Writing Subtext in Dialogue

“It’s not what you say; it’s what you don’t say.”
Subtext involves the hidden feelings beneath spoken words-anger, love, mistrust-all the emotions characters don’t dare admit aloud. It can add sizzle to drab dialogue and make the speakers sound like real people. If you’ve ever been told your conversation scenes feel “too on the nose,” this video is for you.
You can read a text version of this video on Medium: / writing-subtext-in-dia...
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Title Music: “Clockwork” by Vindsvept - • Fantasy Music - Vindsv...
What Is Subtext? (0:00)
Body Language (1:05)
Secondary Emotion (3:51)
Sugarcoating (5:37)
Implied Accusation (7:51)
Passive Agressiveness (9:27)
Why We Use Subtext (11:55)
Writing Exercise (13:16)

[@QuotidianWriter]

Hi there, viewers! You can read an adapted text version of this video on Medium. medium.com/@quotidianwriter/writing-subtext-in-dialogue-448b1d3884f2

[@DavePuckett]

Thank you Diane for putting this on Medium in text. I do enjoy watching all your videos here but content "sticks" more in my brain by reading the written word. It's always been that way for me, even back in college I would listen to lectures, but if I wanted to remember them I needed to write notes as detailed as possible and go home to study the notes. I understand there are many people who learn better by lectures, or videos, and that's great, but I'm not one of them. Love all your writings; Write-On.

[@gigaman6]

"During a first draft, it's okay to have placeholders that state the character's direct meaning." THIS IS INVALUABLE ADVICE!!! Thank you! Will save enormous time on your writing process. It doesn't have to be perfect on the first pass. The sentiment is what's important.

[@KutWrite]

I use place holders in several ways... usually when there's a problem to work out or if I have to consider foreshadowing here or in a previous chapter for something to work.

[@DTHRocket]

I always use brackets and say [Insert compelling dialogue here that accomplishes A, B, and C]

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

For those pinnacle conversations, the ones that will obviously be difficult to write well... I'd recommend two types of "placeholders" in tandem... First, get "sticky tabs" or even make them from post-it notes, you can fold over the edges of your pages, color-coding the edges... IF working in a digital format, it's important to be able to hyperlink and highlight or "bookmark" pages for this... It can still be done well for future revision... but it's important to actually do this BEFORE you write the conversation... You only make it harder on yourself if you can't find them later to revise the work. Second... Write the thing out entirely "on the nose"... This is more than a placeholder. It serves that purpose, too... BUT say what you mean to say... Set it aside, and come back almost immediately to check in so you get it said in the exact spirit and to the degree you intended... absolutely everything should be "dead-on the nose" spoken... no hijinks and no subtlety. Once you've gotten everything down in black and white... You're sure you've said what you needed said straight... Now, you can either "crunch on it" if that's your thing... (I recommend at least another break)... OR you can stick it in the manuscript and sally forth to do your thing with the rest of the work, figure out what else might need added (yeah, take notes... a LOT) Let the story unfold further and THEN you can come back to revise at leisure... You'll probably end up revising a lot through the whole process... and you'll probably revise the whole work, short-story to full novel... whatever. So long as you can find the conversation in question, you can come right back to it, and figure out what should stay "dead on the nose" and what can be "swept under the rug" or flirted with and then dropped... or twisted in any number of other ways. As your Characters develop voice (and they will over time) you can come back again and again to add, splice, twist, or completely rewrite the thing... BUT you might consider keeping a copy of the original "dead on the nose" version in a separate file... just so you don't lose track of it... evolution can be a fickle and erasure-heavy bitch... meaning it's easier to lose your original intent than you might expect or think possible. ;o)

[@samcleaver3315]

I found this to be valuable advice as well. I am going through my story and taking out explanations of how people think or feel and trying to use the subtext techniques.

[@sunnylinton2054]

@@gnarthdarkanen7464 why don’t you get your on site. 🙄

[@alycreeper]

1. Body language 2. Secondary emotion 3. Sugarcoating 4. Implied accusation 5. Passive aggressiveness

[@LoudPaintings]

"Let tension arise from miscommunication." That's freaking brilliant!

[@dylanevartt3219]

Its good advice, but be careful with it. Its frustrating watching two main characters hate each other over a misunderstanding when it feels like plot conveniece is the only reason for the miscommunication.

[@LoudPaintings]

@@dylanevartt3219 That's a good point!

[@cowboyboots9]

@@dylanevartt3219 Ikr? I hate it when miscommunication is obviously only there cause the writer was out of ideas... or don't know when to stop adding tension.

[@2Worlds_and_InBetween]

it can be difficult to get points across, its always a good thing to ...ask/think am I looking at this from only my angle.? walk all them shoes, trainers, boots, dirty feet, trucks, rims...wings

[@JT-vw4ts]

Much ado about nothing’s whole premise.

[@manju3802]

My favorite cheeky example of subtext is this line from Ron Weasley: "Good for you. Just choose someone - better - next time." He cast Harry an oddly furtive look as he said it.

[@cheeseisjar3058]

Context? It’s been a while

[@payton_bagel8317]

@@cheeseisjar3058 Ginny had just told Ron she broke up with Michael Corner, and that was Ron’s response

[@carsanovadidrifto800]

