I recently asked my Twitter followers what sorts of posts they would like to read on this blog, and I was intrigued when one of them suggested the topic of subtext. This post goes out to him and anyone else who’s interested in this– a rather deep subject. Today, I’ll be hitting some of the main points, starting with…

What is subtext?

The subtext is the meaning or message of a book, play, movie or even conversation and usually remains unspoken throughout the work. In other words, it’s the underlying theme of a composition. It’s complexity, and worldbuilding and those moments that leave you wondering what on Earth just happened?! even though past events warn you that you already know. As a result of the subtext being less than obvious, every reader/viewer considers it differently.

When is subtext used?

Most of the stories that we consume contain some amount of subtext. Even a very simple line, such as, “I ate a snack,” communicates an unspoken message. Saying that you ate a snack actually says that you were hungry, and now you’re not. On another hand, you may not have been hungry when you ate, and now, you’re feeling sick. My knowing that, however, would require some context.

On a larger scale, subtext is found in books like Kristen Ciccarelli’s The Last Namsara to communicate underlying themes of shame, power and the choice that we can all make to see the beauty in ourselves and in others. This reaches far beyond Ciccarelli’s obviously fierce female characters and deadly dragons. In my own upcoming debut, themes of loneliness, love and family are seen beyond my immediately fearful protagonist, melodramatic princess and defenseless kingdom on the brink of war. In essence, subtext rules the literary world.

How to use subtext

The big question! If the subtext of your work isn’t meant to be obvious, then how can you intentionally write it into your story?

In my experience, your characters will write your subtext for you, specifically in their dialogue. Just like our snack example wrote its own subtext, your characters will inevitably find themselves in situations that force them to consider what’s underneath the surface. Why are they fighting or not fighting their own battles? Why are other characters helping them– or refusing to help them? And for heaven’s sake, why shouldn’t they get to make their own destinies?! (*cue any dramatic movie trailer song ever*)

The subtext of your story says a lot about your characters’ points of view, especially when it comes to your setting. One of your characters may decide that the carpet in her home looks like milk chocolate. Another of your characters may think that the same carpet looks like a leftover avocado. Those are two very different perspectives on the same object, but the bottom line is clear: we’re looking at a brown carpet. So, when it comes to the theme of your story, don’t forget to consider your characters’ worldview.

Subtext is an incredibly powerful tool in the hands of every writer. Remember: the story is never about what the story is about. Even if you don’t have a concrete idea of the theme of your story yet, paying close attention to the feelings of happiness and heartbreak in your characters is a great place to start looking for common threads.