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jackietwrites.bsky.social
Currently in the middle of edits to add more subtext to my narrative. But I think a few scenes do have that simmering angsty tension

#summerofstory #lunchtimewriter #romancewriter #blackhistoricalromance #writersky
cfranciswrites.bsky.social Charlotte Francis @cfranciswrites.bsky.social · Aug 12
Hello #SummerOfStory!

Day 12: Subtext in Dialogue

The art of saying what's not being said. From non-sequiturs to waspish remarks, subtext can elevate dialogue. Have you used it before?

If ever there was a day to drop a snippet, today's the day! Let us read between your lines.

#WritingPrompt
1: Title, Date, & Prompt Introduction This slide features a large torn piece of lined paper with the text "August 12th" at the top and the writing prompt "Subtext in Dialogue" in big script letters. There's a typewriter in the corner with a note saying "TOOLS not RULES". On the right, there's a speech bubble with prompt questions, a Bluesky butterfly, and a palm-leaf background. Transcription:
 August 12th 
Subtext in Dialogue What's your take on this writing technique? Have you used it before — or do you avoid it? Share your thoughts, drop a snippet, or tell us how you'd use it in a scene. 2: What and Why This slide is a piece of lined paper with "What?" and "Why?" highlighted at the top and middle. A small taped tab at the top reads a quick tip about non-sequiturs. There's a Bluesky butterfly and palm fronds in the background. Transcription: Tip: Non-sequiturs (replies that seem off-topic) can be a great tool for subtext. That sudden change of subject can say more about a character's motives than answering the question ever would. What? Subtext in dialogue is the unspoken meaning, emotion, or intent hiding under the surface of dialogue. Characters might dodge the question, talk about something else, or choose words that say one thing but imply another. Subtext lets readers pick up on tension, attraction, deceit, or fear without it ever being stated outright. Why? It makes dialogue more layered, realistic, and engaging. By hinting rather than stating, you create tension, deepen relationships, and keep readers hooked without heavy exposition. 3: In Practice This slide is split: on the left, a torn notebook page shows an excerpt from "The Great Gatsby"; on the right, a grid paper panel titled "Subtext in The Great Gatsby" explains the subtext at work. A Bluesky butterfly sits near the header; palm fronds behind. Transcription: (Excerpt from "The Great Gatsby", F. Scott Fitzgerald) "I've got a man in England who buys me clothes. He sends over a selection of things at the beginning of each season, spring and fall." He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them one by one before us, shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel which lost their folds as they fell and covered the table in many-colored disarray. While we admired he brought more and the soft, rich heap mounted higher—shirts with stripes and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple green and lavender and faint orange with monograms of Indian blue. Suddenly with a strained sound Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily. "They're such beautiful shirts," she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. "It makes me sad because I've never seen such—such beautiful shirts before." (Commentary) Subtext in The Great Gatsby This conversation isn't really about shirts. Subtext is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Daisy is overwhelmed, not by fabric, but by what the shirts symbolise — Gatsby's wealth, and the life she could have had with him. The dialogue and action never state her regret outright, but the reader can connect the dots through her reaction. That's subtext: the unsaid truth sitting beneath the words. 4: What do you think? This slide is a torn piece of paper with discussion questions for writers about using subtext in dialogue. There's a speech bubble repeating "TOOLS not RULES", a Bluesy butterfly, and palm fronds in the background. Transcription: What do you think? What's your take on Subtext in Dialogue? Do you enjoy reading between the lines, or does it feel frustrating when characters don't just say what they mean? Do you consciously weave subtext into your own dialogue, or let it appear naturally? Share your thoughts, drop a snippet, or share an example you love (or hate). Hot takes welcome—just please don't set anyone on fire!
August 12, 2025 at 12:53 PM
elysabethgrace.bsky.social
Now that Halloween 2024 is done, I can promote my holiday romance, "A Heart's Gift." If you'd like a Black-centered historical retelling of Odysseus & Penelope, this novella is for you.
#Romancelandia
#PCRS #ShakeRace
#BlackHistoricalRomance
#Epistolary
www.elysabethgrace.com/
payhip.com/b/wNbz5
Bookcover: background is a blue rose, letter is white. Title: "A Heart's Gift, A Resonne Family novella" and author name Elysabeth Grace.
November 2, 2024 at 7:54 PM