How to Write Between the Lines and Deepen your Storytelling

I think subtext is a lost art. If you read the classics, you'll notice they often leave a lot unsaid without losing meaning. And I think it's beautiful to trust the reader to get your point without having to draw them a map. You probably remember back in school teachers used to ask often, "What did the author mean by that?" Although it felt annoying at times, they were teaching us to read between the lines.

I was cleaning my shelves when an old book reminded me of a high school lesson. We were studying Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" and our English teacher was explaining the power of subtext. If you haven’t read it, the story revolves around a conversation between a man and a woman who are waiting for a train. While they discuss seemingly ordinary topics like the hills and the gin and tonic, the underlying theme of an impending abortion is never explicitly stated.

At the time, I didn't give it much thought, but in retrospect, Hemingway’s use of subtext evokes a pervasive feeling of tension and ambiguity in the story. It forces you to interpret the characters’ words and actions to understand the true nature of their conversation. I think this creates a more immersive and thought-provoking reading experience and, as I reader, I love subtext in books.

Looking back, one thing that sets apart classic literature from contemporary storytelling isn’t what’s being said but what’s left unsaid. I haven't really focused on the subtext in my writing, but I'm going to start doing that to make my stories more engaging.

What is subtext?

To use it effectively, you need to understand what subtext is. Subtext refers to the implied meaning behind spoken or written words — reading between the lines. For instance, I call my mother almost every day, but if I’m busy or tired, I might skip a day or two. When I finally call her, she’ll say, “I didn’t know if you were well as we haven’t spoken in two days.” What she means is, “Why didn’t you call me?”

I believe that people of any gender, nationality, or culture will have a similar emotional response when they hear the phrase "We need to talk." There is usually no positive outcome following these seemingly innocent words, don't you think?

It's important to note that subtext has uses other than conveying passive aggression. Ernest Hemingway came up with the Iceberg Theory — a literary technique that suggests most of a story’s meaning lies beneath the surface. In this analogy, the text is the tip of the iceberg, but the deeper meanings of the story (think societal issues, themes, the character’s deepest fears, motivations, and trauma) should remain under water and for the readers to infer.

According to Hemingway, by leaving things unsaid, readers would be forced to think deeper and connect the dots themselves, creating a more meaningful and personal experience.

A classic example of a subtext is the famous opening line from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

The underlying meaning here is the social pressure of that era, where one’s worth was determined by their ability to marry into a well-off family. You can see how she felt about this societal expectation from the snark she throws.

How to recognize subtext in storytelling

At its core, subtext is the interplay between the explicit words or actions (the text) and the surrounding context. This context can include external circumstances, the characters’ histories, relationships, and even the time period in which the story is set. These elements give us a deep look at the characters and what drives them. In short, subtext is the sum of text and context.

By including subtext in your story, your readers can feel it alongside your characters. I mean, in real life, we experience hidden meaning all the time.

We dance around difficult topics, hoping the other person will pick up on what we're really trying to say. We use gifts to convey a deeper message. Small conflicts feel heavier because they bring up old issues.

Here are a few examples of well executes subtext in movies (script writing) and literature, so you can get a better grasp on it.

One of the most quotable lines in cinema history is from Francis Ford Coppola’s seminal The Godfather with the line:

“I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

The power of this dialogue lies in its simplicity. It's a line that's become iconic in gangster movies and pop culture. What exactly is the offer that he cannot refuse? It's not exactly an offer, but rather a threat.

Sometimes, seemingly trivial reactions can mask a deeper, secondary emotion. In The Great Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald creates subtext through Daisy's visit to Gatsby's mansion and her seeing his expensive shirt collection.

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.”

Daisy’s crying isn’t just about those lavish shirts. The subtext here is about what could have been. She’s heartbroken that now they can finally be together, it’s too late. The shirts are just a symbol of what they could have had, a life without any class barriers.

A short and to the point quote from George Orwell’s 1984:

“Big Brother is watching you.”

This ominous phrase is a constant reminder of the oppressive regime in Oceania. The subtext is a warning about the dangers of totalitarian control and the erosion of individual freedom.

And last but not least, let’s circle back to what inspired this article: Hemingway’s Hills Like White Elephants.

This short story, which I encourage you to read, is a tense, unspoken conversation about a difficult decision. A couple, sitting at a train station in Spain, is avoiding the elephant in the room: the woman’s pregnancy. Her lover wants her to get an abortion, but it’s illegal and she’s unsure and afraid. The word “abortion” is never mentioned, but the underlying tension is palpable.

“They look like white elephants,” she said.

“I’ve never seen one.” The man drank his beer.

“No, you wouldn’t have.”

“I might have,” the man said. “Just because you say I wouldn’t have doesn’t prove anything.”

Both seem overly sensitive, hinting at deeper issues. Her frustration isn’t about his lack of acknowledgment, but his lack of affection. She feels their relationship is doomed, abortion or not.

“But if I do it, then it will be nice again if I say things are like white elephants, and you’ll like it?”

It’s common to use subtext in real-life situation when having difficult conversations. Here, the “white elephants” are a way for the characters to discuss their relationship problems without directly addressing them. It’s like dancing around the issue, avoiding the pain of a direct confrontation.

What can subtext do for your story?

Surely you must be wondering what’s the big thing is about subtext. Why not just call it like it is? Why make your job harder?

Well, subtext enhances character development, subtly revealing inner conflicts, or providing a glimpse into the story's world. Additionally, it can serve as a tool to create tension and suspense, both of which make for a more engrossing reading experience.

Subtext is an underrated tool for adding depth, complexity, and tension to your writing. It can be used to:

• Develop characters: Reveal hidden thoughts, emotions, and motivations.
• Create tension: Imply conflict and struggles beneath the surface.
• Deepen themes: Create a thematic undercurrent for a multi-layered narrative.
• Evoke emotion: Bring readers closer to characters through implied experiences.
• Reveal information: Divulge details about the world, plot, or characters without explicit statements.
• Foreshadow events: Hint at future plot twists.

How to add subtext in creative writing

Adding subtext to a story depends on what kind of writer you are. If you’re a pantser, it’s hard, if not an impossible mission for the first draft. But don’t worry, once the first draft is completed and you know your characters, you can start thinking about conveying the same message in other, less obvious ways.

You’ll have a lot of work ahead of you, but it’s doable once you set your mind to it. On the other hand, if you are a plotter, this might be easier than you think because you know your characters’ back stories, their struggle, their goals and their motivations. So you can write the first draft with subtext in mind.

If you know the main message and themes of your story, it'll make writing subtext easier. It's all about showing, not telling.

If you're looking to include underlying meaning in your stories, I have a few actionable tips to share.

Read my tips in the original Medium article.