There are many types of subplots used in novels. Some types of subplots include a romance subplot, political, macabre, artistic/environmental subplots, historical subplots, path of thought subplots, and character subplots. A subplot is a short story that is told along with part or all of the main plot. There is no limit to how many subplots there can be, but there are limitations to how well authors can maintain such plots. There are some key subplots that almost every story uses.
romantic subplots
These are subplots that provide great filler moments throughout a novel, especially when experiencing writer’s block. Romantic subplots can be copy plots from other romantic scenes, so they’re great additions to the main plot when you’re having a hard time moving on.
political subplots
Almost every book uses this game of politics within its story. The only novels that can’t use this are those intended for a reading age that is too young to understand the intricacies. These subplots are great for filling in big gaps if you’re having trouble connecting sections of the main plot.
In a political subplot, a character explores the politics or social situations around him. This can range from how horribly a teen parent reacts to a situation, to a meeting in the war room where everyone discusses what is supposed to happen. While politics generally means dealing with some form of government, political subplots deal with environmental hierarchies.
macabre subplots
You know that show that plays the same cheesy line during a mystery investigation, or how a novel spends a useless amount of time describing the intentions of a bad person? This is a macabre subplot, and it tends to be quite useful at the beginning of fantasy novels. Good examples of novels that begin with macabre subplots are JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and JK Rowling’s Harry Potter.
Harry Potter even keeps the macabre subplot and brings it into the main plot.
A macabre subplot carries its own fictional horror story, but is useful for one aspect of the main plot. This is not to say that a description of how the killer killed a victim is a subplot, but if that description is used to identify the difference between two different killers, then the description becomes a macabre subplot.
Artistic/environmental subplots
These subplots are unique in that they use the setting as if it had a story of its own. These subplots are very difficult to create and even more difficult to maintain. They require an artistically tuned mind to describe how the environment has a story of its own. The subplot can be so subtle that the reader doesn’t notice it.
historical subplots
These subplots are extremely short and come in handy when a new character is brought in who normally wouldn’t have been there. These subplots refer to something that has already happened but is unknown to the reader. Most of the time, the historical subplot is introduced using words like two hours before or in the meantime. These subplots are often deeply tied to the main plot.
Path of Thought Subplots
When you have nothing to write and when all other subplots seem useless, the Path of Thought subplot is your savior. This is where you divert the reader’s attention from the story to explore a character’s thought process of everything that is happening or will happen.
character subplots
These subplots are extremely difficult to maintain without losing focus on the main character. They are usually found within stories that use a supporting character’s past to describe actions that would otherwise be illogical. A character subplot is either a small story behind a character or a main subplot that is heavily intertwined with the main plot, such as a mother’s opinion and a daughter’s opinion.