Have your sins been forgiven today and forever? Think about this. The God of the Bible, the One True God made You and I to worship him, obey Him, and enjoy Him forever. But You and I break His laws daily. You, like me, are not good at all in the eyes of God. ‘There is no one good, no not even one. (Romans3:10) ‘For all have sinned and fall short of The Glory of God’ (Romans 3:23) You have always done wrong in the eyes of God, this is a problem because Psalm 5:5 reads: ‘...You [GOD] hate all who do wrong.’ ‘But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.’ Rom 5:5 The person who sins is the one who will die. Ezekiel 18:20 All these things and more are counted against us. God is the just judge of the world and one day He will settle the score for all the wrongs we've done. God is holy meaning He is righteous (morally perfect in thought, word, and deed) It also means He is set apart and infinitely higher than us. Being a Good and Just Judge, God will punish You for all Your sin or wrongdoing in the world. This means that if You sin ONCE, God will cast you in hell for eternity. Because He is good and He doesn't turn a blind eye to sin. So how can God forgive you and me of all our sins? But there is good news. 2000 years ago Jesus the Son of God came into this world and lived a perfect life ( He never sinned once) and He died on the cross taking the wrath that we deserve and paid the penalty for the sins we committed. The bible says that if you will repent (confess and forsake your sins) and trust in what Christ did on the cross OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR YOU-(He took the wrath of God against you for your evil deeds and thoughts). Then all your sins will be forgiven and when you die you will be in heaven with God and all who have believed in The Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the true Gospel of Jesus: Jesus died( Bore the punishment for your evil sins and heart, so that you can be forgiven. He took your special spot in Hell) and on the third day, He rose from the grave(So that you can have true life and His spot next to The Real God.). Verses: ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.’ Rom3:24; ‘Because I Live You also shall Live’ Jhn14:19 Get right with God today, don't wait. Once you die after that comes the judgment. It's the most important thing you can do. If you repent and trust in what Christ did on the cross for You then you will be born again. Right now you're dead in your sins and you can't see the beauty of Jesus Christ but after you trust in Christ all the things you hate about God like obeying him, serving Him, loving Him and others, reading the bible, praying, and going to church, you will love to do those things because God changes your heart. That's how you know you have been forgiven? That's how you know you have been born again and forgiven. Please think long about this, and most importantly please take at least 5 minutes a day to read the Bible. Start in 'Matthew'. An eternity in hell (darkness and a lake of fire the bible describes it, with weeping and gnashing of teeth) or an eternity out of that place and into the loving arms of God who is infinitely glorious, has infinite knowledge and has infinite power to do all that He pleases. You decide. [ *Truth is independent of human conviction, meaning that what you believe does not change the fact that Jesus is your only Hope* .] Have a great day!

[@aposterous4126]

@@carsanovadidrifto800 the fuck does that have to do with Harry Potter

[@ravenID429]

@@carsanovadidrifto800 Go away

[@shaysnow320]

This channel, dear lady, is one of the best around for its cause. Keep up the terrific work! ❤️

[@AbdurrahmanKhallouf]

it could be the actual best

[@carsanovadidrifto800]

Have your sins been forgiven today and forever? Think about this. The God of the Bible, the One True God made You and I to worship him, obey Him, and enjoy Him forever. But You and I break His laws daily. You, like me, are not good at all in the eyes of God. ‘There is no one good, no not even one. (Romans3:10) ‘For all have sinned and fall short of The Glory of God’ (Romans 3:23) You have always done wrong in the eyes of God, this is a problem because Psalm 5:5 reads: ‘...You [GOD] hate all who do wrong.’ ‘But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.’ Rom 5:5 The person who sins is the one who will die. Ezekiel 18:20 All these things and more are counted against us. God is the just judge of the world and one day He will settle the score for all the wrongs we've done. God is holy meaning He is righteous (morally perfect in thought, word, and deed) It also means He is set apart and infinitely higher than us. Being a Good and Just Judge, God will punish You for all Your sin or wrongdoing in the world. This means that if You sin ONCE, God will cast you in hell for eternity. Because He is good and He doesn't turn a blind eye to sin. So how can God forgive you and me of all our sins? But there is good news. 2000 years ago Jesus the Son of God came into this world and lived a perfect life ( He never sinned once) and He died on the cross taking the wrath that we deserve and paid the penalty for the sins we committed. The bible says that if you will repent (confess and forsake your sins) and trust in what Christ did on the cross OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR YOU-(He took the wrath of God against you for your evil deeds and thoughts). Then all your sins will be forgiven and when you die you will be in heaven with God and all who have believed in The Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the true Gospel of Jesus: Jesus died( Bore the punishment for your evil sins and heart, so that you can be forgiven. He took your special spot in Hell) and on the third day, He rose from the grave(So that you can have true life and His spot next to The Real God.). Verses: ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.’ Rom3:24; ‘Because I Live You also shall Live’ Jhn14:19 Get right with God today, don't wait. Once you die after that comes the judgment. It's the most important thing you can do. If you repent and trust in what Christ did on the cross for You then you will be born again. Right now you're dead in your sins and you can't see the beauty of Jesus Christ but after you trust in Christ all the things you hate about God like obeying him, serving Him, loving Him and others, reading the bible, praying, and going to church, you will love to do those things because God changes your heart. That's how you know you have been forgiven? That's how you know you have been born again and forgiven. Please think long about this, and most importantly please take at least 5 minutes a day to read the Bible. Start in 'Matthew'. An eternity in hell (darkness and a lake of fire the bible describes it, with weeping and gnashing of teeth) or an eternity out of that place and into the loving arms of God who is infinitely glorious, has infinite knowledge and has infinite power to do all that He pleases. You decide. [ *Truth is independent of human conviction, meaning that what you believe does not change the fact that Jesus is your only Hope* .] Have a great day!

[@TyrniSprocket]

I've only found your videos this week, but as I am currently working on my first novel I've found them utterly invaluable. Thank you very much for making these.

[@heal41hp]

Reading The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway years and years ago changed me. His minimalist style called to me as I think no writing ever has, and I've been steering toward that ice-berg ever since. I strive for elegance in my writing, for saying the most with the least. Having a deep understanding of the context of what I write, of the characters and the world and the situations, lends to being able to write less. Each word can carry more weight. Each punctuation mark and each paragraph break can speak volumes on their own--formatting can't even escape bearing value. The challenge of pursuing that ice-berg is one of the few things this depressed and anxious writer finds joy in. Love your videos, and I'm glad I get to revisit them now that I have wireless earbuds. :)

[@daredavid123]

Whatever you do, keep writing. Its exactly my fave subtext in a dialogue. lol

[@N317V]

Yeah, she's really saying: get off KZbin and back to work. :-D

[@robertrock2000]

Wow! As an aspiring voice actor, I clicked on this video because I was simply curious about what subtext is and how I can use it to improve my voice acting. Amd now all I can say is wow-- I'm truly humbled and inspired by your insight on this topic and the excellence of your presentation -- Thank you! I will be checking out your other videos

[@QuotidianWriter]

Thank you so much for your kind words, Robert! As an avid audiobook listener, I can definitely see how understanding subtext would be useful for voice acting. :)

[@HiImKangarou]

Honestly, as much as subtext can be fun, I hate plots that all stem from a miscommunication, so I actively avoid writing like that. Those plots always infuriate me to no end. Then again, I might be in the minority, as I'm not big on Hemingway, either.

