In my role as Mommy, I drive a carpool with another neighborhood mom to the elementary school and the middle school. I drive mornings, and she drives afternoons.
The carpools are early, with the elementary one running at 6:45 and the middle school one at 7:15. The kids are sometimes a little bleary-eyed. The traffic is heavy and slow. Occasionally, conversation drags a bit.
I’ll try to get their brains moving in an academic direction. “So, it’s Friday. What’s going on at school today?”
I’ll usually get a desultory recitation from one of the kids about Algebra or P.E. or the new book they’re reading in Language Arts and sometimes the other child will chime in with more information or to dispute the facts the other is offering (“No, the test is on Tuesday.”)
It’s sort of the running main plot of our carpool: What’s going on at school today and are you prepared for it? The kids would be shocked if I didn’t ask, I’m sure. I also do a little monologue on the weather…that’s always popular. :)
Then I move onto other things and it’s interesting how both carpools come to life.
With the elementary carpool (all girls) we have a sort of running fascination with the way the food service truck tries to cut through the extremely backed-up carpool line to get to the loading dock at the back of the school cafeteria. Why does he always come at 7:00 a.m.? If he always runs into the same problem, why not come earlier or later? Does he actually enjoy this daily dose of frustration? Will the carpool allow him to cut through or will it be a sort of automotive Red Rover game? The girls could speculate over all these things endlessly.
With the middle school (boy) carpool, we have another running storyline. It involves the lunchroom ladies and their wretched attempts to park their cars each day. One lady, driving a minivan, takes up four spaces, with one tire in each spot. Two other lunch ladies take up two spaces apiece. We speculate on this, too. Why do they park so poorly? Can’t they tell they’re not in one spot? Is it all a special plot—for lunch ladies only– that we just know nothing about? Do they have plans for taking over even more parking spaces…maybe by adding a trailer to their cars or dangling a long ladder out the back?
It’s very idle, silly, talk—but these topics provide a serial story for my bored carpoolers each day.
I think that’s the part that subplots play. They offer some relief from the main plot. Some variety.
Sometimes subplots show a steady progression toward a conclusion when the main plot still seems hopelessly entangled and rife with setbacks.
Sometimes a subplot can give the reader another reason to keep reading the book….will Joe and Mary ever go out for that coffee together? Will Frank ever quit that dead-end job and tell his overbearing boss off?
Subplots can be a way to do a little genre blending on a minor level for maybe some crossover appeal (romantic subplots, etc.)
Maybe there’s a really appealing supporting character that gets his moment in the spotlight with a subplot.
As a reader, I always get especially excited if the subplot ties into the main plot in some way. It’s major bonus points for me and my enjoyment of a book. (As I’m sure the kids would be dying to get home and let me know if the lunchroom ladies ended up in Algebra class for some reason.)
Do you enjoy subplots as a reader or a writer?
Elizabeth, I am constantly amazed at how you take something (dare I say) mundane, and create such a lovely post out of it.
And those sub-plots are what makes most books come alive, isn’t it? Even if there is no real resolution of them in the end.
I love the idea of the subplots providing relief from the main plot. I never thought of it that way but that’s brilliant!
So funny about the lunch ladies. So funny.
Yes I love subplots. To me a subplot gives the characters more dimension and the story becomes even more interesting.
Great post for me to ponder.
Oh and I don’t remember telling you how beautiful the cover of Finger Lickin’ Dead is and how I can imagine myself sitting in that booth.
Sign me up to have you as a guest post or two in May at JW–if you have time? And then in June when your book debuts?
Elizabeth – I love those carpool conversation! And about sub-plots? I like them very much as a reader, especially if they’re stories-across-stories, so that they tie a set of books together. I think sub-plots can add humour to a novel, too. For instance in your Delicious and Suspicious, I loved the sub-plot about that special bottle of wine. Great characters and a great ongoing mini-plot.
I love your viewpoint:
Sometimes subplots show a steady progression toward a conclusion when the main plot still seems hopelessly entangled and rife with setbacks.
This could apply to life also!
I love how you’re constantly learning to be a better writer through every experience. Another great post!
Rayna–In many books, the subplot doesn’t resolve in the end, but kind of gives me an added incentive to pick up the next book in the series. There’s one series that’s been going on for at least 10 books and I’m always thinking, “Let’s see what’s going on between Duncan and Gemma.” Not “wonder what dead body Duncan and Gemma are going to discover?” I know there’s going to be a mystery to solve, but it’s the personal relationship between the cops that most interests me!
And thanks so much for the compliment. :)
Heather–Sad to say, but sometimes the main plot gets tedious almost (both to read and to write.) Nice to take a short break from the tedium or even the tension and conflict that’s in there.
Gail–That’s true, isn’t it? So frequently it’s the small things that I can see progress on. The big goals seem to take forever to achieve.
Mallory–Thanks so much!
Subplots really bring another depth to the world of the story, making the characters come alive even more in addition to the regular plot. There’s almost always more than one “plot” going on in most people’s lives, which could explain why such depth from subplots enriches the story.
I’ve always loved subplots even when I was a child. They add depth to the story making the story less linear and more human. Sometimes I’ll play with point of view to develop other characters and new subplots just for this purpose. Again, Elizabeth, your post has been very inspiring!
I’ve read stories where I’ve become caught up in a sub-plot to the point that I’ve skipped ahead to see what’s happening in it and then gone back to read the main plot action. But this is probably not what the author intended.
Subplots are wonderful as long as they’re not more fascinating than the main plot. That can be a problem.
