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Feb 21

When writing, I don't plot out each major, minor, or underlying theme and plot that takes place. I just...write. I mean, I know the main theme and idea I'm trying to convey, who the characters are, their personalities, etc. But outside of that, I'm just as surprised as everyone else when connections are made that I didn't notice before.

For example, in Anywhere, one of the main characters, Gen Parker, is in college to become a civil engineer so he can help build bridges later on. Throughout the story, you can see and get the sense of bridges being built all over the place.

Mika going from severe abuse to love and family.
Gen going from solitude and isolation to a solid relationship with Mika and his friends.
The connection between Mika's late father and his abusive stepfather.

To name a few, of course...

The subtext in I'll Destroy Hell for You came surprisingly in the title itself. Yes, Hawk will literally destroy an entire Realm to keep his soulmate safe, but it became more apparent later on, that it also references the Hell within themselves.

Hawk facing his past and the demon within him.
Hero's past relationship that sent him spiraling into depression.
Persephone's own ego and narcissism.
The deep trauma Hero experiences later on that both men have to confront.

When I sat down to write these two novels (and the subsequent 3 books that have been added to I'll Destroy Hell for You to create a series), I just wanted to tell a story that I would enjoy, if only on a surface level. What I got was something so much more real and deep than I expected.

My question for you is, what hidden subtext does your story have that you either did, or even better did not, intend to have? Please share!!

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My story originally had no theme. It was just an exciting beat-em-up superhero sort of adventure, and as a kid, that spoke to me! But as I grew older and experienced more of the harsh world, the story changed into a significantly darker one, and with it? An unexpected underlying theme

Now the story has a sort of "Finding hope where there is none" undertone, whereas before it had absolutely nothing to say

See, as of now, every character is meant to exemplify some sort of human emotion or aspect that I think the world needs more of, such as compassion, hope, or defiance, but that wasn't always the case

So I suppose the subtext would be "Even the dimmest light can shine back against the darkness; all it takes is someone willing to carry the flame and make it brighter"

(Insert shameless plug here3)

The hidden subtext to my story "Damsel in the Red Dress" is mentioned a couple times in her referring to Kattar as a prince charming, but it's sort of a rags-to-riches princes narrative with a princess, prince charming and evil queen. But who plays each role isn't clear in the beginning, and I didn't even realize this detail myself at first.

The title derives from a painting, but the more you look at it the more fairytale-ish characters, if not themes of the fairy tale itself, it includes. It was unintentional at first, but once i noticed it, I wove the idea throughout it a bit more.

I like that! I just read your comic and even in two episodes, you can feel oppressiveness of the world around Poppy and how she doesn't quite seem to fit in, perfectly illustrated with her wearing a red jacket among the rest in uniform. I hope she is the one representing defiance. Plus, she zones out and can't manage her time...something so many of us can relate to. :rofl:

Goes without saying, I totally subbed! LOL

I have liked the idea that Kattar wants Alicia to succeed, but at the same time, either intentionally or not, makes her feel guilty about it. Although, it could very well be due to Alicia's constant guilt over the accident that may be coloring her perception of Kattar and the world around her. They want to save each other but aren't exactly sure how without somehow making themselves feel guilty. In a way, it's like the tropes flow in and through each character at different times. I like Kattar, and then I don't. I feel bad for Alicia, and then I want to shake her. Mrs. Moon seems well-meaning, but is she really?

Such a great story, so well written. Love it! :heart_03:

I love hidden subtext.

Main antagonist name is "Akala Maya" (perception illusion).
Mahal kita (Tagalog for "I love you")

"I love my perception illusion". (In context, this guy is a captured school shooter. The illusion / matrix / "veil of Maya" / "the world" has deceived him to commit that sin. )

And there will be more subtext in future installments.

oh thank you lol, i didn't know you'd read it.

And yes, to a certain extent both of them have "prince charming complexes" though she accused him of one. He wants to save everyone he loves from physical suffering while for her it's emotional suffering.

And Kattar's guilt tripping, not as much about her success as it is about having no time, is not entirely just her perception. he's used to having his own way.

Wow those are amazing subtext examples in your books @CEWashburn!

I actually don't have anything novel-wide like you do. But I do have it in some chapters. For example, the starting verse of both my prelude and interlude have similar sentences but both are different contexts, they a parllel to two different worlds.