[@QuotidianWriter]

I'm definitely with you when it comes to annoying conflicts that are only a result of miscommunication, like in romantic dramas. Hemingway is an acquired taste for sure. I think subtext is most effective when both parties understand there's an underlying conversation going on. Rhett, for example, knows that Scarlett is flirting. When someone is being sarcastic or passive aggressive, other people usually pick up on the tone. To me, subtext is more about showing how people skirt around the truth when strong feelings are involved.

[@shreyaskulkarni4319]

Same. No miscommunication plots for me. Maybe a scene or two but that's it.

[@viardent8823]

as someone with autism it's like subtext is not text. make it text or don't talk to me. so many relationships start on terrible foundations and later fail just because people can't introspect and say what they mean. makes me crazy.

[@carsanovadidrifto800]

Have your sins been forgiven today and forever? Think about this. The God of the Bible, the One True God made You and I to worship him, obey Him, and enjoy Him forever. But You and I break His laws daily. You, like me, are not good at all in the eyes of God. ‘There is no one good, no not even one. (Romans3:10) ‘For all have sinned and fall short of The Glory of God’ (Romans 3:23) You have always done wrong in the eyes of God, this is a problem because Psalm 5:5 reads: ‘...You [GOD] hate all who do wrong.’ ‘But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.’ Rom 5:5 The person who sins is the one who will die. Ezekiel 18:20 All these things and more are counted against us. God is the just judge of the world and one day He will settle the score for all the wrongs we've done. God is holy meaning He is righteous (morally perfect in thought, word, and deed) It also means He is set apart and infinitely higher than us. Being a Good and Just Judge, God will punish You for all Your sin or wrongdoing in the world. This means that if You sin ONCE, God will cast you in hell for eternity. Because He is good and He doesn't turn a blind eye to sin. So how can God forgive you and me of all our sins? But there is good news. 2000 years ago Jesus the Son of God came into this world and lived a perfect life ( He never sinned once) and He died on the cross taking the wrath that we deserve and paid the penalty for the sins we committed. The bible says that if you will repent (confess and forsake your sins) and trust in what Christ did on the cross OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR YOU-(He took the wrath of God against you for your evil deeds and thoughts). Then all your sins will be forgiven and when you die you will be in heaven with God and all who have believed in The Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the true Gospel of Jesus: Jesus died( Bore the punishment for your evil sins and heart, so that you can be forgiven. He took your special spot in Hell) and on the third day, He rose from the grave(So that you can have true life and His spot next to The Real God.). Verses: ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.’ Rom3:24; ‘Because I Live You also shall Live’ Jhn14:19 Get right with God today, don't wait. Once you die after that comes the judgment. It's the most important thing you can do. If you repent and trust in what Christ did on the cross for You then you will be born again. Right now you're dead in your sins and you can't see the beauty of Jesus Christ but after you trust in Christ all the things you hate about God like obeying him, serving Him, loving Him and others, reading the bible, praying, and going to church, you will love to do those things because God changes your heart. That's how you know you have been forgiven? That's how you know you have been born again and forgiven. Please think long about this, and most importantly please take at least 5 minutes a day to read the Bible. Start in 'Matthew'. An eternity in hell (darkness and a lake of fire the bible describes it, with weeping and gnashing of teeth) or an eternity out of that place and into the loving arms of God who is infinitely glorious, has infinite knowledge and has infinite power to do all that He pleases. You decide. [ *Truth is independent of human conviction, meaning that what you believe does not change the fact that Jesus is your only Hope* .] Have a great day!

[@Skyisgoingbacktopluto]

@@viardent8823 as an autistic writer, come some time in the nebulous future, I may have the story JUST for you. A present theme in my current novella is vulnerability. The only times I use subtext is when I want to show how unhealthy and stupid it is for people to dance around their heads for no other reason than to confuse each other and themselves.

[@MocaLykke]

One of my favorite example of subtext must be The Count of Monte-Cristo. Yes, the whole book! (...okay maybe not, but most of it. ^^) Since the main character is supposed to be dead and try to get revenge on those who ruined him, every interactions he has with them are full of many layers of subtext, I love it! Great video! Now I just want to go back to every dialogue I ever wrote and scrap half of it off to make it into subtext. Which is probably needed...

[@armellebiampamba4257]

Omg! Yes! I love that book! I'm thinking of writing a book review on it next school year.

[@carsanovadidrifto800]

Have your sins been forgiven today and forever? Think about this. The God of the Bible, the One True God made You and I to worship him, obey Him, and enjoy Him forever. But You and I break His laws daily. You, like me, are not good at all in the eyes of God. ‘There is no one good, no not even one. (Romans3:10) ‘For all have sinned and fall short of The Glory of God’ (Romans 3:23) You have always done wrong in the eyes of God, this is a problem because Psalm 5:5 reads: ‘...You [GOD] hate all who do wrong.’ ‘But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.’ Rom 5:5 The person who sins is the one who will die. Ezekiel 18:20 All these things and more are counted against us. God is the just judge of the world and one day He will settle the score for all the wrongs we've done. God is holy meaning He is righteous (morally perfect in thought, word, and deed) It also means He is set apart and infinitely higher than us. Being a Good and Just Judge, God will punish You for all Your sin or wrongdoing in the world. This means that if You sin ONCE, God will cast you in hell for eternity. Because He is good and He doesn't turn a blind eye to sin. So how can God forgive you and me of all our sins? But there is good news. 2000 years ago Jesus the Son of God came into this world and lived a perfect life ( He never sinned once) and He died on the cross taking the wrath that we deserve and paid the penalty for the sins we committed. The bible says that if you will repent (confess and forsake your sins) and trust in what Christ did on the cross OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR YOU-(He took the wrath of God against you for your evil deeds and thoughts). Then all your sins will be forgiven and when you die you will be in heaven with God and all who have believed in The Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the true Gospel of Jesus: Jesus died( Bore the punishment for your evil sins and heart, so that you can be forgiven. He took your special spot in Hell) and on the third day, He rose from the grave(So that you can have true life and His spot next to The Real God.). Verses: ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.’ Rom3:24; ‘Because I Live You also shall Live’ Jhn14:19 Get right with God today, don't wait. Once you die after that comes the judgment. It's the most important thing you can do. If you repent and trust in what Christ did on the cross for You then you will be born again. Right now you're dead in your sins and you can't see the beauty of Jesus Christ but after you trust in Christ all the things you hate about God like obeying him, serving Him, loving Him and others, reading the bible, praying, and going to church, you will love to do those things because God changes your heart. That's how you know you have been forgiven? That's how you know you have been born again and forgiven. Please think long about this, and most importantly please take at least 5 minutes a day to read the Bible. Start in 'Matthew'. An eternity in hell (darkness and a lake of fire the bible describes it, with weeping and gnashing of teeth) or an eternity out of that place and into the loving arms of God who is infinitely glorious, has infinite knowledge and has infinite power to do all that He pleases. You decide. [ *Truth is independent of human conviction, meaning that what you believe does not change the fact that Jesus is your only Hope* .] Have a great day!

