Heart of Writing S2 E4 The power of Subtext

Hey friends, welcome back. Today I want to talk about one of the most underrated tools in writing: subtext.

It’s that thing that makes dialogue sharp, tense, and layered. If you’ve ever had someone say “I’m fine” when you knew they were definitely not fine… congratulations, you’ve already experienced subtext.

⸻

What Subtext Is (and Isn’t)
So, what exactly is it?

Subtext is the meaning underneath the words. It’s what your character is thinking or feeling but not saying directly.

The opposite is “on-the-nose” dialogue, where people spill everything they’re thinking. That can work in certain moments, but most of the time it feels flat. Real conversations aren’t that neat.

Think about the last time you had to address an awkward situation with someone. Did you come out with a blunt, straightforward delivery? Or… did you ease in, referencing things in a way that didn’t require you to spell out exactly what you meant?

If you took the softer, more neutral route, you probably used subtext. And as writers, that’s where dialogue gets really interesting.

⸻

Why Subtext Matters
Subtext matters for a few big reasons:
• First, it creates tension. Readers lean in because they sense something bubbling under the surface.
• Second, it shows power and emotion without clunky exposition. You don’t need to explain everything—your audience feels it.
• Third, it makes characters feel human. Because people rarely say exactly what they mean. We hedge, we hide, we drop hints. And that’s what makes dialogue feel real.

⸻

Practical Writing Exercises
Alright, let’s make this practical. Here are three quick exercises to try:
• Exercise 1: Write two characters saying hello at work. On the surface, it’s just polite small talk. But give one of them jealousy, and the other a secret agenda. Let the tension live in what’s unsaid.
• Exercise 2: Write a breakup scene where no one says, “I don’t love you anymore.” Instead, have the character talk about the weather, their coffee, or something totally mundane. Let the ache bleed through the gaps.
• Exercise 3: Take one cheerful line—“I’m so glad you’re here.” Now rewrite it three times: one with genuine joy, one with polite distancing, and one with simmering resentment. Notice how the meaning changes, even though the words stay the same.

That’s the power of subtext—the same dialogue can carry completely different emotional weight depending on what’s going on underneath.

⸻

The Takeaway
Here’s the big thing to remember: when your characters say one thing but mean another, that’s where the story heats up. Subtext is the key to making dialogue stand out and making your characters feel alive on the page.

So the next time you’re writing, don’t just ask: What are my characters saying? Ask: What are they hiding? What do they really mean? What are they trying to achieve through this conversation?

⸻

Thanks for joining me today. Keep experimenting with subtext—it’s one of the most powerful tools in the writer’s toolkit. And don’t worry if it doesn’t sound perfect every time. Like all writing techniques, it takes practice.

Keep writing. Keep believing in yourself. And remember—this is John Edward Nickerson. Keep writing from the heart.