, and character development unfold.
But have you ever heard about “Subplots,” I mean yeah you probably do! It’s not something crazy to know 🙄 but still if you have no idea what are story subplots, this blog is for you!
In this blog, we are going to know AtoZ about Story subplots. What are subplots in the story, Why Story Subplots are Important, What’s the difference between the main plot and subplots, are there any types of subplots and at the end how can we write the best subplots for our story. Stay tuned!
What are Story Subplots – The Concept with Example
Story subplots are secondary storylines that run alongside the main plot, adding depth, complexity, and emotional layers to a story. They can support the main plot, contrast with it, or explore different themes and character arcs.
In simple words, A story subplot is a smaller story inside the main (plot) story. It adds extra details, emotions, or twists to make the story more interesting.
Example of a Story Subplot
Main Plot:
Amara, a young artist, moves to a new city to chase her dreams of becoming a famous painter. She struggles with self-doubt and tough competition in the art world.
Subplot:
Amara’s neighbour, an old man named Mr. Collins, used to be a famous painter but stopped painting years ago due to a personal tragedy. As Amara befriends him, he helps her improve her art while she helps him regain his passion for painting.
How the Subplot Connects to the Main Plot:
- Character Growth: Mr. Collins teaches Amara valuable art lessons about art and perseverance.
- Emotional Depth: Their bond adds emotion to the story, making it richer.
- Parallel Struggles: Amara struggles with self-doubt, while Mr. Collins struggles with loss—both must overcome their fears.
- Resolution Impact: By the end, Mr. Collins starts painting again, and Amara gains the confidence she needs to succeed.
Why Story Subplots are Important?
Story subplots are important because they make a story richer, more engaging to readers, and more realistic. Without subplots, a story might feel too simple or one-dimensional just like a story without scenes. Here’s why they matter:
1. They Add Depth to the Main Story
Subplots make the story feel more layered and meaningful. They give characters extra story conflicts, relationships, and emotional moments that make them feel real.
Example: In Harry Potter, the main plot is about Harry fighting Voldemort, but subplots like his friendships, Quidditch games, and school rivalries make the world feel alive.
2. Story Subplots Develop Characters with Depth
Subplots give side characters their own goals, struggles, and growth, making them more than just background figures.
Example: In The Hunger Games, Peeta’s struggle with his identity and feelings for Katniss is a subplot that deepens his character and affects the main story.
3. They Keep Readers Hooked with Tension
If a story only follows one problem, it might become predictable too soon. Subplots add surprises, twists, and extra tension to keep readers hooked.
Example: In Sherlock Holmes, the detective’s cases are the main plot, but his friendship with Watson and conflicts with the police add subplots that keep things interesting.
4. Story Subplots Show Themes and Messages
Subplots can reinforce or contrast the main theme of the story, making it more powerful.
Example: In Romeo and Juliet, the main theme is love and tragedy, but the feud between the two families (a subplot) highlights how hatred destroys lives.
5. They Make the Ending More Satisfying
A well-written subplot ties into the main plot, making it feel more complete and emotionally rewarding.
Example: In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo’s journey to destroy the ring is the main plot, but Sam’s loyalty and Gollum’s struggle with his dark side (subplots) add more weight to the ending.
Final Thought
A story without subplots is like a meal with only one ingredient—it might be okay, but it won’t be as satisfying. The best stories weave subplots into the main plot to create a richer, more immersive experience for the reader.
What’s The Difference Between The Main Plot And Subplots
As I mentioned earlier, the main plot is the central storyline that drives the story forward from the story beginning to its end, while story subplots are smaller, secondary storylines that add depth, complexity, and emotional layers.
Key Differences:
| Features | Main Plot | Subplot |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | The core story, main goal, or conflict | Supports contrasts, or enriches the main story |
| Importance | The most critical events happen here | Adds depth but isn’t the primary focus |
| Characters | The protagonist and main antagonist are involved | Can focus on side characters or relationships |
| Resolution | Drives the climax and resolution of the story | May resolve before, during, or after the main plot |
| Impact | Directly affects the protagonist’s journey | Adds emotional, thematic, or narrative depth |
Example for Clarity:
Main Plot:
A young warrior, Aiden, must defeat a dark sorcerer to save his kingdom.
Subplot:
Aiden struggles with self-doubt and forms a mentor-student bond with an old knight, who teaches him the strength of belief. This subplot helps Aiden grow but isn’t the main conflict.
How They Work Together:
The main plot gives the story purpose, while subplots add richness, emotional depth, and character growth. A great story balances both!
Types of Story Subplots
1. Romantic Story Subplot
A secondary love story that develops alongside the main plot. It can add emotional depth, conflict, or motivation.
Example from Novel: In The Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta’s romance runs alongside the main survival plot, influencing both their actions and public perception.
How you can do that:
Main Plot: Leila, a journalist, investigates corruption in a powerful corporation.
