Writing Tips - Play Devil's Advocate
Everybody's the good guy these days. There're so many superhero movies coming out that it's hard to keep track half the time. In this age where championing the underdog has become the new norm, I believe that it's healthy, engaging, and fairly challenging to examine topics and ideas from a darker perspective from time to time.
I believe in this exercise for several reasons.
It forces you to get outside of the assumption that just because something is uplifting or encouraging automatic makes it engaging. I've discovered quite the opposite in reality. In fact, I often find myself more drawn to the articles and stories which seek to further examine some unspeakable darkness or hear things from the bad guy's point of view now and again versus the same old-same old.
Additionally, while the white knight may bring hope and chivalry, the black knight is guaranteed to bring intrigue, mystery, and excitement. Always being courted by the same kinds of knights with their yellow roses and soft hands can get pretty vanilla after the 30th suitor comes along. But as soon as that black knight swings off of his dark horse with his cape flapping in the shivering winter wind, something immediately stirs inside of you. Call it rebellion or a phase, but everyone's had a yearning to flirt with the dangerous at some point.
Darker writing also releases a portion of yourself which is always itching to get out. Maybe it's your Id or a little bit of rascality, but I believe that letting these wild dogs loose now and then is healthy, not only for your sanity as a writer, but also as a forceful exercise of questioning if something is truly good and just or if it's not.
Now granted, my writing style has always leaned more towards the darker side of the good-bad spectrum if given a choice, but I genuinely do believe that there are lessons every writer can learn from the role of playing Devil's advocate now and again.
So sit back, pull your hood up to better conceal the outline of your face, and let your talons go to work on that keyboard.
Recent Comments
2
What afresh way of looking at it. I totally agree with you about looking at things from both sides. Only then can we be objective. I like the way you present this to us. Keep up the 'good' work.
Blessings
Hennie
It's always good to examine different perspectives from time to time. That way, it keeps you fresh and constantly growing and learning how to expand your writing capabilities.