Writing sarcasm in dialogue?

AliceL · Feb 13, 2018

Greetings Human acquaintances, I'm wanting to write a character who is sarcastic in their interactions. I'm personally not the most sarcastic person so its hard for me to put myself in the head of that character and come up with things they would say. Do you guys have any tips for writing sarcastic dialogue?

Please let me know!

Quinn_Inuit · Feb 13, 2018

If you're not the most sarcastic person, don't try to put yourself in that character's head. Instead, imagine the sarcastic people you know are in their head, instead. What would they say?

blackcat777 · Feb 13, 2018

A favorite quote of mine: "Sarcasm is thinly veiled anger."

Something else that stuck with me is the idea that when your sarcasm becomes so advanced, people think you're stupid.

As in, sometimes people take the sarcastic person at face-value, which could frustrate, enrage, or entertain the sarcastic person.

Sarcastic characters can be entertaining, but when they have a REASON for their jaded/wounded attitudes, they become compelling. Why would a character need sarcasm to emotionally shield themselves, or vent frustrations they can't otherwise express? (Maybe the environment doesn't allow dissent; maybe the character lacks the skillset to communicate directly.) Sarcasm can be passive-aggressive.

Sarcasm pairs well with black, deadpan, tongue-in-cheek, and/or facetious humor. Like Cabernet and steak.

One of my fave Youtube comedy skits: Everyone's Upstairs Neighbors (SFW)
Note that whoever made this video most likely, at one point, HATED their upstairs neighbors (veiled rage element).

I live and die for Jon Lajoie, too (he's a comedian with a channel on Youtube, NSFW). He uses humor to deal with dark subject matter.

So for sarcasm to be effective, IMHO, it has to be either a jab at or a deflection of a deeper issue, something the character feels strongly about.

AliceL · Feb 13, 2018

Hahaha oh my god I just watched that video and it was hilarious. Thank you

Also thank you for your advice!

Enlightened · Feb 13, 2018

I think sarcasm can make a character unsympathetic; i.e. if they do it too much, reader's may get turned off. It can be read as the victim of the sarcasm is deemed inferior, or the reader, in the reader's mind, may be deemed inferior if they do not understand what was said (directly from the author).

Know your audience, be judicious with it, and craft your words carefully.

There's a YouTube user (ashens). He's rather intelligent. He has a doctorate in psychology. He is a comedian, game reviewer, food taster, and what not. His remarks are very witty at times, and unscripted. He once called desiccated potatoes (in a microwavable cup to be rehydrated with water) "allegorical potatoes." Something symbolic of potatoes. This example is snarky and sarcastic. It can turn viewers (or readers for authors) off if they do not know what he means. This can be off-putting for some viewers/readers, as if their intelligence is scoffed at if they do not understand the meaning of the humor.

If you are not comfortable with it, be very careful how you use it.

The Urban Spaceman · Feb 13, 2018

AliceL said:
Do you guys have any tips for writing sarcastic dialogue?

Please let me know!

Start small and simple.

That's such a good idea.
So glad I came along on this road trip.
You're a genius, Joe.
Oh good, Toni's here. Just what we need.

It might help to read/watch some books/TV that employs sarcasm and dark humour to get a better feel for it. I recommend Blackadder.

indianroads · Feb 14, 2018

Would you say that there is an element of (false) moral or intellectual superiority that goes to the root of sarcasm?

April Swanson · Feb 14, 2018

Study Father Jessup - the most sarcastic priest in Ireland :greenie

blacbird · Feb 14, 2018

Or Raymond Chandler's famous detective, Philip Marlowe.

Or more threads here at AW.

caw

MythMonger · Feb 14, 2018

I think one of the toughest things about writing sarcasm is that it's not always obvious. It relies heavily on tone, and that's not always easy to do on the page.

You could...
be blunt: "What a great tie," he said sarcastically.
use a simile: "What a great tie." The sarcasm dripped off his lips like vinegar.
use context: He wrinkled his nose and grimaced. "What a great tie," he said.
use the reactions of others: "What a great tie," he said.
"There's no need for sarcasm."
overwrite it: "That's the best tie ever. No better tie in the history of mankind! The mustard stain? Perfection!"

The key is to make it obvious that you intend to be sarcastic. If you can read it the exact same way without the statement being sarcastic, you could confuse your reader.

Harlequin · Feb 14, 2018

Sarcasm is sort of like a disease. You have it or you don't, but it is contagious (you can catch it by hanging around sarcastic bastards.) Once infected, you rapidly progress through the stages. The more advanced your case, the more it comes through in writing.

Best thing to do is go get infected I reckon.

