When we walk into a room, we use all our senses to
assess the situation. We pick up the mood, check out who’s talking to who and
register how welcome we are by any number of subtle body language clues given
out by others such as facial expressions, eye movements, body posture and
gestures. Often what is not said tells us more than what is said.
Subtext is the term used to show how we reveal conflict,
rivalry, envy or relationships between characters when the writer wants the
reader to draw these conclusions. The subtext reveals the true feelings and motivations using
implicit rather than explicit methods. You want the reader to feel the
tension rather than read about it and not revealing everything straight away
is a good way to keep readers interested.
In conversation most people don’t reveal everything
in a straightforward manner and the most frequent way subtext is disclosed is
through dialogue. Sol Stein in his book How
to Grow a Novel’ states: “What counts in dialogue is not what is said
but what is meant.”
Subtext is not meant to confuse so a writer
needs to be clear on what motivates their characters even if their dialogue is ambivalent.
To quote David Mamet, "Characters might
hardly ever say what they mean, but they always say something designed to get
what they want."
We understand the subtext through a character’s actions
and reactions.
She lies still, feeling the length of his body along
hers; she wonders if she could live without its known familiar lines.
‘Rob wants to shoot another video this evening. Friend
of his has a small studio.’ She doesn’t respond. ‘The sound’ll be better.’
‘What time?’
‘We’ve all to meet Rob at the Singing Kettle - round
sixish.’
She wonders what Billy would do if he knew about Jack.
‘I better get going.’
Billy grunts in response.
‘Bring me back some fags’ he throws after her as she
closes the door.
Outside the room Gemma slumps, head bowed, against the
door. If only Billy would get a job, they’d be able to move out of this
stinking rotten place with its peeling damp-stained wallpaper, black mould and
grime. It’s always been just the two of them but she’s getting real tired
carrying them both. Inside Billy starts practising his new riff. Someone in the
flat below turns on the radio and a thumping bass beat reverberates up through
the floor. She’d better move or she’ll be late.
Here the reader can tell by Gemma’s responses during the
conversation, as well as by her interior monologue and action after leaving the
room, that something’s up. We also know that Billy is blissfully unaware of her
unfaithfulness and her feelings about him.
Writers can also use subtext to engage with political,
sexual or religious ideas which if presented overtly would put some readers off
the book. Hemingway’s short story, Hills
Like White Elephants is often given as an excellent demonstration of how to
use subtext.
Whether you use subtext in dialogue, for theme or to show
relationships between characters it is a technique worth studying and using it adds layers of emotion and meaning to a story.
Writing
Update
Last week I started off slow
but by the end of the week I’d achieved a certain momentum in my work, but
again this week – even though I worked Saturday and Sunday – I’m starting slow
again. Hopefully I’ll pick up more speed as the week goes by. I've set myself
the goal of two chapters a week. I find that having writing goals works for
me. I just have to make sure I don’t beat myself up if I don’t achieve them –
use them as a challenge, a motivating factor, not as something that I guilt
myself about – being flexible about achieving them is important.
None of the places in John Bunyon’s Pilgrim’s Progress quite fit the bill
for where I am currently as far as my novel goes. Fortunately, and as long
as I can keep writing, I’ve avoided the Slough of Despond and writing
the novel was more like an exhilarating mountain climb than Hill Difficulty. I seriously want to
avoid the Valley of Humiliation and Castle Doubting and I have to admit, I
would probably say that my goal is to finish editing and spend a little time on
Plain Ease.
I regret that I'm running out of doodles and drawings to put up and not finding the time to do more so I might start recycling soon. And my time on social media at the moment is limited (miss you all on Google+) but the reason I'm blogging is because of my writing...so I must continue to edit - and write!
Today’s
Haiku
penguin business men
huddle with heads together –
eat hot paninis
Useful Links
Something to be aware of:
This is a helpful post for those who have a book ready to go:
Reading Recommendations:
http://amzn.to/18SbSaG Gold Dragon Haiku - my first attempt at publishing poetry!
Join me on Twitter at: teagankearney@modhaiku
To all story lovers out there, good reading, and to
those of you who write, good writing.
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