Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 Alright You, Let’s Fight! Excerpts from Nancy Kress’ “Fight For Those Arguments”

Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 Introduction  Arguing is one of the best ways to make your characters seem real to your reader.  This is true not only because disagreement is universal, but also because in argument a person reveals so much about the hidden layers of himself.

Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 Fights as Plot Devices  While any argument will characterize, a carefully chosen argument will also advance your plot.  Arguments by definition are divisive.  Two (or more) people take separate positions on something.  Pick characters who you want to be separated for part of your story.

Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 For Example: “I hate you,” I screamed That stopped his smiling instantly. He stiffened. “Why, you little bitch,” he said. The color faded from his lips. Suddenly I felt ice cold, as if something dangerous had slipped into the room. I looked toward the window and felt a tremor slide along my spine. “You listen to me,” he said, his voice deadly calm. “The truth is, your sorry mother ran off and left you. The day she died, she’d come back to get her things, that’s all. You can hate me all you want, but she’s the one who left you.” The room turned absolutely silent. Excerpt from The Secret Life of Bees

Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 Fights as Plot Devices  This argument, which occurs in Chapter 2, propels the remainder of the book. Lily runs away to search for her mother’s family.  Without this fight, there would be no novel.

Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 Fights as Plot Devices  Arguments can also divide characters in less fundamental, but useful ways.  Your protagonist might alienate the one person who has information she needs to solve some problem.  Or close friends might be angry with each other, letting one feel justified in doing something of which the other might not approve.  Or lovers might fight and separate long enough for one to get involved with someone else.

Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 Ask Yourself These Questions:  What characters do I want separated, temporarily or permanently?  What interesting plot consequences might come of their separation?  What subject might they quarrel about that would separate them for the time I want them apart?

Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 Fights to Build Character  A character’s fighting style can reveal more about his inner self than he knows.  He does this by showing the reader how often he fights, with whom, how intensely, and how fairly.  Some people argue about everything.  Some let nearly any insult go by, unwilling to fight.

Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 For Example: Whenever I opened [a book], T. Ray said, “Who do you think you are, Julius Shakespeare?” The man sincerely thought that was Shakespeare’s first name, and if you think I should have corrected him, you are ignorant about the art of survival. He also referred to me as Miss-Brown-Nose-in-a-Book and Miss-Emily-Big-Head-Diction. He meant Dickinson, but there are things you let go by. Excerpt from The Secret Life of Bees

Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 Fights to Build Character  Closely related to when a character is willing to argue is the question of whom he’ll argue with.  Some people are usually kind and patient with those they perceive as subordinate (including children) but are touchy and critical of superiors.  These are the characters with “authority issues.”

Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 Minor vs. Major Spats  Another aspect of fighting style is intensity.  There are, for instance, married couples who bicker about differences (“You ignored me all evening”) and married couples who divorce about differences (“You always ignore me! I’m leaving!”).

Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 Minor vs. Major Spats  Sometimes the intensity of a fight can be determined by culture.  Where public or even private scenes are disapproved (upper-class London, old-money Boston, “well-behaved” families), arguments may be muted, even when the subject matters a great deal.  In other cultures, volatility is not frowned on, and people may feel free to scream at each other in public.

Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 Minor vs. Major Spats  Where is your story taking place?  Are your arguers in tune with local or family culture?

Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 Fight Fair, Fight Foul  Some people do not argue fairly.  They employ name-calling, sarcasm, profanity, threats, ridicule, belittling lies, evasions, or physical violence.  Others keep scrupulously to one issue, argue it logically, listen to each other’s viewpoint, and try to stick to the truth.

Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 Fight Fair, Fight Foul  Fighting might not be pleasant in real life, but it’s enormously useful in fiction.

Mr. Mehrotra EWC 4U0 Good luck.