The Urban Spaceman · Feb 14, 2018

I would add, very few people like an overly sarcastic character. I like to pepper small doses of sarcasm in my stories, coming from characters who use sarcasm in situations which warrant it. Otherwise, you end up with someone sounding like stroppy teenager Kevin, out of Harry Enfield's Kevin and Perry sketch.

blacbird · Feb 14, 2018

The Urban Spaceman said:
I would add, very few people like an overly sarcastic character.

Yeah, but there's no law say a reader has to "like" a character. What a character has to be is interesting. George Macdonald Fraser's Flashman is an eminently unlikeable character who is fascinating nonetheless.

caw

blackcat777 · Feb 14, 2018

I would add, very few people like an overly sarcastic character.

I think this is why I find sarcasm as a veil for an emotion a character can't directly express the most compelling kind, because it sets the stage to explore inner conflict, what a character says is not what the character wants, and the motivation for those two things being out of line.

A character who just drops witty lines for the sake of it may come off as pretentious to some readers who don't share the same sense of humor. Sarcasm isn't everyone's cup of tea, but EVERYONE reads for and relates to conflict. So make the sarcasm serve the conflict.

BethS · Feb 15, 2018

MythMonger said:
I think one of the toughest things about writing sarcasm is that it's not always obvious. It relies heavily on tone, and that's not always easy to do on the page.

True. But it also relies on context--the situation and the characters involved. Sarcasm works best when it doesn't have to be explained. Explanations often come across as heavy handed and can spoil the effect.

AliceL · Feb 15, 2018

MythMonger said:
I think one of the toughest things about writing sarcasm is that it's not always obvious. It relies heavily on tone, and that's not always easy to do on the page.

You could...
be blunt: "What a great tie," he said sarcastically.
use a simile: "What a great tie." The sarcasm dripped off his lips like vinegar.
use context: He wrinkled his nose and grimaced. "What a great tie," he said.
use the reactions of others: "What a great tie," he said.
"There's no need for sarcasm."
overwrite it: "That's the best tie ever. No better tie in the history of mankind! The mustard stain? Perfection!"

The key is to make it obvious that you intend to be sarcastic. If you can read it the exact same way without the statement being sarcastic, you could confuse your reader.

Thank you for all the helpful examples! I mainly write with my works as comics/manga, so would it be sufficient to express the character’s sarcasm through their facial expression alone?

BethS · Feb 15, 2018

AliceL said:
Thank you for all the helpful examples! I mainly write with my works as comics/manga, so would it be sufficient to express the character’s sarcasm through their facial expression alone?

If you can do that, sure.

neandermagnon · Feb 15, 2018

On the BBC subtitles, a sarcastic tone of voice is indicated by (!) e.g. "that's bloody marvellous, isn't it(!)" - don't know if that would work in comics.

IMO the situation should make the sarcasm obvious, e.g.:

Jeremy stumbled into the office completely drenched, his hair completely messed up from the howling gale and driving rain, clutching an umbrella that was turned inside-out and bent beyond all repair.
"Delightful weather today, isn't it?" Sandra smiled at him sympathetically over her laptop monitor.
"Abso-bloody-lutely charming. I can see why this gorgeous little town is the buzzing tourist hotspot that it is. And it's a good job we have waterproof computers as the amount of water I've absorbed might short circuit them otherwise." He threw the broken umbrella in the bin and squelched into his chair.

I also disagree that sarcasm is only ever snarky and aggressive or that sarcastic characters are unlikeable. It can also be used to make light of a difficult situation, cheer people up and share a joke (especially a joke about something unpleasant or difficult). Well executed sarcasm makes characters come across as witty and sociable.

Granted that I know there are differences in how sarcasm's done depending on what side of the pond you're on.

Harlequin · Feb 16, 2018

as in, illustrating their sarcasm? (As opposed to describing facial features).

JoB42 · Feb 16, 2018

Just what we need, more sarcasm. Thank God for never letting that well go dry.

Blinkk · Feb 16, 2018

I grew up in New York. Sarcasm is everyone's second language there. Later I moved to northern CA, and I have to be realllllly careful how I use it because my strain of sarcasm can be off-putting to the lovely hippiefolk.

I've noticed there are different types of sarcasm in the world. My friends in NY used to be really mean to each other under the guise of sarcasm. We'd aim for the throat and roast each other. I can be really mean if I want to, but I only whip that out on people I love the most. To me, it's like saying, "We are so close that I know your deepest darkest insecurities and I love you so much that I can use that as a weapon against you in a very safe and controlled way." In New York, my friends and I did it as love. Which made my parents really confused at to why I hang out with people like that.

I've noticed that if I unleash the personal-insulting-sacrasm towards some of my friends in CA, it can sometimes be too much. I try to tone it down and instead of commenting on people's most sensitive spots, I try to stick with more general things. Still the same observances, just targeted towards a general thing instead of an individual person. It's kind of like porn...it's hard to explain this concept, but I know it when I see it.

