tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post3321708611182586412..comments2023-10-30T08:00:54.059-04:00Comments on Laurel's Leaves: Three tips to avoid subplot sputter-outLaurel Garverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-60818424303101933572013-08-13T21:59:34.280-04:002013-08-13T21:59:34.280-04:00Ha. Glad you like my silly alliterative terminolog...Ha. Glad you like my silly alliterative terminology. Guess it was pretty catchy after all. :-)Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-26212165036949841282013-08-13T21:56:06.436-04:002013-08-13T21:56:06.436-04:00Perhaps some writers are simply better at planning...Perhaps some writers are simply better at planning and tying together subplots than others. I agree that Sonnenblick is a good one to study.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-10042776298424202982013-08-13T21:55:06.897-04:002013-08-13T21:55:06.897-04:00Not every subgenre audience has the same expectati...Not every subgenre audience has the same expectations. Contemporary YA is about character rather than life-or-death-stakes plots. That doesn't mean stakes don't matter, but they are of a different quality. Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-19806846585288035242013-08-13T21:52:18.217-04:002013-08-13T21:52:18.217-04:00And yet most of us can tell when a story is draggi...And yet most of us can tell when a story is dragging or not feeling interesting enough. Subplots have a place, but we need to be wise about how we use them to increase tension--tying it to the main story.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-17519859326407995012013-08-13T17:31:12.334-04:002013-08-13T17:31:12.334-04:00Sub-plot sputter is now in my vocabulary. I may re...Sub-plot sputter is now in my vocabulary. I may refer to it frequently and I'll certainly take a closer look at those I'm threading throughout my stories.<br /><br />What a fab post!<br />cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-38111235586160457322013-08-13T14:23:41.321-04:002013-08-13T14:23:41.321-04:00I think I read a library book by Sonneblick recent...I think I read a library book by Sonneblick recently - a novel about photography, a baseball injury, and dealing with a grandparent with Alzheimer's . . . there were many subplot twists, but it all revolved around that, and each subplot drove the main plot forward. (And I looked up the name and it's "Curveball: The Year I Lost my Grip." He's a talented writer, and I want to read more of his work, and study what he does . . . so hopefully I can apply it to my own writing.<br /><br />BTW, great analysis!<br /><br />I have read established authors whom have continued to grow as writers, and established writers who didn't. I just think it depends on the writer, and their journey. Tyrean Martinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15356604721537744361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-76918344358459460392013-08-09T21:51:27.849-04:002013-08-09T21:51:27.849-04:00You did a really good job analyzing why subplots s...You did a really good job analyzing why subplots succeed or fail. Lack of tension is why I don't read Contemp, so I understand a Contemp writer throwing something in to try to shake things up, but not being able to tie it to plot or character arc. (Lack of dynamic character arc is another reason I don't read Contemp.) Very clever and helpful post, Laurel! :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735576044552810103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-18830459553169212972013-08-08T12:40:23.576-04:002013-08-08T12:40:23.576-04:00I hate when someone does that- throws things in ju...I hate when someone does that- throws things in just for the sake of throwing things in. If it's not necessary, it shouldn't be there. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11622191037152999869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-22666104792546430552013-08-08T08:38:17.504-04:002013-08-08T08:38:17.504-04:00Middle sag often comes from losing sight of the ma...Middle sag often comes from losing sight of the main plotline and having subplots that don't pull their weight. Here's to stronger middles!Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-31587668663313325362013-08-08T08:36:53.531-04:002013-08-08T08:36:53.531-04:00Glad you found it useful. Thanks for stopping by!Glad you found it useful. Thanks for stopping by!Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-30796675359480451082013-08-07T13:16:16.118-04:002013-08-07T13:16:16.118-04:00I agree totally and I'm one of those who tend ...I agree totally and I'm one of those who tend to 'sag in the middle'. However, with my friend, a wonderful editor, she is pushing me and THIS time I think this problem will be avoided. :0)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07957545161716269528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-4587545261192584252013-08-07T13:02:49.441-04:002013-08-07T13:02:49.441-04:00Good tips, thanks.
moodGood tips, thanks.<br /><br />moodmooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-71468961058058835182013-08-07T12:38:40.171-04:002013-08-07T12:38:40.171-04:00Thanks, Johanna. Juggling multiple plotlines is an...Thanks, Johanna. Juggling multiple plotlines is an advanced skill that takes a long time to master, I think. Analyzing works that do it well has helped me quite a bit.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-4469673375197541822013-08-07T12:10:00.676-04:002013-08-07T12:10:00.676-04:00I love the term subplots sputter out and have seen...I love the term subplots sputter out and have seen it happen so often lately. Most recently in a book that was so solid...except for that pesky subplot! Great tips.Johanna Garthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15515478890074610814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-16643275463490477272013-08-07T11:03:24.089-04:002013-08-07T11:03:24.089-04:00Excellent point. Subplots are a great place to dra...Excellent point. Subplots are a great place to dramatize what lit crit calls a "foil" character. These types of subplots shed light on the main plot through contrast--reflecting back an opposite or mirror image of your main character, his dilemma and his approaches to dealing with it.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-62274208970062161162013-08-07T10:51:27.680-04:002013-08-07T10:51:27.680-04:00Another good piece of advice for subplots is that ...Another good piece of advice for subplots is that they're a useful way of showing alternate approaches to the central theme or idea of the work. So in Court of Dreams, where a lot of my main plot is about facing up to ideas of responsibility, one of my main subplots is all about a character who has taken a slightly grumpy, beaten down, jobsworth approach to his profession (being an eight foot tall fairy assassin). stuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16388674850920848503noreply@blogger.com