Sub plots

[Guest]

would you like me to call him perdy?

He'd probably like it. Up to you though, I don't advise men on men.

flattered*, P. (I began to type faltered, hahaha)

 

[NoJo]

Oh. I'm making you embarazado. That's Sapnish for embarrassed, isn't it?

 

[Guest]

I'm making you embarazado.

You probably could if you really tried. There are only about two people on the planet that can embarrass me.

 

[NoJo]

If you think I could make you embarazado from over here, you've been reading too many scare stories about the latest online enhancement gadgets.

I wouldn't want to embarazado you, until you'd provided me with a detailed list of all your assets, with photos.

 

[Kassiana]

Oh, Gods...have I told you about "Spanish-o" yet?

Okay. There was this one time, at band camp...I mean a job I worked. I was at a doctor's office and the doctor's wife told me that they had a lot of Spanish speaking clients. She said that since I don't know Spanish, to speak with them, I should just add the letter "o" on the end of English words to make myself understood.

It's the language known as Spanisho. Youo Spanisho typeso cano understando Englisho ifo weo addo O'so to-o theo endso ofo ouro wordso.

 

[Guest]

DebajoJose

Chu make me larfo.

'dita

 

[Kassiana]

Re: DebajoJose

Chu make me larfo.

'dita

Just imagine having to sit there and NOT laugho as she says that stupid crap to you-o. I don't know how I did it-o.

 

[Guest]

Kassiana

you're really annoying. But I'm smart, I'm leaving. P.

 

[tolyk]

When I came in drunk tonight (Wednesdays) the wife was watching CSI Miami. (The ginger bloke can't act so I don't often watch it) I was struck by the fact that lately, and Miami is the worst culprit, quite a few television serials don't actually bother with sub-plot (how home life affects their work, tying two separate cases together, when a team member fucks up and has to be covered by their supervisor etc)
They simply join two distinct stories together to fill the 45 minutes and the only link is the main character. (the can't act ginger bloke)

Is this legitimate? Would you stand for it in a written work? Just exactly how short is your attention span?

CSI: Miami has numerous subplots, just not on every single episode. I've always found the characters to be nicely developed, if you've seen every episode. It isn't as complex as even the original CSI, but it still has some complexity to it.

However, as to your question I don't think throwing two unrelated plots together is a good way to do things. It isn't sub-plot, it is more like bi-plot A lot of TV shows do it, especially soap operas. Have enough going on at once and people won't notice how poorly something is written because they'll be too busy trying to keep up with the varying topics.

So, no I wouldn't stand for it in written works, I would probably actually burn any book like that I stumbled upon.

 

[Kassiana]

Re: Kassiana

you're really annoying. But I'm smart, I'm leaving. P.

Hey! I wasn't trying to be annoying. Honest.

I guess the line between amusing and annoying is pretty thin sometimes.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

If I may hi-jack, this hi-jack.

Once again I find myself drowning in a sea of my own vagueness.

Different question then.

In a story, would you as the author, simply write two separate and distinct stories then post them as one under the guise of sub-plotting?
RF: No.

If you found your story to be 749 words long and couldn't possibly add another single word in order that it be submissable, would you write or take another unrelated story, just tack it on and claim valid action under the heading of "sub-plot"
RF: No.

Gauche,

Sub-plots are seldom effective in short works. They're best suited for novels, movies, and three-act plays. Using a sub-plot in a one-act play, a short story, or a half-hour script, is a dicey proposition. Even scripts for one-hour shows seldom have "free standing" sub-plot. Instead, they are spread out over two or more show.

"Notwithstanding" (thanks, sub joe, I needed that) all that, sub-plots in short-form fiction can sometimes work. But if a story is "finished" in 730 words, odds are padding it with a sub-plot will just weaking the story and lessen its chances of being accepted.

All that is, of course, in my humble opinion.

Rumple Foreskin

I now return this thread to its regular hi-jack. RF

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Once again I find myself drowning in a sea of my own vagueness.

Different question then.

In a story, would you as the author, simply write two separate and distinct stories then post them as one under the guise of sub-plotting?

If you found your story to be 749 words long and couldn't possibly add another single word in order that it be submissable, would you write or take another unrelated story, just tack it on and claim valid action under the heading of "sub-plot"

No, that'd be stupid. The point of a sub-plot is characterization, making the people understand and love the character better and understand his/her/its motivations. Slapping an unrelated plotline in a story and saying "look subplot" is something American TV writers do and its one of the deadly sins, right with talking on your cell phone in the movie theatre.

For a short work there can be small subplots and characerizations. The relationship of a couple given in snippets as they have the plot adventure together could be considered a weak subplot.

And if I had one word to go yet it was perfect as is, i'd cop out and write The End at the end like a total wanker.

 

[BlackSnake]

Hi BlackSnake,

I googled your show and it does look like it has potential. I will have to check it out. Thanks for the tip!

Luck,

Yui

Hopefully it won't get cancelled NUMB3RS Fan Site

 

[yui]

Hopefully it won't get cancelled NUMB3RS Fan Site

Maybe I better not watch it then...because every show I like gets cancelled. Thanks for the link!

Yui