About The Sake of Argument
Post 1374:
I was watching a show the other day and found myself unusually annoyed. I see a lot of crap, and usually I don’t mind. Trying to be a writer, you can learn as much or more from the bad stuff. What not to do. Pitfalls. Unforced errors.
The problem with the characters on this particular show is that they are all exceedingly clever. This is great for banter and lighter moments, as it’s easy to believe snappy dialogue could be taking place betwixt these individuals. They are written to be successful and nimble-brained. Verbal pugilism seems characteristic and thus is the strongest part of the show.
Now, on to the problem. For conflict to happen, someone or both parties have to be wrong. If your super smart and witty characters suddenly become stupid so that drama can happen, it’s weak writing. People can see through it. They can feel something not right in their gut.
Super competent characters can get into dramatic situations, but you should get annoyed when you feel like people onscreen or in your book are arguing for the sake of arguing. It can be a trick that you don’t notice at first. After all, there’s shouting and maybe some taut music in the background, angry eyes and finger pointing. But… would these characters actually behave this way? Do they have justifiable reasons for the disagreement? Or is it just time for drama because drama hasn’t happened in the last few minutes?
Arguing for the sake of arguing is a waste of everyone’s time, in real life and in storytelling. Legitimate conflict, on the other hand, is absolutely worth it. Real conflict comes from opposing worldviews that haven’t been manufactured on the spot. That’s real drama.
Put it like this. You want people to identify with your main character. If your main character acts like an irrational conflict-mongering asshole every time another person walks in with a different opinion, regardless of right or wrong, unless you’re an asshole too, it’ll be hard to identify.
I try to keep my sentences short. That one wasn’t. Hopefully it made sense.
Words. Anyway.
People that argue to argue are annoying. Characters that argue to argue are even more annoying. That’s my argument, anyway.
Cheers and see you after.
