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Q&A How do I demonstrate ideological differences between characters who are politically not too different?

Suggested strategies: 1) As indicated by other responders, make the argument really about something else more personal. You can get great drama from repressed and/or unadmitted emotions leaking ou...

posted 9y ago by Lostinfrance‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Answer
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T04:05:46Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/16951
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by user avatar Lostinfrance‭ · 2019-12-08T04:05:46Z (over 4 years ago)
Suggested strategies:

1) As indicated by other responders, make the argument _really_ about something else more personal. You can get great drama from repressed and/or unadmitted emotions leaking out into ostensibly polite debate.

2) Foreshadow that this argument may be mild now but is going to have dramatic _consequences._ E.g. one of the characters makes an ominous parting shot, leaving the other to wonder if she has pushed him too far.

3) If your main problem is literally what to have the characters say, then you should look at genuine debates (e.g. on political forums, newspaper comment sites etc.) on this issue from people with similar opinions. Write it up, then edit it down ruthlessly. Personally I'm a lot more tolerant of political discussion in novels than most readers, but even my eyes glaze over if it extends beyond half a page.

4) if one side represents your own opinion, seek the input of someone from the other side to avoid caricature.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2015-04-24T13:39:58Z (about 9 years ago)
Original score: 1