How do you add sidequests to your story?

[Ai-chan]

For those who know Ai-chan, you'd know that Ai-chan always planned out everything before writing. In many cases, stories lie naked and forgotten in the deep dark recesses of the Abyssal Kingdom of Zim because Ai-chan couldn't develop the stories enough to make it work as a story.

Unfortunately, this makes the stories somewhat linear and does not have many twists and turns. What was decided at the start, only gets changed if Ai-chan wrote it and it didn't work, though to determine if something didn't work, Ai-chan had to mull over it over and over.

So Ai-chan's question is how do YOU make side quests or side adventures in your stories? No, Ai-chan doesn't want google research. Ai-chan too can do that. Ai-chan just wants to know how you do it.

Thanks in advance.

 

[CadmarLegend]

For those who know Ai-chan, you'd know that Ai-chan always planned out everything before writing. In many cases, stories lie naked and forgotten in the deep dark recesses of the Abyssal Kingdom of Zim because Ai-chan couldn't develop the stories enough to make it work as a story.

Unfortunately, this makes the stories somewhat linear and does not have many twists and turns. What was decided at the start, only gets changed if Ai-chan wrote it and it didn't work, though to determine if something didn't work, Ai-chan had to mull over it over and over.

So Ai-chan's question is how do YOU make side quests or side adventures in your stories? No, Ai-chan doesn't want google research. Ai-chan too can do that. Ai-chan just wants to know how you do it.

Thanks in advance.

I create them on the spot.

 

[EternalSunset0]

For those who know Ai-chan, you'd know that Ai-chan always planned out everything before writing. In many cases, stories lie naked and forgotten in the deep dark recesses of the Abyssal Kingdom of Zim because Ai-chan couldn't develop the stories enough to make it work as a story.

Unfortunately, this makes the stories somewhat linear and does not have many twists and turns. What was decided at the start, only gets changed if Ai-chan wrote it and it didn't work, though to determine if something didn't work, Ai-chan had to mull over it over and over.

So Ai-chan's question is how do YOU make side quests or side adventures in your stories? No, Ai-chan doesn't want google research. Ai-chan too can do that. Ai-chan just wants to know how you do it.

Thanks in advance.

I am actually planning on releasing side story volumes for side characters. You know, how a lot of LNs in Japan do it, with them being subtitled as EX, Extra, Append, or whatever they can think of. I'm not sure how well that works, but that's a good way of adding depth to your world without getting in the way of the plot that you want to tell.

I personally prefer linear storytelling and having the side stories on a separate section. Maybe place it in between major arcs like what anime fillers do. Or a new book altogether.

If you want more classical, "true" literature examples, I think Tolkien did it with the Silmarillion, too. So it's definitely possible.

 

[Motsu]

Since sidequests/side adventure are both subordinate plots in fiction - the general how-to works too!

Alright, let's assume that my or your main plot has a particular story goal or problem as well as a theme. One way to use a side story or subplot is to present a different look at the same theme or to explore the problem from a different angle. By giving the reader a chance to see the issues from different perspectives you can give a more complete exploration. For instance, if your theme is selfishness vs. generosity, you can use subplots to explore different situations where either selfishness or generosity leads to good or bad outcomes. Or if you were exploring an issue such as war, you could use subplots to tell the stories of various people involved in or affected in different ways by war, giving a very well-rounded view of it.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

When I write, a new idea pops into my head, and I take a little time to decide whether to run with it or whether to let it go. I've had some quite interesting side quests come up this way.

 

[Kilolo]

"disposable" support character.

in most JRPG and WN i read, there's usually this extra chara that need helps with something, and give something that could advance the plot after the MC & co helping him/her.

most just dispose that extra chara afterwards & never mentioned that again. but there's a time lots of fans asking for the extra NPC returns and then he actually came back at endgame plot as cameo.

 

[BenJepheneT]

If by side quest you mean "side plots", then what I'd do is put them AFTER a major climax of an arc. I won't plop it anywhere I fucken please, even though I want to.

Unless the side plot coincides with the main plot as a story beat OR serves a thematic element that boosts the main plot at hand, I'd relegate them to the booster seat on the back of the car. These sidequests are best used as breathers for the readers. Like fluff moments, but instead of fluff moments it's more story and plot, only on a smaller scale. You can use this time to ominously build up the next arc while you do the side quest.

I'd avoid going YOLO on this one. Most of the time, these end up reading like a pile of poor, jumbled mess. But that's when is at their worst. At best, they're, as I said, expanded fluff moments. It's less about its quality and more about its potential. Different situations can reveal different characterizations. They can introduce a new side or an entire layer to them, if done well.

 

[skillet]

it just... happens... sometimes o.o dk if it's only me but when I'm in the zone and writing chapters, suddenly some kind of ominous foreshadowing happens that I didn't plan for and it turns out that all along, this one guy had a problem! that needs to be solved!!
It sometimes feels like the character has a life of its own and while I'm writing I'm like OHHHH SO THAT's WHY and just discover it along the way. or sth like that aahahaha
Not very nice sometimes, because then I have to be the one to write it all out. D: idk if this even helps

 

[CadmarLegend]

"disposable" support character.

in most JRPG and WN i read, there's usually this extra chara that need helps with something, and give something that could advance the plot after the MC & co helping him/her.

most just dispose that extra chara afterwards & never mentioned that again. but there's a time lots of fans asking for the extra NPC returns and then he actually came back at endgame plot as cameo.

Poor disposable support character... never to be seen again.... unless there is a demand....

 

[DubstheDuke]

When I was writing my novel, there was never a situation where I had to stick to the main character's perspective. As a matter of fact, writing in 3rd person I would often switch perspective from one person to another. When it comes to side stories, all that really is to me is something which the main character is not involved in. (Technically we could consider something the mc is involved in to be a side story if it has no relevance to the main plot and wraps itself up on it's own, but I will get to that later.

What does it take to write a story in general? Characters, a plot, and a world. The characters take actions and make decisions which advance the plot. Now, say that you have a story which seems to be disconnected to whatever the main characters are doing. Is this a side story? Probably. Say this side story is a story completely on it's own which could be told from start to finish, and end there without further implication. I think this is what makes a true side story. However, there is one thing which I have always considered in my writing.

Even if I am writing something because I simply want to write it, (Regardless of whether it has to do with the main plot), I almost always make the resolution of the side story impact the main storyline in SOME way. It doesn't have to be a groundshattering development, but even developing a certain character is enough.

For example, during one of the stages of my story, a bunch of side characters were sent to some various villages to infiltrate and take these villages over. I created entire stories regarding these villages, their characters, and their lives, however these things were all to the end of the eventual takeover. Furthermore, while the takeover of these villages could be seen as a side story in their own right, given that the main plot could have progressed without these arcs, I would also note that I used the takeover of these villages as a way to bring other forces to the attention of the existence of my main characters, thus kickstarting a much more important series of characters and battles.

I always like to branch off a ton, and have everything link back together in the end. While I can't say that I plan everything with an exact purpose, I like to give everything a purpose after the fact. And it usually ends up quite well.

 

[yunano34a1]

I think it's good to flesh out the characters you barely mention by making them give various quests to your main characters. This way you have a glimpse of their struggles, needs, and wants.