Hey there, writing enthusiasts! You may have heard about the term ‘subtext’ before, but do you know how it can transform your characters into believable and dynamic personalities? Subtext is the underlying message, the unsaid thoughts, and feelings that are hidden beneath the surface of your character’s words and actions. It can add depth and richness to a story, and make it more engaging. In this blog, we’ll explore the Power of Subtext in Building Believable and Dynamic Characters.

Why is subtext important?

Before we delve into the nuances of subtext, let’s first understand why it’s important. When your characters have a clear subtext, it makes them real, relatable, and multi-dimensional. This subtext can create tension and conflict, and keep your readers engaged in your story. Readers are always looking for complexities in characters, and that’s where subtext plays a role. When your characters have a hidden motive or an underlying emotion, it keeps the readers engaged in trying to figure out what’s going on.

🔍Tip: Use subtext to create intrigue, mystery, and suspense in your story.

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How to use subtext in your writing

Now that you know why subtext is important, let’s dive into how you can use it in your writing.

1. Identify your character’s motives

The first step to building subtext is to understand your character’s motives. What do they want? Why do they want it? What are they willing to do to get it? Once you identify this, you can then write your character’s actions and dialogue in a way that hints at their underlying motivation.

🤫Tip: Not all characters need to have a hidden motive, but it’s important for your main characters to have one.

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2. Use body language and tone

Body language and tone play a significant role in conveying subtext. When a character’s words don’t match their actions or tone, that’s when subtext comes into play. For example, if a character says ‘I’m fine,’ while slumping their shoulders and avoiding eye contact, it hints at something more going on under the surface.

👀Tip: Pay attention to your character’s body language and tone when writing their dialogue.

A picture of a person shrugging with a speech bubble saying 'I'm fine'

3. Let your readers draw their conclusions

One of the most exciting things about subtext is that it lets your readers draw their conclusions. When you hint at the underlying thoughts and feelings of your characters, your readers have the opportunity to fill in the gaps for themselves and create their version of the story.

🎨Tip: Give your readers the freedom to create their version of your characters and story.

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Now that we have a better understanding of subtext, let’s take a look at some examples of how it’s used in popular literature.

1. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

In The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger uses subtext to convey the protagonist’s underlying feelings of loneliness, confusion, and disillusionment. The protagonist, Holden Caulfield, never explicitly states these feelings, but they’re evident in his actions and interactions with other characters.

📖Tip: Pay attention to how your characters interact with other characters to convey their subtext.

A picture of a book cover of The Catcher in the Rye

2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses subtext to illustrate the social dynamics between the characters. Lee uses the characters’ actions and words to convey the underlying tension and conflict between different social classes, races, and genders.

📚Tip: Use subtext to convey social dynamics between your characters.

A picture of a book cover of To Kill a Mockingbird

Conclusion

Subtext can be a powerful tool in building believable and dynamic characters. It can add depth, richness, and intrigue to your story. By understanding the underlying motives and using body language and tone, you can convey subtext in your writing. By allowing your readers to draw their conclusions, you can take your story to a whole new level. So go ahead and add some subtext to your characters and see how it transforms your story.

✍️Tip: Practice using subtext in your writing to create dynamic and believable characters.

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