Introducing extreme political ideas naturally in creative writing works requires thoughtfulness and skill. Here are some tips to guide participants in incorporating these elements into their writing: 1. **Know the context**: Make sure participants understand the historical context, underlying causes, and core principles of the extreme political movement or idea they are based on. This will help them create a more nuanced and realistic portrayal in their writing. 2. **Focus on character, not propaganda**: Encourage participants to focus on character development and explore their motivations, emotions, and personal experiences with extreme political movements. This can create a more engaging and nuanced story. 3. **Prompt ideas in subtle ways**: Avoid directly forcing propaganda or ideological messages on participants. Instead, provide subtle prompts or scenarios that encourage them to explore extreme political topics naturally. For example, a prompt might be: "A young person discovers a radicalized online community on social media" or "A community is confronted by a new government policy." 4. **Explore the central idea**, don't preach**: Emphasize the importance of exploring the central idea and its complexity, rather than preaching a particular ideology or idea. Encourage participants to ask themselves the "what," "why," and "how" of the issue. 5. **Focus on consequences and impact**: Remind participants to think about the consequences and impact of the extreme political movement or idea they are writing about. How will it affect the characters and their relationships? What consequences will there be on an individual and societal level? 6. **Avoid stereotypes and simplifications**: Encourage participants to avoid stereotypes and simplifications. Extreme political movements are often complex and multifaceted, and participants should strive to capture this complexity in their writing. 7. **Encourage empathy and understanding**: Emphasize the importance of creating a nuanced and respectful narrative. This will help participants avoid sensationalism or pandering to people’s biases. 8. **Model, but don’t lead**: As a facilitator, provide guidance and examples, but avoid leading participants’ writing or telling them what they should write about. Establish a safe and supportive environment that allows them to freely explore these topics. 9. **Establish boundaries and discussion guidelines**: Establish clear boundaries and discussion guidelines for the writing center. This will ensure that participants feel comfortable and supported when discussing sensitive topics. 10. **Provide Resources and Support**: Provide participants with additional resources such as books, articles, and expert opinions to help them gain a deeper understanding of the topics they are writing about. Provide support and guidance to ensure they feel comfortable and confident tackling these complex topics. Some examples of creative writing prompts that could be used to explore extreme political ideas include: * “A French resistance fighter must confront her own moral compass in World War II.” * “A small town is taken over by an extremist group, and a resident must navigate the new reality.” * “A young ad man accidentally creates a viral slogan that is exploited by an extremist group.” * “A spray-painted wall art artist becomes obsessed with leaving his own messages around the city.” Remember that creative writing is a powerful tool for exploring complex ideas and perspectives. But it is also important to consider the impact on readers and participants. By setting clear boundaries and encouraging empathy, participants can create nuanced and thought-provoking pieces about extreme political ideas.