Sarcasm

PastMidnight · Feb 19, 2006

Any suggestions for showing sarcasm but avoiding "she said sarcastically"? I'm drawing a blank here! My MC can't see the sarcastic speaker, so I can't use an action like eye rolling.

emeraldcite · Feb 19, 2006

Does the dialogue not come across as sarcastic?

reph · Feb 19, 2006

Clichés like "Big deal!" and "Famous last words" might help.

alleycat · Feb 19, 2006

Have the character mimic what the MC says, give false compliments, and be snippy. Something like:

"I tried my best," I told her.
"Oh, that was your best? I'd hate to see your worst."
"It was hard. Before I could-"
"Ah, it was so-oo hard. Poor baby."

I was getting nowhere with her. She was in a snit.

"Listen," I said. "What more do you want from me?"
"Nothing. I don't want anything from you."
"I'll try again."
"Well, aren't you special? And after such a long, hard day. Maybe you need a back rub and a nap first? Or a beer. Want me to get my poor, tired hero a beer?"

Tilly · Feb 19, 2006

I think it should come through the dialogue itself. If the reader knows the character, they'll pick it up.

Jewel101 · Feb 19, 2006

(looks around at everyone, nodding her head vigorously in agreement)

scarletpeaches · Feb 19, 2006

Wow, someone who doesn't know how to write sarcasm. Bet your book's gonna be sooo interesting.

PastMidnight · Feb 19, 2006

The line of dialogue as it stands can be read in another tone, so it is not unambiguously sarcastic. I agree, though, that the dialogue is probably the best place to express sarcasm here, since the MC can't see the speaker. I'll try to play around with the line of dialogue a bit, I suppose. The character is not necessarly a sarcastic person, but this is just how I've been hearing the line in my head.

maestrowork · Feb 19, 2006

If you have to write "she said sarcastically" then your dialogue is not doing its job.

badducky · Feb 19, 2006

ADVERBS=BAD.

English is a language of verbs. If you want to write well, focus on writing good verbs that stand alone, and never, ever use adverbs. Ever.

If the writing isn't clearly sarcastic, throwing in "sarcastically" and the like is only going to make a bad situation worse.

Every time you use an adverb, it's because you can't find the right verb.

PastMidnight · Feb 19, 2006

Writing "she said sarcastically" is exactly what I don't want to do. Speech can be ambiguous, which is why we often get misunderstandings of tone in letters and emails. That's why I was wondering if people had ideas of how to establish the tone in other ways.

scarletpeaches · Feb 19, 2006

Ordinarily I would say something like raising an eyebrow, or speaking in a deadpan tone of voice...it's a tricky one. You don't want to be ambiguous but at the same time you don't want to talk down to the reader.

maestrowork · Feb 19, 2006

If the dialogue is ambiguous, then do something this:

"I'm so happy I could burst," she said in another room.

He looked at his watch. He didn't like her sarcastic tone at all, not at 11 p.m.

Rambling · Feb 19, 2006

Some sarcasm might be ambigious from just the speaker's words, but the reaction will also provide a lot of clues -

"Do you want to go to the beach?"
"Love to."
"Well, then you chose what to do today."

"I think that's the best idea I've ever heard."
Pete brought back his arm, but was restrained before he could punch Stan.

The reader can't hear the sarcasm, but all the other characters in the room can - you can always use them.

PastMidnight · Feb 19, 2006

I think that I can rewrite the listener's reaction to reflect the sarcasm that she's heard. I think that it will also make a better transition into the next paragraph. Thanks! These were just the suggestions that I needed.

moblues · Feb 19, 2006

Your use of sarcasm will happen naturally as you get to know your characters. Once you understand their voices, this shouldn't be a problem.

Drat, I know I had the instructions somewhere. Am I supposed to mix first, or stir later and add humor followed by tension. Or is it to propel the plot and then include the odd transition? I always futz things up.

Just do what you're doing. You'll find the sarcasm within each voice that you create.

Mike

reph · Feb 19, 2006

If Character A speaks a line sarcastically, I-the-reader want to know it before Character B does. I'd rather not find out from B's reaction and have to go back to reinterpret what A said.

This would be a compromise:

"Well, aren't you the clever one!" Maxine said. She pretend-coughed into the phone. "Next you'll be legally changing your name to Einstein."

"Drop the sarcasm," I said. "I get enough of that from my students."

Jewel101 · Feb 19, 2006

You could use the situation For example:

"Hey, you wanna help me with the chores?" said Pete.

"Yea...I really want to help you with your chores." Said Sarah. "There's nothing I rather do."

See, obviously Sarah is being saracastic because who would want to do chores when they don't have to?. But that would work if your character is nice.

Christine N. · Feb 19, 2006

-ly and -ing words should be purged from your manuscript. (Not all of them, but all those that weaken the prose).

Vomaxx · Feb 19, 2006

badducky said:
ADVERBS=BAD.

English is a language of verbs. If you want to write well, focus on writing good verbs that stand alone, and never, ever use adverbs. Ever.

Are you writing sarcastically?

stace001 · Feb 19, 2006

scarletpeaches said:
Wow, someone who doesn't know how to write sarcasm. Bet your book's gonna be sooo interesting.

PastMidnight · Feb 20, 2006

Some of you keep cautioning me to not use adverbs, which I already do not do. I feel that I should defend my writing!

Christine N. · Feb 20, 2006

LOL, no, I don't think you need to do that. Once in a while we all need to be reminded of the rules. Adverbs aren't bad, necessarily (see?), but too many drag down the writing. You seem to know that.

Well, why don't you just tell us what the line is you're having trouble with, and we'll see what we can do about it.

scribbler1382 · Feb 20, 2006

It's best to remember that when questions are being answered/commented on in here, said posts are not necessarily directed toward the person who asked the original question.

Shadow_Ferret · Feb 20, 2006

What if what the character is saying ISN'T sarcastic but he is putting a sarcastic spin on it?

"How about pizza?" she asked.

"Oh, pizza will be fine," I said, sarcasm lacing my words. I was sick of pizza, but knew it was her favorite meal.

I mean sarcasm isn't necessarily in what is spoken but in HOW it is spoken, Something that won't necessarily come across in the written word. That's how sarcasm generally works in real life, its often the emphasis that indicates sarcasm.

Sarcasm

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