I hated the fun and games section, but after my deep dive into sub plots I am feeling a lot better!!!!! Hopefully this writing update and breakdown helps you all in some way 🤗 - also I have a question for you all at the end 🤔& would love to hear your thoughts! 💓
this is actually so helpful. I just realized I’ve been thinking of sub/side plots as something completely separate from my main plot. My current project is incredibly focused on one character and just follows her journey to achieving her goals, so thinking of sub plots to “add in” was getting me nowhere. Now I’m realizing that I just need to outline the different individual aspects of my plot. Like my MC’s potential romance(s), the political/military plot, the individual plans of specific characters, etc. The whole point of my story is that it’s just explaining the backstory of a character I find incredibly interesting. Each of those different individual sides of the plot are kind of their own stories, and each is necessary to lead my MC to where she ends up. Trying to just “add something in” would feel unnatural and unnecessary.
Yes!! you explaining it this way makes me realize I think I was thinking about it that way too! Like okay I have to "add random stuff in" instead of having plots that really help the plot and character move forward!! Also your story sounds incredibly fascinating!!
this is so helpful!! i've been wanting to work more on my sub plots because i only had vague ideas of what they're going to be (especially in the fun and games section... i also struggle with that one so so much), but i didn't really know how to go about it. your video makes it seem super manageable tho! i'm really excited to go work on my project now :)
THIS WAS LITERALLY WHAT I NEEDED!! HOW DID YOU KNOW!? This has definitely made my job of working in the sub-plots easier. THANK YOU! and yes Discord would be amazing!
I love this so much! I always get so excited when you post because I know that your video is going to help/remind me to deep dive into an element of my story! So thanks for that!! I only have one friend that I can talk to about anything writing related so watching these videos and the lives just feels like I have people to go through it with! I would absolutely join a discord server!
Wow that is such an amazing comment - thank you, that has made my day 💙🤗 I totally understand not having friends to talk about writing with - which is why this youtube channel has started!!
okay i love this and am definitely going to be using it. Fun & Games is also the section I have the most issue with which I think really showed in my draft cuz so far the reader feedback I got (not negative, but helpful) was that the story really kicked up around the mid-point but before that they weren't really sure what the plot was... so this is definitely going to be super helpful for me. I'm excited to put it to use and check out those other videos as well!! Studying writing is actually so fun. I could do this all day. Edit: I hadn't finished the video yet so I'm still watching and at the end but I see people mentioning a discord... yes please!!!
You explain things in a way that meshes soooooo well with my writing and thinking process, this video (and all the ones before it!) have really helped me feel like I could actually write a whole manuscript for the first time. It feels so manageable now(?!) which is incredible. I would die for a discord tbh
This was very interesting to watch! I think Sanderson does something like this in terms of meshing plot points from the main plot and sub plot for each chapter of his novels. My brain probably wouldn't allow me to break it down on paper the way you did since I don't break down things in terms of plot structures. I do however have in the back of mind the little subplots that I want to tie in and I put them where it seems like they fit. My process is so not organized lol.
oooh i like that!!! i just finished my "fun & games" section for my draft zero so this was enlightening to watch. it seems that i have a lot more to add than i thought lol but that's for the next draft! i'll definitely be doing the homework. thanks for sharing your tips, mik 💛☺
I loved seeing your index card organization. Your handwriting is so nice! I've been writing my draft for Act 1, but I feel like it's all cringe. Even though I've done a lot of plotting and exercises to know my characters, I feel like all of the characters are flat, the description is bland, and the dialogue is meh. It's really hard to not want to stay stuck and go into revision.edit mode. But I'm trying to just keep writing forward. I have a romantic subplot and hopefully a secondary mystery subplot about the setting that may or may not connect to the main storyline....I'm still figuring that out.
I totally get stuck in that mindset as well - but I remind myself that the main thing is to just finish a draft, then go back and round out the characters, beef up the dialogue, etc. You got this!! 🤍
Omg Mik, thank you SO much for another enlightening video 🤩fun and games is so intimidating to me, even after having read a ton of books on writing. this is such an awesome approach and it honestly makes so much sense to plot out the sub plots like the main plot. Genius! I just keep being amazed by your wisdom. If you were to ever write a book on writing I'd be sure to get a copy for every writer I know. Very excited for your next video, hope youre well 🤍
Great video, Mik! And super well done for all the progress you've made with your story👏 Honestly, getting better at working with subplots was also a game changer for me. When I'm plotting I keep a list of story 'threads' that I weave together. I make sure I at least have a beginning, middle and end for each of them, but I often draw from various plotting frameworks to add nuance and depth to them. If I get stuck, switching framework can help! I'd be keen to do writerly things on discord if you decide to go that route 😊 P.S. Glad your power situation was resolved! Long may the lights remain on! 💡
I am working on something similar with my project (if you are still on the fence about trying the big chart paper, I still highly recommend it). The only real thing I have to add is that I think some of these points can overlap, or one event can appear in multiple subplots. Like in yours for example, it sounds like around the break into the third act that event (I forget if it was a pinch point or a plot point) also turns the romance plot (I’m assuming that is the going from lovers back to enemies thing). I also would love to join a Discord for your channel!
I also recently got into, "Why aren't my books working" stage and realize it was subplots, or really any "thread" that is running parallel through the story. I sometimes use "thread" over "subplot" because a thread can be something minor, that is still running parallel but not as impactful as a subplot. I'm writing a multi-season series, so there are a ton of threads in every book. Once I devised a way to track all the subplots/threads, my life became so much easier!
Book one in the sci fi romance is the only one right now with a sort of chapter outline and guess that's because it's the story I know the most about and kinda see more clearly than the rest of the series and other novel ideas.
@@amyelizabeth4058 for me I’m doing a lot of brainstorming and then into this outlining idea - I personally struggle with the blank page and have a harder time pantsing a story but always figure out what works best for you!!!!
This was so helpful! I am currently plotting out my own novel and kept getting distracted/overwhelmed by my subplots, so I will absolutely be trying this exercise out! Thanks Mik! 🫶🏻
Hi! I was just about to begin reading on sub plots today when I saw you posted this. It helped immensely and speeded up my process! Thank you for sharing your writing journey with us! I also dislike the 'fun and game' section, but now I know some of what must go down there :D
