evil is a relay sport when the one who’s burned turns to pass the torch
also, do NOT tag them as epilepsy, seizure, photo-sensitivity, etc. people use these tags to find other people like them. by putting them in these tags you are endangering them.
so you know abt the "if they're my favorite character i'm gonna be excited to see them hurt" thing but.. am i the only one who gets Annoyed when characters i dislike get whumped? like. they didn't deserve the honor, what an injustice that this is canon 😅😂
Oh, yeah, I feel that too. Like the character I like was right there for the whumping, why would you choose that one?
Who doesn’t love a good subplot? Some of my favorites books are the ones that have super interesting subplots because who doesn’t love hearing about that secondary character development arc or those lovely side characters with the inevitably doomed romance? What’s not to like? But, subplots can often be one of the hardest to write and the most misunderstood storytelling elements. They aren’t part of the main narrative thread, so they can’t overtake it, but they also need to have their own story arc separate from the main plot. It’s a delicate balance that can be kind hard to strike, because subplots aren’t just secondary plot-lines, they have to serve a narrative purpose and engage with the story’s central conflict.
First, let us define some different kinds of subplots
Mirror Subplot: A subplot where a side character experiences a conflict that mirrors the protagonist’s main conflict and gives the protagonist the insight or motivation they need to resolve their own conflict.
Romantic Subplot: The protagonist’s relationship with a love interest complicates their journey to resolve the story’s central conflict.
Parallel Subplot: a subplot where something seemingly unrelated occurs at the same time as the main plot and then all of a sudden the two plots collide towards the end of the book.
Complicating Subplot: a subplot where a secondary character’s actions actively complicates the protagonist’s journey with the central conflict
Foil Subplot: a subplot where a secondary character experiences the same or a very similar conflict as the protag but wants to resolve that in a different way (this contracts or creates a “foil” that highlights the protagonists qualities and characteristics)
There are a lot more different kinds of subplots, but these are some of the most common, so here are some tips for writing subplots!
This is the first question we should ask ourselves anytime we add anything to our stories, but especially subplots. Sometimes, authors (meaning me) will get to the end of writing their first draft and realize that they are not anywhere close to their goal word count. To remedy this, they will just throw in a cute little subplot. Unfortunately, friends, this does not work. The best, effective subplots should be integral to a story’s central conflict. If you can remove your subplot from the story without their being a big impact on the central conflict, then the subplot doesn’t really serve a strong narrative purpose. We most often see this problem arise in romantic subplots. Authors will just throw in a romance or the dreaded love-triangle as a subplot for absolutely no reason. I’m the first person to admit I love a good romantic subplot, but I also like it to be there for a good reason. That is why the Hunger Games will never go out of my top five all time books/series because despite what a lot of people think the romantic subplot in that story is essential. Katniss and Peeta’s love story is the reason they both survive the Games which is the central conflict of the book. It works perfectly, and if you want a good example of a subplot done well, look no further.
Honestly, sometimes the subplot really is better than the main plot. That’s not necessarily a good thing, but I think we have all read a book where the main plot just drags and you just can’t wait to get back to your favorite side characters and their little adventure. But, a good subplot shouldn’t steal the limelight from the main plot. It should enhance the main plot and maybe add a layer of complexity but never overshadow. Going back to my example for the day, the Hungers Games does a really good job of this. I read something once where someone said Katniss’s romance overshadows the Games and the Rebellion, and I was like, did we read the same book? If you go back and read the books, Katniss doesn’t think about her romance with Gale or Peeta all that much. She’s mostly thinking about her own survival and the survival of her family. Both of which relate directly to the main plot. We never forget about the romance in the book because it is important, but in my opinion, it never overshadows the main plot of the Games and the Rebellion even in the first book where it’s more heavily featured.
On the flip-side of that, even though the subplot shouldn’t overshadow the main plot, it still needs to follow its own narrative arc. This is where a lot of new author’s get lost. A subplot is way more than just a short conversation or a quick event that inconveniences or helps the protagonists. All your subplots need their own beginning, middle, and end. Make sure that you definitely developed all of your story’s subplots accordingly. That includes paying attention to all of your characters’ goals, motivations, and the conflict that they experience. Generally when I’m in the development stages of the subplot, I develop it the same way that I develop one of my main plots. While they do not necessarily need the same attention or development as your main plot, developing them with the same goals in mind will only help you in the long run!
when no one has written the exact fic to scratch a very specific emotional itch and you absolutely do not have time to write it yourself but you still want to read it dammit
This scene got me and my Silbling cracking, we were the only people besides one lady in cinema that laughed at it. Because it's true, British did steal all of their stuff.
I am thrilled to announce that my upcoming novel, To Shape a Dragon’s Breath: The First Book of Nampeshiweisit - which will be released on May 9th 2023 - is now available for preorder!
Anequs, a fifteen-year old indigenous girl, has never been away from her isolated island community. But Anequs has just bonded with a dragon hatchling, and thus become the first Nampeshiweisit - person in a unique relationship with a dragon - that the island has seen in more than two hundred years. That’s something that does not go unnoticed by the colonizing powers that be.
Now, in accordance with the colonizers’ laws, Anequs must attend an academy on the mainland and prove her competence in dragon husbandry and magic. If she can’t or won’t perform to their very specific expectations, her dragon will be put to death.
Anequs must navigate two cultures’ worth of traditions and wisdom, trying to fill a role no one has held in two hundred years. There are no mentors who can teach her precisely what she needs to be, so she must find her own path. She rekindles lost traditions, pieces together new ways of doing ancient things and traditional ways of doing new things. She must comply with the laws and regulations imposed on her by colonizers while also staying true to her people's values and beliefs.
It can be preordered at Penguin Randomhouse, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon among other retailers.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706010/to-shape-a-dragons-breath-by-moniquill-blackgoose/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-shape-a-dragons-breath-moniquill-blackgoose/1141987016
https://www.amazon.com/Shape-Dragons-Breath-First-Nampeshiweisit/dp/0593498283
Big thanks to the artist of the cover illustration, Ryan Pooman
https://www.instagram.com/ryanpooman/
and to art director Regina Flath
https://twitter.com/reginaflath/
https://www.instagram.com/reginaflath/
Woo, it’s been awhile!
Not sure, if it’s already been done; but, ever since I first saw this meme, this is all that’s been stuck in my head. And after a few months, I’ve finally gotten it out of my head. Enjoy!
Miles meets the little nerd from earth 19-9999
he/they | 🇸🇻 | I write fics and make translation in ao3
66 posts