How To Use Subtext To Keep Readers Intrigued
When you’re flirting with someone, you can be talking about anything as mundane as pop songs or the latest gossip, yet you both know what’s going on. That’s because you can read into the subtext of the situation. In fact, it’s that hidden context that makes that particularly activity so much fun.
Subtext, that which you say between the lines, not only works for flirting and other indirect types of communication. It’s also the kind of non-verbal interaction with the reader that adds intrigue to your writing, the same way that a creative writing software brings polish to your words.
In fiction, actually, most of the unforgettable characters you will come across often don’t understand themselves. Instead of being clear and self-aware, they’re indirect – hinting at what they mean and letting the reader guess, rather than saying it out directly.
Good dialogue often relies heavily on subtext. If the meaning of what the characters say are too obvious, it can sound painfully bad and unnatural. Rather than be annoyed by it, conversations with plenty of hidden suggestions end up intriguing us, prodding to try and find out more.
If you’re having a hard time putting your finger on what subtext is, think of it as subtle communication. When I’m annoyed at you, for instance, I can talk about how irritating my dog is, yet form my statements such that they’re all referring indirectly to you. Good subtext in writing is even more subtle than that, but accomplishes similar results.