33 Subplot Ideas To Strengthen Your Story
Subplots are the secret ingredients that add depth, complexity, and richness to a story. While the main plot drives the central narrative, subplots add to the story of the main character, create thematic nuances and expand the story’s world.
You’ll struggle to find a successful story that doesn’t have a subplot. So, it’s essential to learn how to effectively weave them into your story, especially if you’re writing a longer piece of work like a novel.
Keep reading to get inspired by subplot ideas, how to seamlessly incorporate them into your writing and some famous examples of them from literature.
What Are Subplots?
According to the NY Book Editors, “Subplots allow you to explore different sides of the protagonist, the antagonist, the world in which they live, and the central themes so that you can weave a rich tale. Otherwise, your story will read as shallow and simplistic.”
If you’re like me and you like to think visually, think of them as the side dishes that enhance the main course – they may not be the star of the show, but they play a crucial role in enriching the overall experience. Just like how a secondary character supports the story arc of the main character, subplots are a great way to support the main plot line, creating a richer narrative.
33 Subplot Ideas To Support Your Main Plot
Here are 33 subplot ideas organised by genre, I hope you feel inspired to add some to your story!
Mysteries
1. The Hidden Identity: A character conceals their true identity, leading to a subplot where the protagonist must uncover the truth.
2. The Stolen Artifact: A valuable object is stolen, and the quest to retrieve it intertwines with the main mystery.
3. A Cold Case: A decades-old unsolved case resurfaces, with clues that connect to the current storyline.
4. The Doppelgänger: A character discovers someone who looks exactly like them, leading to questions about their past and motives.
5. The Blackmail: A character is being blackmailed, and the protagonist must discover the perpetrator and the motive behind it.
Romance
6. The Forbidden Crush: A character develops feelings for someone off-limits, adding tension and secrecy to the main story.
7. Unrequited Love: A romantic subplot where one character’s love is not returned, creating emotional depth and internal conflict.
8. The Second Chance: Two characters who once had a relationship find themselves drawn together again, questioning if they should try once more.
9. Opposites Attract: A relationship develops between two characters with completely different backgrounds or beliefs, challenging them to find common ground.
10. Secret Admirer: A character receives anonymous love notes from a love interest, leading them on a journey to discover the sender.
Family Dynamics
11. Inheritance Dispute: A family is torn apart over a contested inheritance, revealing hidden greed and loyalties.
12. Estranged Sibling: A long-lost or estranged sibling reappears, bringing unresolved family issues to the forefront.
13. Parental Expectations: A character struggles under the weight of unrealistic expectations from their parents, impacting their decisions in the main story.
14. Adoption Revelation: A character learns they were adopted, leading to a search for their biological parents and new personal conflicts.
15. Caring for an Ailing Parent: A character must take care of an ailing parent, revealing family tensions and testing their resolve.
Power Struggles
16. Corporate Sabotage: Two characters within a company vie for the same promotion, resorting to sabotage and manipulation.
17. Rebellion Against Authority: A subplot where characters rebel against a corrupt or oppressive authority figure, leading to a larger conflict.
18. The Power Vacuum: After a leader’s downfall, multiple characters compete to fill the void, leading to chaos and intrigue.
19. Political Scandal: A character is embroiled in a political scandal, threatening to unravel the main story’s power dynamics.
20. Espionage Within: A character is secretly spying for the enemy, creating tension and suspicion within the group.
Personal Growth
21. Overcoming Addiction: A character battles an addiction, and their journey is similar or contrasting with the key plot.
22. Self-Discovery: A character embarks on a quest to discover their true identity, unlocking hidden strengths or talents.
23. Facing a Phobia: A character confronts and overcomes a deep-seated fear, which influences their role in the main story.
24. Finding Purpose: A subplot where a character, feeling lost, finds a new purpose or calling that redefines their life.
25. Redemption Arc: A once-fallen character seeks redemption, striving to atone for past mistakes as the key plot unfolds.