[@amyr9909]

@@carsanovadidrifto800 Or you could not shove your personal beliefs down everyone's throats in a yt comment section for writing dialogue. 🤦‍♀

[@centuryfiles9558]

This is one of the best subtext videos I’ve seen so far.

[@axlecreates8401]

A very important aspect most budding writers neglect. Thank you for making this. Helped me a lot.

[@OlgaKuznetsova]

Oh my goodness, this was such a good video! It got me so excited to write!! Adding subtext is like creating a scavenger hunt for someone to solve, I'm so stoked!

[@quillakiller]

2 characters: A teen and her dog Argument: whether or not to go Literal feelings: The teen wants . . . The dog wants . . . Imply: Lisa has tried everything. Yet insists that Tico come with her. "Here boy, here boy!" Her voice can't get any higher, can't be any sillier. Still, Tico lays his 50 pounds of fur and dilapidated muscle on his favorite side of the couch, warming it with his unmoving, unflinching belly full of bumps. Lisa, a little more exasperated, jumps up and down like she used to when they were ten years younger, waving her hands over her head. This only tires the dog, as he groans, reminded of something. Then, painfully, the whites of his eyes, cloudy and opaque, follow Lisa as she steps up to him. "Look what I have, Tico, your favorite toy . . ." This might have worked last week, but no way she would get him this time, say those cloudy eyes, which in their thickness start to tear. True, he is old and sick, but not dumb. The toy jingles, glimmers, stops. Lisa doesn't know what to do. The first time the dog simply heaved up to follow her to the door when she had brought out the walking leash. The second week that didn't work, until she brought out the toy with peanut butter inside. Now, this week no toy, no leash, no nothing can make him go back to that place full of artificial daylight and needles. No way. There are tears in the girl's eyes now, glossy and translucent, so full of life, blossoming. "He won't be a pup forever," she remembers hearing. She never thought it would end like this.

[@miketacos9034]

Dang that's really good. Got me tearing up with just a few paragraphs.

[@vaughnjohnson8767]

@@miketacos9034 awesome

[@thefourthqueen]

Gosh- this gives me the goosebumps...

[@angl3_275]

Amazing work, you certainly have skill!

[@quillakiller]

Mike Tacos thank you, this means a lot

[@crystalnadeau254]

You deserve so many more subscribers. I will occasionally browse other channels for content as I feel limiting myself to one source is counterproductive to learning. However, I can't seem to stay away from your channel for long. You help me when I'm ready to take notes, drive a long distance in my car, or clean my house. Thank you for the effort and passion you put into this work.

[@estherstark5088]

I have watched hundreds of memoir writing KZbin videos. I’ve read numerous how-to writing books. This ranks among the top in show don’t tell information. I will revisit this video over and over as I write. Thank you for the time you spent providing this priceless educational video to us.

[@user-jp7zq9ku8m]

First of all, sorry for the typos i'm not an english speaker I find your vids inmensely helpful, in a way anyone helped my writing before, if i don't feel like writing just a video of yours it's the cure. You are gifting me with my own sucess in finishing my novel.

[@alexandrawilliams896]

I can't tell if I'm more addicted to what you say or how you say it. But I love these videos either way. You have no idea how much you're sharpening my writing techniques!

[@soulsamurai6914]

The best Subtext is two characters bonding as friends or lovers, and one goes "F*ck you" in a playful manner when deep within, its more like an "yeah yeah I love you"

[@seanvan-male2026]

Streetcar named desire handles subtext beautifully

[@therokku7393]

Your voice is so soothing and your advice are so honest, never clickbait, thank you a lot

[@stickman3208]

What I'm doing for my first draft is writing basic dialogue, with no subtext. Then, I plan to add the subtext and make it more subtle

[@LeonardErickson]

I just had the fortune of just discovering your channel and I'm glad I did. Your videos are among the very best. You can tell how much hard work goes into each video. Thank you.

[@QuotidianWriter]

Thank you so much for your kind words, Len! Keep writing. :)

[@lunarshadow5584]

Passive aggression isn't the easiest thing for someone with autism to pick up on, I know because I have aspergers. It makes subtext a difficult thing to keep in mind as we are often the most forward kind of people. But it isn't impossible, especially when we have editors to help. Which is why I send videos like this to family, friends, to those who I ask to read for any problems. Be it the subtext or overexplaining the scenes that start making everything boring.

[@heartsfirstaidkit]

I’m autistic too and I know that feel

[@g_s_subhash]

Was waiting for this one... As soon as I saw the notification, I started searching for my earphones. Thank you so much.... A very useful information... Make more videos.

[@GraysonOhnstad]

I only recently found your channel, but it's been a gold mine. You've got a nice way of analyzing things without being too proscriptive.

[@cjpreach]

Diane Callahan -- Your video scripts are beautifully written!

[@gsmiley2707]

...and spoken!

[@jamesrichey]

Thank you. This helps while I work on my stories.

[@ti2218]

This is a great video in so many different ways. Non-stop useful information from start to finish, you displayed frequent bullet points to easily take notes from, you give plenty of examples of subtext done right, the visuals are appealing and easy to follow which helps keep the attention and focus of an audience, and you even provided a text-version for people who prefer to read and follow at their own pace, AND you also taught me something pretty obvious that I have been trying to learn for the past five years as a writer. So thank you, this video is amazing. You're amazing. I subscribed.

[@bilalsarkac]

The language you use to convey all these information; I mean your wording, your manner is really delicious. Thanx.

[@tashah1239]

Your exercise was fun and very helpful. I don't usually do much subtext in my writing, but for my WIP, I'm going to add some in editing.

[@lw2165]

Two examples of subtext that I love are from Master and Commander: Far Side of the World. "There's three sugars in there" and "Steven, the bird is flightless. It's not going anywhere."