Subplot (Romantic): She rekindles a past relationship with Ethan, a defence lawyer, only to discover he represents the very company she’s trying to expose.
2. Character Story Subplots
Focuses on a supporting character’s personal journey, struggles, or growth, often complementing the main story. These characters should have their personal life, they shouldn’t just support your main character.
Example from Novel: In Sherlock Holmes, Watson’s struggles with his personal life and medical career provide a character subplot that humanizes him beyond being just Sherlock’s assistant.
How you can do that:
Main Plot: A soldier, Daniel, fights to protect his homeland from an invading army.
Subplot (Supporting Character): Daniel secretly struggles with guilt over leaving his younger brother behind.
3. Bookend Subplot
Appears at both the beginning and end of a story, framing the main plot while reinforcing its themes or message.
Example from a Movie: In Titanic, the movie starts with an elderly Rose remembering her past, and ends with her finishing the story—bringing closure and emotional weight.
Example to Understand:
Main Plot: A scientist, Mira, discovers an ancient, buried civilization.
Subplot (Bookend): The story opens and closes with Mira’s old age, reflecting on whether her discovery changed anything.
Excerpt (Opening Scene):
Mira traced the deep lines on her hands, hands that once unearthed history. The world had moved on, but the ruins remained, unchanged. Had she really made a difference?
Excerpt (Closing Scene):
As the first wave of tourists arrived, cameras flashing, a child ran up to her, eyes wide with wonder.
“Did you really find the lost city?”
Mira smiled, the answer finally clear. “Yes. And now, so have you.”
4. Frame Subplot
Just like a frame story structure, A “frame subplot” refers to a smaller plot within a larger frame or figure, essentially a secondary plot displayed alongside the main plot, often used in data visualization to compare different aspects of the data on a single graphic; in the context of programming, like with Matplotlib, “subplot” is a function that allows you to create multiple plots within a single figure, dividing the space into a grid of smaller plotting areas.
Example: The Princess Bride is told through a grandfather reading a book to his grandson, creating a frame that adds humor and commentary.
Example to Understand:
Main Plot: A detective, Rowan, investigates a murder in a small town.
Subplot (Frame): The story is told through the confession of the killer, written in a letter.
5. Mirror Subplot
The story subplots that reflect the main plot but with different characters or circumstances. It highlights key themes.
Example from Novel: In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry’s struggles mirror Voldemort’s past—both were orphans, but they chose different paths, emphasizing the theme of choices.
How we can achieve a mirror subplot:
Main Plot: Richa, a struggling artist, fights against self-doubt and rejection.
Subplot (Mirror): Her best friend, Jake, gives up his dream of becoming a musician, forcing Richa to confront her own fears.
6. Antagonist Subplot
A subplot focuses on the villain’s journey, motivations, or conflicts, giving them more depth and making them more than just an obstacle.
Example from a Movie: Breaking Bad often follows Gus Fring’s perspective, showing his calculated decisions and creating suspense, rather than just presenting him as an enemy to Walter White.
Main Plot: A vigilante, Cole, hunts down a corrupt businessman.
Subplot (Antagonist): The businessman, Reed, is shown struggling with his own past and justifying his choices.
7. Parallel Story Subplots
A subplot that runs alongside the main plot, sometimes involving different characters facing similar challenges.
Example: In The Godfather, Michael Corleone’s rise to power mirrors his father Vito’s past, showing how history repeats itself.
Simple Example to Understand:
Main Plot: A single mother, Ava, works two jobs to give her daughter a better life.
Subplot (Parallel): Her boss, a wealthy CEO, also struggles with the pressures of raising his own son, despite his wealth.
8. Thematic Story Subplots
A subplot that reinforces the main theme of the story, making its message clearer or more impactful.
Example: In Les Misérables, Jean Valjean’s redemption arc mirrors the theme of justice vs. mercy, which plays a central role in the main plot.
Simple Example to Get Concpet:
Main Plot: A war hero, Nina, returns home, struggling to find purpose in peace.
Subplot (Theme): A former enemy soldier is now working as a medic, showing a different path.
9. Expository Story Subplots
A subplot that explains key background information about the world, characters, or events without info-dumping in the main story.
Example: In Game of Thrones, Arya’s subplot in Braavos helps explain the Faceless Men and their world, which later ties into the main plot.
Conceptual Example:
Main Plot: A hacker, Zion, uncovers a conspiracy.
Subplot (Expository): Zion’s mentor explains the hidden history behind the conspiracy through old case files.
10. Foil Subplot
A subplot that contrasts with the main story to highlight differences in character choices, themes, or moral dilemmas.
Example from a Novel: In Pride and Prejudice, Jane and Bingley’s easy romance acts as a foil to Elizabeth and Darcy’s more complicated relationship, emphasizing the novel’s theme of misunderstandings.
