How many subplots should a novel have?

[Gothmog]

I know that aspiring writers should not get too hung up on absolutes and rules when it comes to writing. Usually whatever works, works. But that being said, do any of you have any idea how many subplots a book should be limited to? I mean a totally approximate figure.

 

[Susan Boulton]

Never heard of any hard and fast rules for this. I suppose as many as feels right to tell your story, but remember don't swamp the main tale with sub plots. You need to get your main characters from "a" to "b"

 

[Rhuidean]

The subplots need to advance the story and show complexities in your characters; don't use anything unnecessary as it will slow down the narrative.

 

[Marky Lazer]

Well, as much as you like to, really. Only the danger with too many subplots is that they can distract from the main plot. You shouldn't have subplots for the sake of subplots. If you have a nice subplot that doesn't really fit into the story, you might want to consider writing a short story about this subplot and make it the main plot in a short story. Your subplots need to add to the mainplot, for example, to further flesh out a main character. So, subplots need to have a cuase within your story.

 

[Aes]

They way I see it, a good story technically has no subplots. It just has a main plot, full of unexpected twists & turns along the way. What I mean is pretty much what everyone else is saying--if it doesn't add anything to the flow of the main plot in some way, there's probably no reason to have it.

 

[the_faery_queen]

i'd agree with that. for me, look at jordan and martin. one has subplots that do nothing to the story, slow it down and drive me nuts to the point of quitting. the other (martin) has subplots that build intracises, develop characters and make you think (well me) that there is a lot more going on than you can see.

for me, i have few subplots. i can't write tricky twisting situations. i just put my character into different situations, or i have things happen to him that set up other things that reveal stuff he needs to know. i don't see it as subplots, in my novel, more as branches on a tree. little events that reveal stuff, or break up the main plot, but don't do anything more than develop character. but mine is first person with a plot that isn't about questing or evil battles, (its more about his life) so that can work for me. it all depends on what your story is likje, what you need.

 

[Marky Lazer]

one has subplots that do nothing to the story, slow it down

Well, that is a very good reason to actually use a subplot, really.

 

[the_faery_queen]

it can be, if the story is rushing on, that's very true. but if you have 6 books of subplot and no actual development, then i think its a few too many!

i guess its about balance

 

[bendoran]

balance is important, there should be an important single thread moving forward, but subplots should serve a purpose either to expand the characters or the world.

 

[iansales]

It's quite obvious. The answer is 42

Seriously, you don't put in a specific number of sub-plots because you think a novel should have them. Just write your story. You'll find it either needs sub-plots or it doesn't. And if it does, they will arise naturally out of the story.

 

[Gothmog]

It's quite obvious. The answer is 42

Seriously, you don't put in a specific number of sub-plots because you think a novel should have them. Just write your story. You'll find it either needs sub-plots or it doesn't. And if it does, they will arise naturally out of the story.

Heh heh. The first good example of a novel or story which (I think) has too many subplots is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Even watching the movie it just seemed too "busy" and kind of messy. The only saving grace was the fact that due to it being the 4th book, most readers/viewers already had a working knowledge of the main characters and therefore no background expositions need to take place. But boy, if that was the 1st book, there's no way it would fly.

It's like how software programmers who write code; and when the logic gets too cumbersome and convuluted they call it "spaghetti code" although the program may execute fine.

 

[j d worthington]

For a good example of how not to do subplots, try some of the early Gothic novels. In their day, this was very much like the insertion of ballet into operas during the Baroque era -- it broke up the main flow, allowed the reader to have an emotional break from too many cliffhanger moments and broke up the novel (usually 3-4 volumes in length) so that it didn't become monotonous. Today, one really has to shift gears to read them with those subplots; as to modern sensibilities they simply bog things down and distract.

Subplots nowadays need to be a natural outgrowth of the main story itself, and something that contributes to the resolution of the plot in some fashion. As long as it doesn't become unwieldy, theoretically the number is unlimited; but if your reader has to start keeping a scorecard, you're doing too much.

 

[Marky Lazer]

Too many subplots and one needs to take notes to keep track of everything. You don't want that

 

[flynx]

Three.

Consider a few things. Unless you're one of those children that was taught to know how many spots are on a page instantly, generally the largest number you can recognise without counting is three. Example: very large numbers have their zeroes split into groups of three.

In oratory, when listing, if you don't want to lose their attention or if you want to make a strong point then you use a list of three. (It works in writing too, a long list will get skimmed) Example: Education, education, education.

Three happens to be a fairly easy number of balls to juggle with, one for each hand and one in the air.

Back to counting or estimating. If you see 5 things you actually see three things and another two. If you see 10 you see three lots of three plus one.

Other things of three: The Holy Triumvirate. Three coins in a fountain. Menage-a-troi. The first cardinal number (second if you must include one) And of course.

The number of the counting before throwing the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.


Flynx

 

[BookStop]

I recently read a book where every other chapter had a different subplot, but in the end, they all came together brilliantly to form a plot. Up until the halfway point, I had no idea how these were all fitting together. It was very refreshing to read almost an entire novel of nothing but subplots! So I guess I'm saying there is no rule. If it's exciting, and it adds, then do it if you can make it all work in the end.