[@prove_it000]

The best video I have seen on Subtext in Novels! Thanks a big fat ton, you have really provided excellent content!

[@hellopumpkin86]

I love your videos so much. They are of such high quality. Thank you for taking the time to make them for us.

[@galaxylucia1898]

I am binging all of your videos and I must say I love this channel! Such great content!

[@igoldenknight2169]

I learned so much about dialogue from this single video. So understandable I’m excited to write! Wow thank you Quotidian Writer!

[@iaratoledo5583]

I need to tell you, I love your videos! Thanks for share your thougths!

[@theindiegospel8063]

In the space of a day just a handful of your videos have directed me to a place I can't wait to be at! Thank you!

[@natashameyer4812]

Really been enjoying your videos! It's been super helpful and such an eye opener!

[@Laniakea339]

These videos are amazing! Thank you!

[@gRosh08]

I was in Short Stories Script Class and what I was told is: Subtext is all the Bull$hit language and body gestures a character is playing rather than just telling exactly what that character wants. From subtle hints to an extreme guessing game methodology. Never On the Nose. Thanks for sharing.

[@m.r.471]

“Let tension rise from miscommunication” holy hell that’s a perfect explanation!

[@alephgates7519]

Thank you for the examples.. I have seen some rehashed blog posts and copy-pasters, so this was helpful.

[@grammardogtaro]

Pure gold.

[@user-eh5pf5gj8r]

I'm not even a writer and not going to be but binge wanting your videos. These are very educational and motivate me to read books. Thank you!

[@maintaintogrow]

Watching this helped me realize I have a long way to go. I'll keep writing though

[@SysterYster]

I like your videos. You give great insight and teach in a different way from the others I've been watching. :)

[@belphiebelphie5837]

omg thank you for this I finally understand the subtext!!! I now know how to report this 😸

[@aurionjohnson6872]

Spectacular video. Thorough and full of accessible, original examples- so useful. (And thank you for avoiding Casablanca!)

[@KutWrite]

Great info and so well produced! I especially love your enunciation. Subbed.

[@MyU2beCall]

Thx ! Yet again, another great VID !

[@ZainDever]

I'm subscribing to you. I'm actually a freelance editor and most of what I know are mostly grammars and stuff but this... I've learned a lot to grow as a developmental editor.

[@RachelParker-1977]

Your videos are brilliant! Thank you.

[@theTeslaFalcon]

An ex used to fish for a compliment by badmouthing herself. Instead of the typical, "No, you're not", I agreed w her. "Ok, so now that you accept this truth about yourself, what will you do about it?" "Are you calling me x?!" "No, you called yourself that. I simply agree w you." This ALWAYS resulted in her having a huge blow up since my insistance that she "speak the truth" & "accept yourself for who you are" was too much for her. My wife of 26 years doesn't fish. "I feel so ugly right now. Tell me I look pretty." "No." "Why not?" "Because you're beautiful." Hug. "Thank you."

[@bencys8026]

I am so glad that I found this channel . Thanks a lot mam !!!

[@jocelynemrich5731]

My favorite example of subtext is from Marley and Me. The narrator is trying to train his problematic dog, Marley, and attends a dog obedience class. Marley publicly humiliates both the narrator and the instructor in front of the class. At the end, the instructor tells him that his dog is distracting, uncontrollable, and maybe he should come back in a few months when Marley had matured a little more. The narrator just stood there saying, “So you’re kicking us out.” Finally she just said, “Yes, I’m kicking you out” and sent him off.

[@adrianmartin7742]

Thank you for this Channel. You just gave me an idea on how to finish a scene I'm working on

[@faithangeliquepradi3314]

Thank you! You help me a lot☺️

[@retroforager]

you're making great videos diane! keep it up.

[@mahaganpatiproductionsgoa.2142]

Brilliant. Thanks

[@werepcrypto4life419]

Masterful.

[@iisaka_station]

Great video, thanks

[@diego2112gaming]

Favorite subtext, "Know what I Mean? Know what I mean? Nudge Nudge nudge nudge know what I mean? Say no more know what I mean?"

[@lemalashfoundry1800]

You are the single most helpful resource I have found in almost 10 years of writing (beside studying under the late Robert Bausch). Maybe it's the format or the clarity of your videos, I don't know, but it's really phenomenal advice and I'm absorbing it so well.

[@1412yuuuuu]

thank you for this video though i’m quite late, straight to the point and with examples too!

[@davidmeneses712]

In the mood for love

[@AlyonaKrylova]

Thank you)

[@BrandoDennis]

ANOTHER BANGER!

[@fiddlersontheramp5417]

You have such a beautiful thoughtful voice.

[@TheConfusername]

Sometimes I listen to, rather than watch, these videos. I'm glad I watched this one -- the dumpster fire joke made me laugh out loud!

[@ruthmelicharles5062]

Thank you for sharing this very informative video.

[@marlynhebert9728]

i have a scene where a lady cop is talking to a gangster who was injured saving her daughter and while treating his wound and she notices several scars on his back. She says, " How did you get those scars." He said," They were my mother's day present.''

[@roddyoneill336]

You deserve more views and subscribers!

[@stevenbosch429]

Willy has asked favors for years of buyers and their secretaries. This is an excellent example of Willy reaching for dignity and it’s out of his grasp and has been for years.

[@BenAC75]

This is going to be difficult for me.

[@danferraro3598]

Great content...just subbed!

[@shermeenulfat6679]

I'm glad I found this channel...

[@ughitstravis9243]

I think the iceberg thing is really good for dramas and heavy ideas. I like to write sci-fi so subtext only ever happens when emotions gets involved. And it's sci-fi, so you know, not a lot! :p

[@QuotidianWriter]

That's a great point about emotions being the basis for subtext, thus making it more useful in dramas. However, I'm reading "Dune" right now, and to my surprise, there's been quite a bit of indirect dialogue because the characters are either lying about something or accusing someone else of lying.

[@ughitstravis9243]

Diane Callahan I need to give that a read I've only heard amazing things about it and maybe I'll get some good ideas too

[@iaratoledo5583]

Please make more videos!

