Undercurrents

Here's a damp Devonly thought for the day.  It seems to me that when people argue, the issue they pick on is often not the one which is really bothering them. A couple might rip each other to shreds about the fact that he will insist on using the drying up cloth to get hot dishes out of the oven, making it too greasy for her to wipe her hands on , but the real battlefield is about his infidelity.  Some subjects are just much too difficult to tackle head on, so all the anger and the hurt is rehearsed on safer terrain.  This is sometimes referred to as the subtext of a situation and provides meaty fare for the writer: it neatly captures the chaff of everyday life, the stuff that makes up 90% of our humdrum lives, while alluding to the dark and dangerous stuff which lies beneath.  Paying attention to the subtext will have the effect of making your characters more lifelike and giving them greater depth; it will also help to engage your readers’ curiosity, as they will be keen to know what lies at the root of their behaviour.

To put this to the test, try writing a scene in which an argument takes place.  Find some superficial yet combustible excuse for the row and also make sure that the readers know what it is really about, without ever spelling it out for them.  That's the hard part, the interesting part; the part that will make your reader want to know more.