How do you prioritise subplots?

“I’ve written 75% of my novel, but it has a medium-sized cast with quite a few subplots. For a satisfying ending, what do I prioritize for the final act/conclusion, and what details could I afford to skip or leave out? How should I order them and distribute the screen time?”

I’m so glad that there are writers out there who have too many subplots! There are infinite ideas available to you at any time, so it’s hard to streamline all those ideas down into a single, cohesive whole.

Managing multiple subplots can feel like juggling while walking a tightrope. You want to give each storyline its time to shine without overwhelming your readers or overshadowing your primary plot. So how can you do that?

Understanding subplots

Not all subplots are created equal, but they still need to have some tie to your main story. A lot of writers confuse backstory and worldbuilding with subplots. A departure from the main narrative doesn’t necessarily make it a subplot, so when writing them, make sure to consider their relationship to these core elements:

• Your main character’s primary arc.
• Your story’s central conflict.
• Your novel’s core theme.
• Character relationships that drive the main plot.
• World-building elements that affect the conclusion.

An effective subplot should have one of these elements to directly tie it to your story’s goals. And it’s really important that you don’t have too many. Too many subplots lead to reader fatigue or confusion, so make sure that your subplot quantity matches your genre. For instance, having a large number of subplots in a multi-book epic fantasy series is much more expected than having that many in a single-book romantic comedy.

Is this really a subplot?

I know it’s not something you probably want to hear, but it’s important to at least ask yourself if every subplot is relevant (or if it’s even a subplot at all). It’s easy to fall into the trap of creating what you think is a subplot when some simple worldbuilding would suffice, or trying to include a subplot that would work better as a story on its own. So, if you’re including a subplot, always ask yourself if it’s relevant and makes the current story you’re writing better.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• What function does this subplot serve?
• Could this information be conveyed through simpler means?
• Do any of these subplots play the same role? And if so, could they be combined?
• Does it develop character, advance the plot, or enhance themes in a way that couldn’t be achieved otherwise?
• How deeply is this subplot woven into your main story?
• Would removing it create plot holes or leave character development feeling incomplete?
• Does it intersect with other important subplots in meaningful ways?
• Will readers miss this subplot if it’s gone?
• Does it provide emotional or intellectual satisfaction?
• Does it add depth to the reading experience or just complexity?
• Could this be a story on its own?

Sometimes what feels like a crucial subplot might actually be better served as background information, a brief scene for flavour, or a completely separate plot from the one you’re writing. Don’t be afraid to demote a subplot to a smaller role if it’s not pulling its weight in the larger narrative or cut it out completely to use in a future project!

How to prioritise your subplots

Once you’ve decided on which subplots are relevant and that you know you want to keep, you’re ready to prioritise them.

1. Map the connections

Start by creating a simple diagram or list showing how each subplot connects to your main story. Ask yourself:

• Does this subplot affect the protagonist’s final decision or growth?
• Will the resolution of this subplot change the outcome of the main conflict?
• Does this storyline reinforce or challenge the story’s central theme?

The more connections a subplot has to these elements, the higher the priority it should receive.

2. Identify emotional investment

Consider which subplots have garnered the most emotional investment from readers. You might even want to enlist the help of beta readers after you’ve completed your first draft for this.

• Which secondary characters have received the most development?
• What storylines have created the most tension?
• Which plot threads have raised significant questions that readers will want answered?

3. Look for natural conclusions

Most subplots will reach a natural conclusion before the final act. A good example of this might be a romance arc which will resolve to bring the characters together to face the final antagonist. If a subplot has already achieved its purpose (developing a character, revealing important information, or creating necessary conflict to enhance the theme), then it’s time to resolve it.

Fundamentally, there isn’t a single best way to resolve or distribute your subplots in the final act. You’ll need to be guided by your specific circumstances and what your narrative needs. But the rule of thumb is definitely to have all subplots resolved before you get to the story’s climax. You want your main plot to be the thing that drives the ending, and not have it overshadowed by unresolved subplots.

Making the hard choices

When managing multiple subplots, remember that less is often more. Each subplot should earn its place in your story by deepening your themes, developing your characters, or advancing your main plot. Don’t be afraid to combine similar subplots, demote them, or set them aside completely. “Screen time” should be determined by how essential to the plot a specific subplot is. If you’re writing a romance-forward fantasy novel, for instance, the relationship development would have more time. But if you’re writing a fantasy novel with an element of romance, you might choose to give it less space.

Ultimately, how you choose to elevate and demote subplots is entirely unique to you and your story. The only thing that is universally true is that readers need to feel that the subplots you’ve developed were worth their emotional investment. Focus on the storylines that truly matter to your core narrative, and you’ll create a richer, more satisfying story that keeps readers invested.