[@ginnymonroe4918]

Wow, a truly excellent A-Z on subtext for any writer or student, in a rich in context presentation. As requested: the subtext in "La Reine Margot", 1994. Queen Margot's wedding dress is covered in blood = the 6,000 murders, that historically happened on her wedding night. Thanks, Ginny Monroe #Masterplayer

[@beth7935]

I love that movie! & weirdly, I was thinking of it just yesterday :D

[@hazelcat516]

My exercise : A rough, seemingly overused black backpack rustled behind Ralf, the man in his 20s spent another night running through the city only to reach that one dim lighted, wet alley, turned even wetter since the heavy rain refused to stop tonight. Familiar noises of sirens howled, violating Ralf's ears along with the rain hitting ground and building. No matter how experienced he was at it, those dogs of government kept seeking him out. And no matter how familiar he was by the situation, the painful pounding sensation in his chest remained there. "Here, here, get your goods" he whispered, not even completely stepping into the alley as he swung the bag and forced open the zipper. "Take it easy, bro. You might scratch my gem" said Arlo with a chuckle. The cold sensation of the metallic box lingered on Ralf's palm as the box now sat on Arlo's. With a glint in his eyes, Arlo spoke "Very well, now where's my money?" Ralf's death eyes narrowed "what money?" "Don't tell me your boss hasn't informed you, dude. I sent more money than I should by accident, he said he'd send back the money through the deliveryman" Arlo replied, his voice smooth. Neither Ralf's pockets nor bags held cash, if only he had time to explain how obvious his scam was. However, dealing with scheming scum was unrelated to his delivery job. "Classic, I ain't falling for that" Ralf scoffed, his leg took a wide step away only to be stopped by the tight grip on his opened backpack. "Not so fast" Arlo murmured. Something weighted the backpack as he realized the metallic box had entered back. He turned. "What the hell!?" Ralf protested "You're hurrying, a police, right?" Arlo said with a raised eyebrow. "No, no, no police. Take back your thing!" Ralf reached the box, desperate to get it back to Arlo's hand. Loud sirens struck both men's ears, they could tell it wasn't so far away...

[@LordSkella]

I don’t like subtext. In my everyday life I can’t pick up on it and prefer people speak to me plain; but this has helped me understand how to give new dimensions to my characters. Great stuff like a college course on your phone.

[@MistaSmith]

I thought I wouldn‘t know how to do this. And while it might be true on a conscious level, according to the women around me apparently I‘m doing it all the time, especially when I just talk from my intuition. I just have to accept that I mean what I say. ✅

[@Metalhammer1993]

The white elephants of Hemmingway are really a marvel. I hated that iread them in german class. When i had little appreciation (the translation was very spot on btw) of whatever i read there .probably mostly due to being forced to read it. I mean short stories beat poetry everyday of the week but if you got to read it, it´s just not fun. And tbh I kind of had teachers where analysis meant "you get my result or the wrong result." and I usually had to look for subtext in the smallest most random details like the color of curtains. Every word HAD to have a second meaning. That made Hemingway a bit less frustrating as you usually were right. Hemingway didn´t understand that some people are honest and say what they mean. And if he did, that is lost in his works. But i assume Hemingway himself understood that better than my German teachers. (it´s pretty much literature class), I´d dare you to take a sentence at face value in a German exam. Great way to get a 6. (equivalent of an F.) If a character wishes another a "good morning" He obviously is in most excellent mood. And why did the author choose morning as the time of the day? which themes is he setting up? I suck at subtext, so I am not sure whether my frustration just thinking back is visible. And nowadays I dislike it for a different reason. Not the piece in itself, but the way the characters act. Back then I would have hated it even more but not bothered to look deep enough to even think about the characters just not addressing the problems. I have consciously used subtext twice. And both times I did it to be deliberately nasty. There might be some unintentional subtext here and there. (if sarcasm and euphemisms count.) but really deliberately in real life I did it twice. One time to rile up my R.E. teacher. The bishop would come to mass. Everyone wears a cross. I don´t wear a cross. I rejected it as a symbol back them. Quote "I´m not wearing an electric chair around my neck" and when everyone looked at me for that crass phrase "and the electric chair is much more humane than the cross" before going into a very detailed explanation about how someone died on the cross and that Jesus might have been in luck, as he was not tied but nailed the the cross, so he might have literally died from the pain. There was a threat I would recieve a failed mark like not attending for the mass (yes mass was part of the R.E. grade). I mean it was obvious why we should all wear crosses when the bishop arrived. We were the top class of the school. It was just a fact we were better than the rest .We even could do a better degree (the fuck up that is the german school system. That´s not arrogance that´s fact. the 20 or so best of year nine get a chance for a better degree in year ten on the lowest schoolform. So said class the so called "10B" is always the pride and joy of those schools) so we had to be "presentable" which includes the cross. So I appeared in my best gear. I had outgrown my suit but still I would not have been unwelcome on a wedding. Even tried to get my wild hair under control. Only thing missing was the cross. She knew i purposefully fucked up her charade because overdressed as i was the bishop would see me, would see no cross on my neck and definitely understand that there is an oddball definitely deliberately sabotaging the show. You don´t make bishop if you´re a dummy. And that bishop was well known for his sense of humor. We had subtext as a topic in German class. As much as I deserved the 6 (F) for R.E. I believe I would´ve deserved extra credit for german. I definitely understood subtext and utilized it quite effectively. I mean just the fact that I got up literally an hour earlier to get this charade done and carefully picked that outfit, should have made clear that I do not like being belittled. And that I mean it when I say " I do not want a torture device anywhere near my body. No matter what it represents!" If you think my feelings on what I fucking wear are of no concern to you and I will just do as you see, I will make them your concern by turning your little show into a shitshow.