When I was driving my kids to school a few years ago we had two stops – one at an elementary school and then one at the high school. In between we would always see ‘the man’ and ‘the pack’. ‘The Man’ walked the same route every day and we worried if we didn’t see him. ‘The pack’ was a large group of small kids all walking to school from a daycare (I figured). Some were tiny and being pulled in wagons. Others walked along beside with the school-goers wearing their knapsacks. The group was never the same size. Although very cute, I was always grateful that my kids were past that tiny stage!
Jeffrey–I think you’re right. We’re all juggling more than one thing at a time, and the people we hang out with are, too. To have a storyline that just drives the main plot forward…I don’t know. I’m just not wild about those kinds of books. Maybe my attention span is short or maybe I just want “extras.” But I’m a huge fan of subplots.
Cygnet–Thanks! Yes, that’s another good point. Life isn’t linear–we have these little things that pop up here and there..diversions. Subplots really do make a book more lifelike.
Teresa–I think I could write a book in that booth! I don’t think Lulu has wi-fi, so it would be a good place to hang out and write. :) And…I’d love to guest post at Journaling Woman a couple of times! Thanks so much. :)
Linda–I’m so glad to hear you say that, because I do EXACTLY the same thing. And I’ll tell myself it’s not cheating (for skipping ahead) because I’m not reading the ending for the MAIN story, just the subplot. Ha!
Margot–I *love* using them for humor. Glad you liked the tie-in for “Delicious and Suspicious.” :) I will usually challenge myself to tie in the subplots to the main storyline and give myself bonus points for doing it! That one was fun. :)
I often find subplots more enjoyable than main plots as a reader. They’re what keeps me going, attaches me to the character. I especially love subplots that intertwine with the main or interfere with it! This latter bit (the interferring) is what I try to do with my own subplot writing.
Great post!
Scribbler to Scribe
The really good subplots don’t jump out. They do add great enjoyment and floe to the work.
With my sequel, I’ve a secondary character and subplot that intertwines with the main plot and contributes to it big time in the end.
At leat I hope I do!
Sometimes I find myself more intrigued by the subplot than the main plot. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad, but it does keep me reading.
I enjoy reading about subplots, and I am doing my best to learn to weave them in.
Today I let Rhapsody knock on her new neighbour´s door, pretending she needed a cross-point screwdriver, and what do you think she saw in his toolshed? No, I´m not going to tell you yet.
I love reading subplots. And I love writing them. But I’ve learned to keep better track of them in the process so I don’t leave one hanging open at the end and have to fix it.
I’m giggling at your lunch ladies–did you know my husband used to be a lunch lady? Did you know he had to join the Teamsters to do it? I think your answer may be in that somewhere.
I love subplots–and I I especially love when several subplots come together. There are some things I like almost EXCLUSIVELY as subplot (I really don’t like a book where the main point is romance, but I adore romance in the background of some other story). I ALSO really love subplots that give us character insight (relationship with mom for instance–she needs something and the interaction somehow explains why our MC is insecure.
Stephanie–I like the idea of having the subplot interfering with the resolution of the main plot. Great tip!
Mary–They’re sort of woven into the story, aren’t they?
Alex–I’m going to enjoy reading that. :)
Jane–I think I am, too! I wonder why that is, and what it says about us!
Elspeth–It *definitely* can be a problem. Just like those supporting characters who try to steal the spotlight.
Isn’t it great to have these little running storylines during the drudgery of commutes? And that would make a great murder mystery (not the kids, obviously)…what if you didn’t see The Man for a week? Would you report it? Would you just think that he changed jobs or moved away? Hmm…
Hart–No WAY! No, I had absolutely no idea! The *Teamsters!* Wait until I tell my middle school carpool on Monday morning! They’ll LOVE it! Ha! Maybe it’s in their contract that they can take up 4 parking spaces…
Good point about the subplot offering up some explanations in a character’s backstory! That’s a great idea. :)
As always, great post. I like the idea of a subplot providing relief to the main plot as some of the others here.
I also sometimes like to weave the subplot throught the main plot like a braided ribbon. I sometimes use subplot to pull my main character away from achieving their goal or sometimes to get closer. In my latest work, I have a subplot that begins about one-third halfway through the story but is not resolved at the end.
Just like you mentioned, this allows the reader a thread to hold onto that may continue in the next story or sequel.
Love all your posts!
JL–I like the analogy of a braid and it sounds like a great method. And you’re leaving an opening for a sequel!
Dorte–A dead body? :) I have dead bodies on the brain today! But I’m guessing that wouldn’t be a subplot!
Carol–I’ve accidentally forgotten one before, too! Editor caught it, thankfully. Oops.
You don´t think I can have a school of bodies in a cosy mystery subplot????? Oh, I must run home to change that ;D
Dorte–Actually, it’s kind of an intriguing idea, isn’t it? Bodies in a subplot! Bodies unimportant to the main plot? Hmm…
I like to leave subplots dangling as an invitation to fanfic writers. Sometimes it even works.
Occasionally I get there first and write a new story based on a prior subplot. Abacus Brief happened that way — Punkk Kidd from Complicit Simplicity was too interesting not to let him show me his hacks.
Maybe someone will accuse me of purposeful foreshadowing. If only I were that organized.
Great post, I love subplots in books, too. I think they always add more to the story. As in real life, when is there EVER just one thing going on?
BFuniv–Now that’s a really cool perspective. If I have any fanfic out there for my books, I’m totally unaware of it (says Elizabeth sadly!) Great way to stoke others’ creativity with your writing.
Cassidy–Wouldn’t it be nice if there WAS just one thing going on at a time in our lives? Ha! It never seems to work out that way…