Friendship and Loyalty
26. The Betrayal: A close friend betrays the protagonist, leading to a subplot of trust, forgiveness, or revenge.
27. Loyalty Tested: A character’s loyalty is tested, forcing them to choose between their friend and their principles.
28. The Unlikely Friends: Two characters who start as adversaries form an unexpected bond, affecting the key plot’s outcome.
29. The Old Friend Returns: An old friend reappears, bringing past secrets or unresolved issues that impact the current narrative.
30. The Lost Friend: A subplot where a once-strong friendship deteriorates, reflecting changes in the characters’ lives and values.
Social Issues
31. The Activist’s Dilemma: A character fighting for social justice faces ethical dilemmas that challenge their beliefs.
32. Environmental Struggle: A community fights against a corporation threatening their environment, intertwining with the larger story.
33. Economic Inequality: A subplot that explores the impact of economic disparity on the characters’ lives, driving their motivations and actions.
Are There Different Types of Subplots?
There are lots of different ways to use secondary storylines, here are a few different types:
Mirror
Mirror subplots reflect the main plot’s themes or conflicts through different characters or situations. They reinforce central ideas by showing them from new angles. In “Harry Potter”, while Harry battles Voldemort, Neville faces his own struggles against the Death Eaters. Both storylines explore courage and sacrifice, reinforcing the series’ core topics.
Foil
These contrast with the main plot, highlighting differences in themes, character traits, or outcomes. They often create suspense and provide alternative perspectives. In “Pride and Prejudice”, while Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship evolves slowly, Lydia’s impulsive elopement with Wickham serves as a foil, emphasizing the wisdom of Elizabeth’s more measured approach to love.
Parallel
These subplots run alongside the main plot, exploring different characters or events that occasionally intersect with the primary narrative. “Game of Thrones” masterfully uses this technique, with Daenerys’ journey in Essos paralleling the power struggles in Westeros, broadening the story’s scope and concepts of power and identity.
Converging
This type begins separately but eventually merges with the main storyline, often leading to surprising twists or a dramatic climax. They keep readers engaged by creating anticipation for how different story threads will come together. In Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations”, Pip’s journey of self-discovery and social climbing runs parallel to the mystery of his benefactor. These plots converge when Pip discovers that his patron is the convict Magwitch, not Miss Havisham as he had assumed, forcing Pip to confront his values and the true nature of his “great expectations”.
How to Weave Subplots into Your Story
- Make sure you don’t force it. Look for natural moments in your story where a subplot could enhance character development or explore a theme from a different angle.
- Introduce subplots early and revisit them at key points in the narrative to ensure they feel like an integral part of the story.
- Make sure your subplots complement, not overshadow, the main plot. Each subplot should serve a clear purpose that enhances the whole story.
- Bring your subplots to a satisfying conclusion that ties back into the main story or adds depth to the narrative, ensuring a cohesive story. Otherwise, you’re asking your reader to remember an additional storyline for no reason.
How Many Subplots Should A Story Have?
There’s no magic number when it comes to subplots, but most stories thrive with 2 to 3 well-placed ones. This sweet spot adds layers to your narrative without overwhelming your readers. However, if you’re diving into a sprawling 14-book epic like The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, there will be loads of conflict subplots, romantic subplots and more! From Perrin Aybara wrestling with his Wolfbrother nature or Egwene al’Vere’s rise to power. These subplots don’t just fill space—they enrich the world and deepen character arcs, making the story as epic as its length.
The trick is to match the number of subplots to the size of your tale, ensuring each one serves a purpose in the grand scheme.
Ready To Make Your Own Subplots?
Subplots are the unsung heroes of a great story, offering depth, complexity, and richness that the main plot alone often can’t achieve. They allow you to explore your characters more fully, delve into themes from different angles, and keep your readers engaged with multiple layers of story.
Imagine “The Lord of the Rings” without the epic journeys of Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, or the mischievous adventures of Merry and Pippin with Treebeard. These subplots don’t just add backstory; they breathe life into Middle-earth, enriching Frodo’s quest with diverse perspectives.
So get started on your own subplot. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing your different storylines come together!