[@Metalhammer1993]

(second time extra because well youtube has a lengt limit^^) The second time was infinitely more evil. Probably the biggest dick move of my life tbh. I was dating a vegan girl. She was a master of using tiny little needle jabs with subtext. She knew I was not vegan. She knew, if I did it, i´d do it for her .I did. She knew, I had my own stances on matters like veganism and some organisations like PETA i vewed very differently than her .PETA for instant. Saints for her ,savages for me. Don´t get me wrong. taking out a pelt farm where animals are bred to be skinned alive only for a luxury product (and yes they are skinned alive because it yields a better quality pelt. at least foxes are). tell me when, where and if I have to bring my own axe or if you got me one,. I´m game. I also know that these foxes never learned to survive in the wild. They would die withing days on starvation or get killed by a predator within days. I agree with PETA on that account. What i don´t agree with is the conclusion. To me that means these animals need t obe taken care of. They need to find homes, where someone who cares about their wellbeing cares for them and provides them with food and safety. This is expensive, yes. This is a logistic challenge, yes. But in my opinion the core part that distinguishes between "saving animals" and vandalizing a fur plant. PETA kills them because "they have no chance for a life worth living." now I´m German. that´s a sentence that brings a bitter taste in my mouth. Especially as PETA claims to hold human and animal life at equal value. (this was almost word for word the reason why the Nazi´s killed disabled people. They genuinely believed doing these people a favor by killing them. With my first girlfriend ever having been in a wheelchair you might understand i vehemently disagree. especially with my eyes being so messed up I probably would´ve gotten the injection too). Sorry got off track. because she understood my point about euthanasia. But that was probably the closest we got to agreeing on a moral topic. (I remember how her face genuinely lit up when I mentioned, I´d lay waste to such a plant in a heartbeat, if it ensured the animals would live) So things kind of got hemingway-i at least on her side. She would often enough make a very indirect remark. Like vegans shouldn´t date meat eaters. I mean why would she mention that around me? Because I´m no vegan. I´m eating vegan but I still didn´t buy in to it morally. I only did for her. if you excuse the crude joke: I didn´t eat meat so she´d eat mine. (my best friend, who´s vegan too put it this crass. I mentioned that offhand comment to her) that was the tamest remark. Just hinting at her having doubts. I mean doubts in a relationship are normal. I think in every relationship I found myself once or twice at a point where I thought "does this make any sense?" with the answer usually being no and me still deciding to stay invested into the relationship. It´s part of a relationship. The way to deal with that is to talk about it. And i told Caro that. That was the first fight. Now I was the one doubting the relationship. And there always were little jabs like that. The one that pushed me over the edge was as stupid as it sounds her philosophy homework. She was studying Kant. We had talked extensively about Kant before ,because, while I don´t subscribe to his school of thought per se (I have problems with teleological thinking) Kant´s works are definitely the ones I studied the most. despite them being very hard to read. (the record being a single sentence that covered an entire page. You got to love the german language for that). So you´d think, if she genuinely does not understand something about Kant´s work I´m the man to ask. And if I don´t know I call my old R.E. teacher who is pretty much a Kant specialist .However, Kant puts a great emphasis on rigor and consistency in your thought and action. (it´s why Kant is so fucking hard to read. more derivations and definitions than in a fucking maths PhD.) So I know very well how to read her asking me about Kant, seemingly changing the topic from, you guessed it veganism and me like the hundredth time stating I only did it for her. I never lied about that. If that is not good enough, then the relationship makes no sense and she has t ospeak up. If that´s the breaking point: we were three months in .nobody could say, she didn´t try. Or I didn´t. I probably should have said just that. But I just heard her calling me a hypocrite in that moment. Because that was such a typical Caro move. I should have probably broken up right then and there. Just that I saw that as a deliberate attack, irrelevant of whether it was or not, should be the final nail in a relationship´s coffin. Similar to cheating. It doesn´t matter whether your spouse is cheating. The trust is gone and that´s the end of it. That would have been the mature way t oend things. Or well the calm one. I handled it like that since I was sixteen. So there is no excuse for not being able to handle it like that at 24. What I did was a great deal more nefarious. As I said absolutely the biggest dick move in my life. I invited her for dinner in our favorite restaurant. It was about three or four days after the Kant thing. We had our fight about that. She´d be forgiven to think I wanted to make up. Just that I ordered a steak. something I knew would be the immediate end of the relationship. And she knew as well of course, she was the one who imposed that rule after all. In theory she´d have the choice accepting me eating meat and still committing to the relationship or breaking up. That were the only two choices I left her, very well knowing that she would break up. I´d say there was more than enough subtext to make clear, that I was over the relationship. She immediately understood. I called her out on bullshit like that too many times for her to not know this was deliberate. She very well knew, I CHOSE to break up in that manner. And she knew that i did that as my own parting shot for all the jabs she did in that manner. Our ethical differences were just the "plain text" if you will.

[@frankbrooks1393]

G’day, I only found your channel two weeks ago but have already watched all your videos. Could you do a third person narrative video, explaining about the different versions of it?

[@QuotidianWriter]

I've been working on a script for third-person POV for a long time! However, the current draft is a behemoth, and there are a few more third-person books I want to read for examples before finishing it, but hopefully I'll have that out this summer! I'm also planning to do a video on unconventional perspectives (second person, collective tense, mixed POV). Thank you for watching! :)

[@tophat2115]

I hope the narrator is for hire for audio books!

[@JohnnyJBarrett]

Great Video!

[@QuotidianWriter]

Thank you, John. :)

[@timflatus]

This is so challenging for me because I find people not saying what they mean confusing in real life. Writing as therapy

[@BologneyT]

I know this wasn't the point, but the sentence and imagery at 5:50 was really funny. XD

[@yoelperets3063]

my favourite subtext is Snape's first words to Harry: "Potter! What would you get if you mixed a root of asphodel with an infusion of wormwood?" - this is Victorian flower code for "I deeply regret Lily's death"

[@studentemail19]

That's more symbolism than subtext imho

[@2012funfamilytimes]

Can you do another video on scenes? From start to finish. I'm struggling with it.

[@QuotidianWriter]

In the future, I think I will! If you're struggling, try to find some critique partners to exchange your work with. That's the best way to grow as a writer. :)

[@2012funfamilytimes]

@@QuotidianWriter yeah not so much. Still in the terrified to show phase. :) so afraid of judgement. Lol

[@KutWrite]

I'm mostly a movie guy. Two subtexts I like are: 1. In "Blade Runner," the question of Deckard's being a human or an android. 2. In "The Getaway," the question of Doc and Carol's distrust of one another. Plus whether she had sex with Beynon (aka "Benyon") to get Doc out of prison, and whether that was a good thing.

[@etharchildres3976]

What it means: Henry asked me how my day was. It was hard to put it into words, there must have been some perfect way to tell him how it was but now it escaped me. I thought long about the day, the labor, the pains shooting through my back, and my fingers still pulsing from where they were smashed. Yet still, the day was ending and I was not. I guess that mattered more, that I was still here. So I told him. What is said: ”Hey Jack, how’s it hanging?” Henry asked. “I'm still here.” I replied.

[@evellinc.contreras6518]

Hello, Diane! How are u doing? Question: does the audience need to know the subtext before reading/watching the dialogue?

