Pride and Prejudice and Subplots: A Writing Major's Guide to Poorly Explaining Subplots.

 

Hey Fam, 

So I imagine this week’s post will be kinda short, but who knows since I am actively writing this with zero direction. 

I’ve been thinking lately about subplots, as I am working on one for one of my stories and am realizing how weird of an idea it is. Like, no one ever just wants to read a murder mystery, there always needs to be something else going on and it makes me wonder why that is. Also, why are there certain types of subplots that we, as people, are so much more interested in?

Personally? I think it’s because we’re nosy and want to know the juicy details going on behind the scenes.

Or maybe that’s just me. 

Listen, I don’t make the rules. I break them. 

But what is a Subplot? 

Easy! Subplots are smaller narratives that are connected to the main plot to reinforce it and build a stronger story. However, they are also their own independent arcs, even though they are connected, and are used to build tension or conflict in the main plot, or serve to expand upon a secondary character, or important event, or goal that is important to some or all of the characters. Subplots are great! They bulk out a story, they serve the tea, and they provide plenty of situations wherein the characters' personalities and views collide. 

Let’s use one of my favorites as an example, shall we? 

Pride and Prejudice!

Spoiler alert: Pride falls in love with Prejudice. 

Also not really a spoiler because this book came out in 1813, so if you haven’t read it in the 200+ years it has been out, I can’t help you. Also no refunds. 

“But Rune, P&P is a love story, how can it have a romantic side plot if romance is the main feature?” Ye yell from the balconies. 

And thus, I yell back, “I said subplotS, you beautiful sunfish!”

Because there can be more than one. 

Sorry, Highlander. This isn’t about you.

I would do a book review on P&P, but it would literally be a 50 page essay on why Mr Darcy was a revolutionary male lead and remains so popular today because he gets told off for being a total prideful dink and thinks to himself “Oh snap, the girl I love thinks I’m an ass because I have been a total ass, I should probably work on that.” and then he does the fucking WORK and Lizzy notices and things are beautiful because she learns that maybe her prejudices were misplaced and that she really does love him, especially since he has proven that he can be better. 

Is it hot in here, or is it just me and the boiled potatoes?

Oh good, Mr. Collins agrees. 

Shut up, Collins. 

Anyway!

Yes, P&P is a romance, and it has several romantic side plots like Mr. Collins showing up and trying to marry anything that moves, Lydia being an actual idiot and getting mixed up with Wickham, Jane having her RBF mistaken for disinterest in the delightful Bingly and his golden retriever energy, and more.

Note: Thank you @Sparknotes_ for the Mr. Collins Slandertok.

“Rune, are you talking about the book or the 2005 movie that you watch about once a month?” 

Yes. Anyway.

I’m talking about both mushed together because they are wonderful and lovely and Jane Austen made a brilliant commentary on the need for romantic era literature to constantly be about love and manners and marriages and not women who read lots of books and clap back when they are disrespected so this story is perfect don’t TEST me. 

Wheeze. 

Y’all are stressing me out. Go watch Austenland. And still no refunds. 

Anyway, what I’m driving at is that even though P&P features a central story, which is the push and pull between Lizzy and Darcy, there are also things going on in the background that are equally interesting and tie into the main plot. These subplots are valuable as they serve as the catalyst for Darcy to mend his actions and become a better man. Not just for Lizzy, he admits to her that if she still hates him that he will respect that, but for himself and the people around him who he has negatively impacted. They also serve to teach Lizzy that she has perhaps allowed her prejudice against wealthy people to make her see the worst in Mr. Darcy, that she has also been wrong. 

See??! It’s all connected! 

Fitzwilliam Darcy… call me. 

But what about unromantic subplots? Like personal development, work, whatever? Yes, those exist, obviously, but so often the subplots do involve romance for one reason:

We are all horny for a love that is greater than what we can expect in real life. 

Plus with love being such an integral part of the human experience to a lot of people, it is something many crave and fantasize about. And there is nothing wrong with that. 

In the future I want to write more about romance as a genre, because it gets a lot of flack. Personally, I love it. Sure, when it’s bad it can be really bad. But so can other genres. 

I read Final Girl’s Support Group so you don’t have to. Just wait for the movie because I’m sure it will become one, and hopefully the movie is less of a slog than the book. Fight me. 

But when done right, it can be really REALLY good. I’m not just talking smut, either. 

Don’t look at me or my book collection like that. 

Which can also be very very good or very very bad. 

I said don’t look at me like that!

Anyway, the point of this rambling post is that I am trying to work on an enjoyable and intriguing subplot for one of my stories and, while I haven’t hit a brick wall, it is still difficult to do. So much emphasis goes into the main story that I’m worried that the other parts will end up lacking, or vice versa. 

I also don’t necessarily want to begin with romance because I feel like this story isn’t necessarily the place for that sort of subplot. Maybe it is, it’s hard to say. But I do know that I don’t want the actual work I’m doing to get swept up in other things that may not be related directly to the story itself or the growth of my characters. 

So this is where I am at right now in my writing journey. Working through this new challenge while managing to weave it with the actual story I’m trying to tell which I am also still working on. Things are going, the timeline is making more sense, and I am beginning to see a clearer picture of how things will go, which is THRILLING. 

I'm looking at movie options for another All Spoilers Movie Review, as my dearest Papa has requested more of those. HELLO FATHER!

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Stay spooky, folks!

-R