Happy St. Patrick’s day! I will admit to not celebrating this day very much. I usually don’t wear green–I don’t drink green drinks–not sure why. What about you? Do you celebrate this green day?
I hope you enjoyed the Inspy Romance birthday bash. It’s always so much fun with so many prizes. I do love how readers and authors can come together on this platform of the internet and connect. Think of all the friends we’ve made simply by having this blog in common.
Although I’m a writer, I was a reader first. And as a reader, different parts of the creative process fascinate me. I’ll read a book and think—how did the author come up with that? Or, wow, could I ever manage a twist that no one sees coming? There are so many aspects of creating during the writing process. Each author has their own way of putting plot elements on to the page, building unique characters, and penning settings that we would all love to move to.
But how do they do it?
I thought today we could break down the element of threading in a sub plot. Or at least how I do it. How does this thread come about? How do those tendrils of side stories make it into the book?
The main plot of the story I’m talking about today is this: What would you do if you thought you were upending your life to get a new start by being a housekeeper in a wealthy world in Florida, but it turns out the single dad needs a nanny, not a housekeeper. Would you stay or go? Where would you go, because everything you didn’t sell is in the trunk of your car?
This is how my book Rich in Faith starts.
So, really by process of elimination, you stay. You are now a nanny for twin girls. Twin girls with big hearts but are a hot mess in reality. When I say hot mess I’m talking about their hair.
When I started writing the book, I kept writing about their hair. I think at first it was blowing in their face or something like that. Then it was tangled. Then the girls wouldn’t let her brush their hair and the girl’s father, stood by them in that aspect. It seemed weird, but as I was writing I kept thinking, why are you writing this side thread with their hair? Where is this going?
Because if it didn’t go somewhere, have some sort of purpose, I would have to take it out. I had made it into a big enough thread that I had to do something with it. But what? It’s hair. It’s twin girls.
I do feel like God intervenes in these scenarios. :) Just a little spoiler alert here, the first sign I knew I had something with this crazy thread was when the girls let Shelby (the heroine) brush their hair. It was a trust thing. It was a big moment in the book when Shelby knew that the girls trusted her now. It was a touching scene, (at least I hope so!) and I knew then that the thread of messy hair I’d started was going somewhere.
And it did! I will not give away the black moment, but their hair turned out causing the black moment between Shelby and Court. I couldn’t have planned it better had I planned it. Whoo! It worked.
This is just one example from my stories how I navigate the side plots. They have to fit into the main story thread somehow. In the book I have coming out in October it wasn’t until a revision scene, that one of the threads I had used came into play for the hero’s black moment. Sometimes it takes me a while to figure it out, but it does come together. (Or it gets tossed.)
Thank you for journeying with me on how one part of a storyline makes it into a book. Do you find yourself noticing secondary plot threads? Do you ever wish the author had pursued one further? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic.
USA Today featured author Lindi Peterson lives in north Georgia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with her husband and a lively array of cats, dogs and birds. She loves sharing life with her family and friends. Her passion for reading led her to writing, and then God spoke words of love into her heart and changed her life forever.
I do notice secondary plot threads and sometimes I wish the author would pursue it and sometimes the author pursues it in their next book if it is a series.
Lori–The beauty of series!!! :)
I love hearing about how writers work and develop stories. I really enjoy seconds plot threads, I think they can bring a lot to a story, such as showing a different side of a character or adding some humour.
I enjoy Inspy Romance and it’s authors. I feel like I have made new friends. Since I have retired, reading, Books, and authors have become my world. I have really enjoyed the Birthday Bash even if I don’t win any of the prizes. I have won some along the way. I was your winner just last week. Thank you.
I guess I don’t pick up on sub plots very often. It’s all part of the story. But since reading your post, I will start watching for the sub plots. Thank you for explaining your writing process (or part of it). It was interesting.
Bonnie—Hello again!! So glad you’re back. Inspy is a great place to hang out–especially if you love books.
Ruthie—Yes–I agree. Secondary plots can bring out a lot of aspects of the characters.
I do notice them, and some get annoying but others I really like! lol!! I guess it depends more on what that side plot is. I’m sure I’d relate to the hair, though, since my hair is now longer than it’s been in many years!!
Trudy—Ha!! Me, too! I let my grow and I love it. It’s thicker than ever and pulling it into a ponytail or a bun can always give a different look.
Thanks for sharing this glimpse into how a story comes together. I actually tend to notice secondary plot threads more in movies than in books. If there is a pretty obvious thread that ends up going nowhere, I find it annoying and think it can end up detracting from the story.
Jessica–good point with the movies–and I agree with you about not resolving a secondary line—I’ll resolve it in my head, though!
I don’t know how I do it, but my comment ended up under Ruth’s as a reply. Sorry, Ruth. 🤦♀️
I celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green. That’s pretty much it though. I do notice secondary plot threads and think that it might just lead into another story for later on.
Kathleen–Well-happy St. Patrick’s day—I wore gray—boo!! But you all knew I would. It’s interesting how much information different authors reveal when a secondary plot leads into another book.
I loved this post! That’s so interesting! I sometimes notice them as a secondary plot thread, and sometimes I just enjoy what they add to the story or character development.
Priscila–Thank you!!
Thank you for sharing this it is so interesting, and I love reading and I also notice secondary plot threads have a great weekend! God Bless You.
Sarah. Thank you!
Have a great weekend.
welcome today and thanks for sharing how your books come about. I do love to read about how authors get their ideas and how they come to be a book. many times I will see a secondary or third character in a book start to come to life in a series. I do enjoy series at times. Other times, well a stand alone is good.
Lori…yes, series and stand alone are both great.
Hi, I really enjoy second plot threads! I usually wear a little green on St. Patricks day. Have a great day and a great weekend.
I hope you had a great St. Patrick’s day. Thank you for visiting Inspy!
It’s great when author pursues the secondary plot in the next book or series!
Natalya..I agree.
I do like secondary plot threads . Great if they are followed up.
I hope you had a great St. Patrick’s day. Thank you for visiting Inspy!
I do notice there are secondary plot lines and so I have the hope that this will be explored in a future book if not in the current book.
Cherie..I agree.
yes to both
Yes!!
Thank you for sharing. I do notice the subplots. The majority of the time, these are brought together and answered by the end of the book. God bless you.
Debra. God bless you!
at times. I know in the Granger Series by Jillian Hart she had a secondary plot with Frank the father finding romance across several books.
Sometimes I want to know more about these subplots. I actually asked an author recently if a certain character was getting there own book cos they stole so many scenes.
Jenny..yes. I’ve seen that too in series. I love that. Always satisfying when everything comes together.