I think the easiest type of sarcasm is the "opposite" type. Find something your character dislikes and make them say they like it. Harlequin gave the best advice: best way to learn it is to get infected. You'll start seeing the different stages once you start using it.

konstantineblacke · Feb 16, 2018

When it comes to sarcasm, most of the time it is mistaken for nastiness. If you stay true to the meaning of the word, I believe your work will be better for it. If you really wan't to know how sarcasm works in dialogue try and get a hold of the show 'Black Books' a BBC production (and the English know how to do sarcasm). I'm sure Youtube will have it if it's not elsewhere

One of my favourite scenes from the show goes something like this,

Customer goes up to the owner with a damaged book: "Excuse me, but I think you should do something about the price of this book. Look at it."
Owner examines book: "You're right! I'll mark it up 50 pence."
Customer: "But it's damaged, I'm not paying more for a damaged book."
Owner: "Well, it's now an original, and therefore worth more now, isn't it?"
Customer hands over the extra money.

Makes me laugh every time

TheLimitDoesNotExist · Feb 17, 2018

Blinkk said:
I grew up in New York. Sarcasm is everyone's second language there. Later I moved to northern CA, and I have to be realllllly careful how I use it because my strain of sarcasm can be off-putting to the lovely hippiefolk.

I've noticed there are different types of sarcasm in the world. My friends in NY used to be really mean to each other under the guise of sarcasm. We'd aim for the throat and roast each other. I can be really mean if I want to, but I only whip that out on people I love the most. To me, it's like saying, "We are so close that I know your deepest darkest insecurities and I love you so much that I can use that as a weapon against you in a very safe and controlled way." In New York, my friends and I did it as love. Which made my parents really confused at to why I hang out with people like that.

I've noticed that if I unleash the personal-insulting-sacrasm towards some of my friends in CA, it can sometimes be too much. I try to tone it down and instead of commenting on people's most sensitive spots, I try to stick with more general things. Still the same observances, just targeted towards a general thing instead of an individual person. It's kind of like porn...it's hard to explain this concept, but I know it when I see it.

I think the easiest type of sarcasm is the "opposite" type. Find something your character dislikes and make them say they like it. Harlequin gave the best advice: best way to learn it is to get infected. You'll start seeing the different stages once you start using it.

I lived in NY for a few years, and I’ve been in the Navy for 6 years. We ROAST each other in the Navy. Way worse than anything I ever heard as a civilian. Lately I’ve been hanging out with more civilians through church and another site that is unrelated to writing, and I have noticed that even comments that are very light by Navy standards come across as blasting to them. I have to be really careful, because the kind of stuff we say to each other on the ship would get you in a lot of trouble in the “real” world. Totally get where you’re coming from there. Also makes me not want to use sarcasm in my writing for that same reason.

Blinkk · Feb 26, 2018

TheLimitDoesNotExist said:
I lived in NY for a few years, and I’ve been in the Navy for 6 years. We ROAST each other in the Navy. Way worse than anything I ever heard as a civilian. Lately I’ve been hanging out with more civilians through church and another site that is unrelated to writing, and I have noticed that even comments that are very light by Navy standards come across as blasting to them. I have to be really careful, because the kind of stuff we say to each other on the ship would get you in a lot of trouble in the “real” world. Totally get where you’re coming from there. Also makes me not want to use sarcasm in my writing for that same reason.

lol don't come to Nor Cal, the hippies won't know what to do with you.

I can only imagine how brutal the Navy is. Haha, I bet it's also full of really strong friendships. Roasting can sometimes be a form of trust and closeness. Not many people understand. Actually, weirdly enough, there are a lot of meme communities online that understand this concept. They're full of horrible, terrible, awful humor that goes for the throat, but people feel closer after they've shared the memes. I like sarcasm because of the community it creates. It's a very weird concept, I know but those friendships sneak up on you. It's hard to explain. It just is.

The Black Prince · Feb 27, 2018

In all seriousness, if sarcasm isn't totally second nature to you - avoid it like the plague. Anything you try will (in all likelihood) seem hollow, clichéd or awkward if you can't nail it like a native.

We Australians tear the crap out of each other all the time and suck up sarcasm with our mother's milk. So do the poms.

Writing sarcasm in dialogue?

New Fish; Learning About [REDACTED]

Not a real eskimo

New Fish; Learning About [REDACTED]

Always Learning

Existential quandary

Wherever I go, there I am.

Happy Beeps

Willing to Learn

Eat books, not brains!

Existential quandary

New Fish; Learning About [REDACTED]

Nolite timere, consilium callidum habeo!

Eat books, not brains!

Searching for dragons

Searching for dragons