.png)
Subtext may reveal a lot more than you think.
When we have discussions in our daily lives, there is a lot of subtext involved. Things like expressions, body language, a missing response, or changing the subject. All these can be blatant or subtle and can depend on the relationship between us and who we are talking to. The same goes for your characters.
Consider what you do when you don’t believe what someone is telling you or have heard it all before. Do you roll your eyes? Look away? Cross your arms? (Watch using the rolling eyes action too often. Since we roll our eyes often, readers will probably see the eye roll when other actions or their response dialogue show their annoyance.)
When talking to others, observe what they do when you’re speaking. What are their physical reactions or facial expressions telling you about how they feel?
Using these clues to show how a character relates to another, without stating it, creates subtext.
Also, keep in mind how we act and speak differently when we are with a friend than we do when with an authority figure or relative.
You’re more relaxed and open with a friend; your body language is lax, and your sentences clipped. But with an authority figure, you may speak more formally, stand more erect, and use less gestures. With a relative, you might clean up your language a bit. (If you're anything like me, that is.)
Creating subtext is art. You weave or paint an entirely different picture with subtext.
But how?
Nonverbal Cues
Ambiguity and Subtlety
Relationship and Power Dynamics
Nonverbal Cues
Consider the character’s body language, facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice.
These elements can contradict or emphasize the dialogue and add layers of meaning. How do your characters react or behave while speaking? Knowing your characters well will help you provide the reader with insights into their true thoughts and emotions.
Example:
“How was your day?” Ann asked.
Her husband didn’t bother looking at her. He placed his coat on the rack, heeled off his shoes, and laid them next to the door. Ann huffed and walked back to the kitchen.
Both their responses tell us a lot about their relationship. It’s strained for sure. She seems to be trying to make amends, and her husband is having none of it. But it could be that this greeting is asked every day or that he doesn’t want to talk about his work or that he doesn’t want to talk to her at all.
But it isn’t necessary to state he wasn’t paying attention. It shows through his actions.
Ambiguity and Subtlety
Subtext thrives on ambiguity and the unsaid.
Rather than stating everything explicitly, allow your characters to communicate through nuances, implications, and hidden meanings. Leave room for readers to interpret and engage with the underlying messages and emotions conveyed through the dialogue. These things make the reader an active participant in the story.
Example: Ann and her husband again.
Ann peeked at the browning roast and vegetables in the crock pot.
“Did you call the plumber today?” her husband asked.
She stabbed a fork into a potato boiling in a pot. “You’ll have a warm shower by tomorrow evening,” she said and turned to him.
“Did you make rolls for dinner? You know how I love your buns.” He winked.
A shudder ran through her, and she looked away. She lifted the pot and strained the potatoes. “No buns tonight.”
Obviously, Ann is fed up with her husband for some reason. Her husband, on the other hand, is oblivious to her aloofness and attitude and is more concerned with what she did and will do for him.
She asks a question which he ignores. His question is based on something that she should have done that would make his life easier. He doesn’t thank her but changes the subject to another thing she could have done for him and indicates what she can do for him later. She doesn’t exactly respond to his suggestion, but what she says can be taken both ways.
The exchange uses subtlety and leaves things unsaid.
Complex Relationships and Power Dynamics
Subtext can flourish in relationships that possess intricate power dynamics, hidden agendas, or unspoken desires. Explore the dynamics between your characters, their history, and their motivations. Consider how their history and hidden motives influence their conversations and create tensions beneath the surface.
Example: Ann at work.
Ann walked into her supervisor’s office with her head held high. “Sir, I was wondering about today’s shipment of oranges. They are from a different vendor. Did you approve the change, or should I send them back?”
“How do they look?” her boss said, looking up from his computer.
She took a few steps toward him, leaned over his desk, and smiled. “Better than the usual company.”
Her interaction with her boss is completely different than the one with her husband.
She isn’t cold and aloof, like we saw a minute ago. She goes from businesslike when she enters, where others might see her, to more relaxed and flirtatious when she approaches her boss. We know the ‘usual company’ might mean her husband, even though her boss may not.
Metaphor and symbolism
Metaphorical and symbolic language can be powerful tools for creating subtext in dialogue. Characters may use metaphors, analogies, or symbolic references to convey their thoughts indirectly. These devices can deepen the meaning of the dialogue, providing additional layers of interpretation for the readers.
Example: Ann with a friend.
Tasha clasped Ann’s hand. “Allen is steel. Leave him.”
A tear rolled down Ann’s cheek. “He used to be the light of my life. Used to care about me. Then we lost the … Everything changed.”
Tasha understands Ann’s situation and is offering her support, comfort, and advice. Ann has no trouble expressing her sorrow with her failed marriage and her loss. She is neither the annoyed woman she is with her husband, nor the carefree person she acted like with her boss. She is equal to her friend and obviously tells her everything.
See how much subtext can be used in a simple two-line conversation?
Subtext can be a powerful technique for exploring the themes and messages of your novel. Use it to delve into complex topics and social issues. You can leverage subtext to explore these themes and messages.
The unspoken thoughts and underlying messages in your characters’ dialogue can provoke reflections and discussions long after readers have finished your book.
Remember, creating subtext in dialogue requires finesse and subtlety. Balancing what is said with what is left unsaid can elevate the depth and complexity of your novel. Using nonverbal cues and relationship dynamics adds to the richness of your story and your reader’s experience.
And practice observing human interactions, master the art of implication, and refine your ability to craft meaningful and layered dialogue that keeps readers intrigued and invites them to delve beneath the surface.
Let your artistic side shine through subtext!
Have a manuscript ready for editing or are interested in my ghostwriting service? Contact me.
Not ready yet? Get writing and editing tips sent to you every month by signing up for my newsletter.
Happy writing and revising!
Kristin Noland – Speculative and Crime Fiction Editor and Ghostwriter
Related articles: