How to Write Political Satire
Politics and politicians: the perfect target for those of you that can wield a sharp tongue or humorous pen. Political satire has become an art form that not only requires a deftness with words, but a keen wit and sense of humor.
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Instructions
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Pick your target. Scan the day's headlines to find subjects worthy of your wit. Nothing is sacred, so even the most minor event can be great fodder for a satirical piece. Of course the better known the subject, the more likely your readers will recognize it and react.
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Make it easy for your readers to see similarities between what you've written and what's actually happening. Jonathan Swift was a master of this when he used Lilliputians and Gulliver to satirize the British government.
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Troll the Internet to find websites that will publish your piece. There are tons of satirical sites that are hungry for good satire. A few of these are listed in the resources section.
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Check out some of the more popular satirical websites to see what they're doing. If you're new to this, you may want to imitate their style until formulating your own. A few of the more popular sites are listed below.
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Keep current on the day's events. Talk with people with differing points of view, with the aim of twisting it to your advantage. Of course, in political satire, if you're a Liberal you'll target Conservatives and vice versa.
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Join a chat group or blog that is frequented by political satirists. These can be an endless source of ideas and you can get an idea of what sells. There's nothing worse than spending time on a piece no one cares about.
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Remember, some of the hardest-hitting political satire can be borderline bad taste, such as attacking Clinton's sexual habits or praising acts of violence. Be careful that you don't lose your reader or make him believe you actually mean what you're saying.
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