Side Stories That Steal the Show: How to Add Subplots to Your Novel Without Losing the Main Plot
- sehar rollingauthors
- Jan 16
- 5 min read
Let's say you are watching a movie you enjoy. You are following the main plot when suddenly, a subplot involving a secondary character appears. At this point, you are just as interested in the arc of the secondary character as you are in the hero. That is the power of a well-written subplot.
Subplots can be the secret sauce of a good book. They provide emotional texture, more details about the characters, and if done right, they add to the main plot. The good news is that subplots can be a valuable storytelling tool. The bad news is that an out-of-place subplot can derail your story. So how do you add subplots and not lose your way?
Let's think of the big picture like good storytellers do.
Table Of Contents
What is a Subplot?
If your main plot is the destination, then your subplot could be considered a detour. The detour does not change your ultimate destination, but it certainly changes your experience.
Subplots can:
Reveal hidden layers of your characters.
Provide emotional relief from a tense main arc.
Show themes or conflicts that mirror the plot.
Raise stakes in a more personal or parallel way.
Consider Ron and Hermione's budding romance, while Harry was to battle Voldemort. Or, Mr. Collins' ludicrous marriage proposal, as Elizabeth Bennet battled Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. These moments would not be a distraction from the battle; they just add to the story.
Step 1: Frame with Character Motivations instead of Drama
Great subplots emerge from character motivations. If you’re simply adding drama for its own sake, readers will notice.
Ask:
What do you want the supporting character to want?
How does that want fit into the main motivation?
How does their internal desire reflect or counter the protagonist’s arc?
For example: In a thriller while the hero is following the murderer, his romantic partner is on a parallel track to find justice because of her own vendetta—adding suspense charged with tension, conflict and dramatic impact.
Step 2: Allow your subplot to complement the main plot.
You can think of your subplot like a satellite clinging to a planet. It must remain connected to the host.
You can use your subplot to:
Foreshadow key moments of the main plot.
Create an emotional connection to the protagonist's journey.
Complicate the climax or ramp up the resolution.
Example: You might think a subplot in a fantasy novel (where a sidekick is training in magic, for example) might seem like filler—but ends up being pivotal in the final battle.
Step 3: Map it Like a Braided River
If your novel is a river, then you can think of the subplots as the braids weaving through the river. Use reverse outlining to map out the timing and implications of your subplots. The main thing to remember is that you don't add a subplot scene here and there without a thought.
Each subplot needs:
A beginning (conflict/want/desire)
A mid-point (complication/setback)
A resolution (win/loss/transformation)
You want the timing of your subplots to organically fall into the ebb and flow of your main arc, not against or in place of your main arc!
Step 4: Limit How Many you Juggle
Unless you are George R. R. Martin, juggling 7 subplots is going to create fatigue for your reader well before they wish to stop reading. Stick with one or two good, solid, strong subplots. Give them weight! Give them resolution!
Pro Tip: If possible, every subplot should emotionally or thematically reflect key shifts in the main plot, and if not, it's reasonable to consider cutting it.
Step 5: Let Subplots Surprise
Sometimes, a subplot starts quietly and winds up hijacking the show. That's great!
There are few things readers love more than a side story that hits emotional notes they didn't expect. A love story you weren't planning. A redemption arc that comes to life. Let your story breathe.
Again, ask yourself: does the subplot add to the main story? Or does it merely distract?
Need some help figuring out subplots for your novel?
Let Rolling Authors help you outline, edit, or even ghostwrite the story within the story.
Key Takeaways
The plotlines should develop from a character's motivation rather than random instances of drama. The plot lines will mirror, contrast, and expand on the principal story rather than compete with it. Each subplot should have its own mini-arc: introduction, complication, and resolution. It is more impactful to have fewer subplots that are fully developed than to have a large number of subplots that are not fully developed. A great deal of the time, subplots can elevate the emotional stakes of the story or give the reader a new surprise that cannot be delivered by the main storyline.
If the subplot does not contribute to the theme, tension, or conclusion of the novel, it should be re-evaluated.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many subplots can a story support?
For most stories, one or two good subplots should suffice. It is feasible to add additional subplots, but only if they help to reinforce the primary storyline and do not confuse the reader.
- Can a subplot be more compelling than the primary storyline?
Yes; however, that is not necessarily a negative. If a subplot resonates with the reader more strongly, it often signifies that there is an emotional truth worth pursuing. The important thing is to ensure that it still serves the overall narrative.
- When should a subplot be introduced?
Our advice would be to introduce subplots as early as possible, so they feel natural to the storyline. The only exception to this rule is if the reader has not yet identified the primary story’s major conflict.
- Should a subplot be resolved at the end of the book?
Typically, the answer is yes—readers expect to see emotional closure and resolution, even if the resolution isn’t happy. When an author leaves a subplot unresolved, it can create the feeling that the book is incomplete.
- Can a subplot exist independently without affecting the climax?
Theoretically, yes; however, subplots that are the most effective will have some level of impact on the readers’ perception of the climax (whether that impact is emotional, thematic, or practical).
- How do I determine whether to eliminate a subplot?
If the exclusion of a subplot results in a change to the central conflict of the book, increases the reader's understanding of the protagonist, or diminishes the reader's emotional connection to the story, then it is probably an unnecessary subplot.
Final Thoughts: Subplots are not side dishes—they are seasoning
A great novel without subplots is like a great meal without any seasoning. Sure, it will fill you up—but it won't leave you satisfied.
Well-placed, emotionally impactful subplots will add layers of depth and re-readability. They turn a "good" story into one that will stick with readers well after they read the last page.
Whatsapp Us to bring your book to life—layer by layer.
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