Conceptual Example:
Main Plot: Isabelle, an ambitious lawyer, will do anything to win her case.
Subplot (Foil): Her rival, a public defender, chooses morals over victory, showing a different path.
11. Multiple Subplots
Some stories juggle several different subplots at once (like multiple climaxes), each adding unique elements to the story.
Example from a Movie: Stranger Things has multiple subplots: Eleven’s journey, the kids investigating the Upside Down, Hopper’s police work, and Nancy’s mystery-solving, all weaving into the main conflict.
Example to understand the concept:
Main Plot: A spaceship crew is stranded on an unknown planet.
Subplots:
- Romantic: The captain and a scientist develop feelings despite tensions.
- Character: A rookie pilot faces his first life-or-death crisis.
- Antagonist: A hidden saboteur works against the crew from within.
How to Write Story Subplots Better?
Writing subplots well comes down to making them feel like a natural part of the story rather than side distractions. Here’s how you can do that (with an example of conecptual story: Let’s say we’re writing a novel about a detective solving a murder case. We’ll build a subplot for each point.)
Make Them Matter
A subplot shouldn’t just be there for extra word count. It should connect to the main story, whether by developing a character, building tension, or adding depth to the theme.
Example:
Main Plot: Detective Ava is investigating a high-profile murder.
Subplot: Ava’s estranged brother, Jake, suddenly returns after 10 years. At first, this seems unrelated, but as the story unfolds, Jake becomes a suspect in the murder case, making Ava’s job even harder.
Why It Works: The subplot isn’t just background noise—it directly affects the main story and raises the stakes.
Give your Story subplots Purpose
Every subplot should either:
- Add emotional weight (a love story, a friendship, a betrayal).
- Show another side of the main character (how they act with family, friends, enemies).
- Provide contrast (a character succeeding at something while failing at another).
Example:
Main Plot: Ava is focused on facts and logic, believing emotions get in the way.
Subplot: She starts bonding with a victim’s younger sister, who reminds her of her own childhood struggles. This makes Ava question whether she’s too cold and detached.
Why It Works: The subplot forces Ava to confront her emotional walls, making her grow as a character.
Weave It In Naturally
Don’t just dump a subplot in out of nowhere. Let it unfold alongside the main story, blending smoothly into the bigger picture.
Example:
Instead of dumping the subplot suddenly, we introduce Jake’s return early on—maybe he calls Ava while she’s at a crime scene. As the murder case unfolds, clues subtly connect to him, making his presence feel natural.
Why It Works: The subplot doesn’t feel like a separate story—it unfolds alongside the main mystery.
Keep It Snappy
A subplot shouldn’t drag the story down. Keep it tight and engaging, so it doesn’t feel like a detour.
Example:
Instead of giving pages of backstory about Jake’s past, we reveal it through action:
- He shows up unannounced at Ava’s home.
- He reacts suspiciously when she mentions the case.
- He disappears when she gets too close to the truth.
Why It Works: The subplot moves quickly and doesn’t slow down the main story.
Know When to Wrap It Up
A story subplot should either resolve before the main plot does or have a direct impact on the ending. If it lingers too long, it’ll feel unfinished.
Example:
The subplot with Jake shouldn’t drag past the climax. Either:
- Ava proves he’s innocent, but his actions help her find the real killer.
- Or she uncovers his secret, but it’s unrelated to the murder (yet still affects her emotionally).
Why It Works: The subplot gets resolved before or alongside the main plot, leaving no loose ends.
Make your Subplots Emotional
Readers connect with subplots when they evoke feelings—joy, sadness, frustration, excitement. The best subplots hit the heart.
Example:
Maybe Ava and Jake argue about their painful childhood in the middle of the investigation. She doesn’t trust him, but he insists he’s changed. Their final scene together—whether heartbreaking or redemptive—should hit hard.
Why It Works: Subplots work best when they evoke strong emotions that tie into the main plot.
Use It to Raise the Stakes
A well-written subplot can add tension to the main story. Maybe it makes things harder for the protagonist or puts their goals in danger.
Example:
What if Jake’s reappearance makes Ava a suspect? What if helping him risks her career?
Why It Works: Now, the subplot isn’t just interesting—it’s making the main plot more intense.
Conclusion
A well-written story isn’t just about the main plot—it’s the subplots that breathe journey into it, making it richer, more dynamic, and emotionally compelling. Subplots add layers of complexity, develop characters, reinforce themes, and keep readers engaged by offering twists and depth beyond the central storyline.
Whether it’s a romantic subplot, a mirror subplot, or an antagonist’s journey, each type plays a unique role in enhancing the overall storytelling experience. The best stories strike a balance between the main plot and subplots, ensuring they complement rather than overshadow each other.
So, the next time you’re writing a story, don’t just focus on the main plot. Weave in meaningful subplots to create a more immersive, unforgettable reading experience. Because in the end, it’s the little side stories that often make a big impact!