What are the 'subplots' and 'plot filaments' that give texture and depth to a story?
A 'plot' is a blueprint used to create a story by writing out the plot, setting, triggers for development, and punch lines. Solidifying the plot can help organize a complex story and highlight interesting points, but novelist Michael Kraft explains the techniques of 'subplots' and 'plot filaments,' which are useful for further improving the quality of a story.
How Subplots and Plot Filaments Lend Texture and Depth to Any Novel ‹ CrimeReads
Some creative writers think that it is not necessary to create a plot from the beginning, while others create a plot but drift away from it once they start writing. Regarding the question of 'Is a plot really necessary?', Abraham Bergheez, a professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine and a best-selling author, said, 'Even if you deviate from the plot and create a story, it is important to change the plot to fit it. I create detailed plots to organize my story, but at the same time I trust the 'writing process', which changes the development as the story progresses.'
Is it necessary to create a detailed plot when creating a story? - GIGAZINE
According to Kraft, some literary and academic circles consider plot-driven novels to be outdated and two-dimensional. On the other hand, Kraft points out that for writers who create character-driven stories, plot is seen as a worthy goal. In particular, in stories where storytelling is important, such as mystery novels, the quality of the work can be improved by checking the story structure with information summarized using the plot, such as spiritual ups and downs, developments that go back and forth between safety and danger, realizations and despair.
Craft also explained the technique of 'subplots' that he uses to improve the quality of stories. The plot mainly describes what the characters do and how the story moves, but the subplots are supplementary content that mainly 'flesh out each character.'
In Kraft's case, the main subplots are romance or love stories. Even if they don't add important information to the story as a whole, Kraft says that he can benefit greatly from writing down each character's personal feelings and relationships as subplots. In addition, when subplots are developed, they can provide the effect of maintaining a consistent character when the main character appears in a sequel or appears in other stories.
In addition to subplots, Craft also likes to use 'plot filaments' as 'smaller subplots.' Unlike plots and subplots that are prepared in advance to create a story outline, plot filaments emerge creatively and organically from the story as you write the manuscript. In most cases, plot filaments are used to flesh out characters, but they can also be useful in adding texture and depth to a story by adding fun, humor, and interest.
Plot filaments also add a 'layer of detail' to your story, providing little surprises or revelations. As such, they do not serve to advance the main plot, but they do serve to support the plot by stimulating and sustaining the reader's interest.
Craft explains how to use plots, subplots, and plot filaments using the example of a simple three-part mystery: beginning, investigation, and resolution.
The first part of a mystery is where the main incident occurs and introduces the setting and characters. The second part is usually the longest section, and it continues the plot by investigating, finding clues, considering suspects, and so on until the solution. The third part is the shortest section, and it brings the whole story to a close.
Craft cites the Greek philosopher Aristotle 's reference to 'rising and falling motions,' pointing out that a story can't be kept going at full speed all the time. On the other hand, beginners in novel writing are often too conscious of 'slowness' and tend to be afraid to vary the pace of their stories.
It takes a long time to go from one exciting scene to the next, so the essential challenge is to keep the reader turning the page and wondering, 'What's going to happen next?' Subplots and plot filaments are useful for this, and Craft summarizes that it is ideal to increase the reader's interest by layering unexpected little mysteries on the story or making the characters laugh with their actions.
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