[@QuotidianWriter]

Hi, Evellin! That's a great question. I don't think the reader necessarily has to know the subtext before the scene happens; it really depends on your intentions for the scene. Sometimes stories will have dialogue that doesn't make sense until later or that takes on a new meaning upon rereading. Even if some readers miss the subtext, astute readers will catch it and appreciate the added layer of meaning. Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado" is a great example of an author using foreshadowing through dialogue, even though the reader doesn't know exactly what the subtext is implying during their first read (the main character has internally said that he wants to take revenge against his enemy, but the reader doesn't know how he plans to do that). I talk about Poe's use of subtext in dialogue toward the end of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6CllYNvlr-ei5o I hope that helps. Keep writing!

[@viardent8823]

as an autist i have trouble writing neurotypicals. my charactors tend to be incredibly introspective and careful about how they talk. miscommunications of the kind presented here drive me crazy in real life. i think if i tried to write subtext like this it would just look like an alien who could only work against their own goals.

[@PinupSticknerd]

The game ;) is afoot. 27 years but by George you got it. : 👍

[@lesleybarrow8906]

I don't know if you will see this reply, it being 2 years since you did the blog. I am a person who nearly always says exactly what the white elephant is, how I feel & try to get the other person to say how they feel so we can deal with the white elephant. My husband may skirt the said elephant to the point of not saying anything at all. These two points in a story setting could make for realist dialogue between 2 main characters. One not a bully but prising out talk of feelings when the other finds it hard to & saying things that can not be unsaid, & may be interpreted different to the meaning meant. & the other one not describing sufficiently how they feel so that gets misinterpreted. Just a thought xx

[@heal41hp]

I can't think of any dialogue subtext that's stood out to me, let alone have any favorite example. (I have issues with "favorites" anyway.) I don't really read much of anything other than news these days, what with my depression making me terrified of books and all. I think you provided some great, illustrative examples, though. (Even if I haven't read any of the things you used and thus don't understand the context.) I was going to say that I have problems utilizing subtext in my own writing, but the more I thought about it the more I recognized its presence. I think it's just rife in the first part of my "current" project. The main POV character has acquired a nasty case of amnesia, forgetting almost 20 years (half-ish) of his life, and the people around him don't want to tell him about any of the particularly traumatic events he doesn't remember until they can get somewhere with a medical facility--just in case. So I think there's lots of subtext woven in as awkward subjects are broached, handled as lightly as possible, then steered away from. But maybe I'm mistaken in this being subtext... Where do you draw the line between subtle, poetic, and plain indecipherable vagueness? Is there some pattern or guideline, or is it just an instinctual thing you have to feel out in each circumstance? One of the things I hate about poetry is that I have no freaking idea what the "good ones" are talking about most of the time. For me they seem to obscure too much in subtext and symbolism. I know you have to trust your reader to pick up on things and puzzle them out, but how do you craft subtext or subtlety that can be picked up on and puzzled out?

[@QuotidianWriter]

The scenario you described certainly sounds like it would create "unspoken" messages. To me, subtext is any type of indirect phrasing or avoidance of the full truth. If someone told me, "Those cookies look delicious!" I'd assume they want a cookie, and I'd offer them one. Although they didn't ask the question directly ("Can I have a cookie?"), I would sense the implication. They might not have asked directly because they didn't want to be rude or presumptuous about requesting a cookie, and the indirect phrasing softens any potential rejection, as their request wouldn't be denied outright. Or, they might have just wanted to compliment the cookies, and they don't actually want to eat one, haha. Dialogue can be taken at face value, too. Subtext is an important topic to me because I've seen some writers include dialogue exchanges that feel stilted or unrealistic. It's those subtle phrasings that convey tone and drive natural communication, but that effect can be hard to recreate in fiction. You really put my feelings about poetry into words. :P I'd say it's best to err on the side of being less vague for a first draft. Then, upon revision, you can add subtlety to the dialogue. After that, you can specifically ask critique partners or beta readers about the believability and clarity of those exchanges. The primary purpose of subtext, in my mind, is to add realism by creating more "natural-sounding" speech. There does seem to be a double standard when it comes to "opaque" writing; the literary greats and established writers can get away with writing something that's hard to understand and have it be lauded for its complexity, but an undiscovered writer might have a tough time building an audience if the story's meaning feels undecipherable. Let's imagine that subtlety/subtext exists on a one-to-five scale, with one being the most direct and five being the least direct. Of the examples in this video, I would say that _The Great Gatsby_ and "Hills Like White Elephants" fall on the more extreme obscurity end as fives; you need a lot of context to properly understand them. _Tell No One_, with its interrogation scene, feels more like a two, since the characters' tones come across quite well. The same goes for _Death of a Salesman_, where the boss clearly doesn't want to give Willy a job. _Gone with the Wind_ might be more in the three range because Scarlett's dialogue and inner thoughts are sometimes at odds, creating confusion about what she really wants. I'd recommend that most subtext stay in that two-to-three range, with the fours or fives being saved for pivotal moments, if used at all (although the meaning of Hemingway's entire story hinges on subtext, but that's an exception). Subtext, in my opinion, is best to apply in scenes where emotions are running high and there's strong friction between characters. Ultimately, though, it is an instinctual choice that depends on the situation, as you say.

[@heal41hp]

I think this might be one of those things that just indelibly altered my perception a little. I get what subtext is, but I think I've never really paid it much mind. While I prefer people just say what's on their mind rather than veil questions under commentary or whatever, it is a pervasive quality among people. It's a protective measure, a means of buffering oneself against pain. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for this now. If nothing else, it's another layer of characterization. How much subtext a character utilizes could indicate how sure they are of themselves--and/or how much they ascribe to the social paradigm. I love rating scales. Such a great device for conveying spectra. That feels right to me, keeping subtext/subtlety in the two-to-three range. And utilizing critique partners and/or beta readers to judge how we pulled things off makes sense. I was leaning that way after I posted my initial comment... I mean, that's kinda what they're there for after all anyway, right? As a perspective outside our subjective and heavily biased experience?

[@QuotidianWriter]

Absolutely! Receiving feedback from other writers is by far the most useful tool for improvement, in my experience. We all have our blind spots, and the first draft is never the best one. Many times, my critique partners will point out things that I'd already been uncertain about, but their comments will motivate me to actually fix the problem or help me find a solution.