Prelude 1st paragraph
The street outside Duskwatch Headquarters was teeming with rioters. It was getting dark, and the people of Central Asenya were worried that the trial would go on late into the night. It was already beginning to snow, and forecasts had warned them about a blizzard. The Council had been shrewd in delaying the event, knowing that with the thick crimson fog descending on most nights from Hell’s Teeth mountains, the rioters would be forced to give up and go home, or die. They were also shrewd enough to change the usual venue for such trials, which was Klentarg Keep. They did not want the riff-raff of Asenyans pervading the shiny grounds and defiling the monuments at the historical site.

Interlude 1st paragraph
The bypath that ran through the nomadic settlement was teeming with tribespeople. It was getting dark, and they were worried that the hunt would go on late into the night. It was already beginning to snow, and the portents had warned them about a blizzard. The khan had been clever in delaying the hunt, knowing that with the thick crimson fog descending on most nights from Hell’s Teeth mountains, the animals would be forced to give up and head east towards their settlement, or die. They were perceptive of the route that their quarry would take to escape and had carefully laid traps on the path, and barricaded themselves within their encampment. They did not want the stampede passing through the sacred grounds and defiling their totems.

Thank you for your kind words! I don't wanna spoil too much, but I think I can safely say without spoilers that Poppy is indeed the defiance aspect <u<

Other people subtext: some cool and deep shit
Mine: They are all cannibals, directly or indirectly, literally or figuratively. However, if we take into account "you are what you eat," are they who they are or the dead they've consumed?

I think you literally just blew my mind with that one...has anyone ever truly considered that proverb when it comes to cannibals or zombies? I mean...:blank:

Mine has hidden subtext... for other series, or even inside its own. I'll limit it to not spoil future updates, or the other series which has not released yet.

I am being careful to not spoil the hidden one I intended but I guess those which are not intended in the end became subtext that is significant as well.

For ones I don't intended, for example, is Ilze and Benette not calling Cenric's name. It is not intended, yet actually make sense in the future plot. Also Ilze's behavior to Cenric, kinda harsh. Poor him :joy: it is not intended but when I wonder again, I might be doing the same if I were her.

The rest is seen from the flow: every decision made for the story progress is a subtext to the whole plot. Who is close with who, who trusts who, who working with who.

For anyone interested:

This makes my brain happy in all the ways. His name is essentially the main plot point. I. Effing. LOVE IT!

Subbed!!!!

The best kind of subtext is the kind you never intended. It makes the story so much more interesting and fun and you discover more about the characters and the story itself as you go, or even long after it's done! Even subtext that's intended can be super fun to find. Like you said, Ilze not calling Cenric by name and how she interacts with him. It may seem like a little thing now, but it may have a huge meaning behind it we won't learn until later. When we do, it's gonna blow our minds!

Absolutely love your story and I can't wait to read more!!

@Glofernwolfe
I read the excerpts twice to see exactly what you were referencing and yes...I can totally see what you are doing with the story in just those two paragraphs alone. It's not just two separate worlds experiencing the same sort of crises, but a glimpse into two separate cultures themselves in how they are relating to the situations they are in.

Clever...veeerry clever. :hohoho:

This is in my list waiting to be read...I must not delay further!!

Yes, wait for it. I prepared some twists there :smiling_imp: They are not calling him by name is just because I can't write the good moment Cenric tell them lol. In the end, it serves as subtext and I just realize when I write the chapter after that. I agree with you --it is mindblowing even to me when I realize this one! In the end, when refining the writing, I have to make sure none of them calls Cenric by name. So is this one counts as intended or not, I am not sure lol

Thank you! Without telling too much about my own series, the inspiration is the spiritual aspects of ritual cannibalism practised by people. Also undeads (including zombies) are fascinating (and I have no fear of them because I have no brain).

My story does have a little bit of a hidden subtexts but I'll only note the obvious theme here. Childhood, I wanted the people who read my story to see a character going through that phase in life and hope it would bring up a conversation to the reader. I feel it would give the reader something to think about even well after the completion of the story. That is the theme of my story. It's not something new but it is at least something that I feel passionate about.

I don't have any hidden subtext for now as I'm still figuring out my story along the way which is fun, but at first the hidden subtext became a life lesson about trying to be perfect in society, but I changed it slightly to make it into a longer story instead of a short story. It might come out with the same life lesson.

@ShidoDraws

Sometimes your personal take on a popular theme is what makes that theme feel new. Anywhere deals with childhood trauma, abuse, addiction, loss, and mental health, all the things that soooo many people are afraid to talk about anymore. When you create a story that centers around difficult topics and do it in a way that connects on a level the reader doesn't expect, it resonates harder and yes, as you say, gives them something to think about and starts a conversation that was meant to be had.