Sarcasm

maestrowork · Feb 21, 2006

Smart-a$$. That's the word I was thinking about. And no, that's not the same as being sarcastic.

scribbler1382 · Feb 21, 2006

I actually liked your adding of "as if" to the phrase. I knew exactly how that would sound.

Celia Cyanide · Feb 21, 2006

Jamesaritchie said:
Again, I'd say watch Friends. Or better, if you think it doesn't work when written, I'd say read one of the scripts for Friends. No one needs to be told when sarcasm is being used. No explanations necessary.

Where do you get a script for Friends? I've never read one, so I don't really believe you that the sarcasm on that show has nothing to do with the actors and the directors.

PastMidnight · Feb 21, 2006

maestrowork said:
It's about choice. Make your characters interesting, even if they're just minor characters. If they're not the Chandler type, then why bother with sarcasm? Just let them say, "OK, Dad" then grumble a bit. Your readers won't care. If you want to use sarcasm, give it to a character who is a master of it. The writers of Friends know to give the sarcasm to Chandler, and keep the other characters straight, so to speak. Yeah, once in a while Ross might be saying something really sarcastic as well, but I bet Ross wouldn't have said "Right, Chandler" either. These characters are memorable because of their personalities and what they say or do. If you find yourself having to qualify everything these characters do or say, then you should reexamine if your characters are interesting enough.

It is true that every character has his or her "thing", the way that Chandler is known for his sarcasm. But I don't think that something like sarcasm needs to be limited only to the character who does it best. I agree with Sage that, even if you have a character who uses sarcasm all of the time, like Chandler, you can still have characters who use sarcasm in different ways. Chandler is a very extreme example and he is very dramatic when he does it. You can still have a character who uses sarcasm in a much more subtle way. My family had trouble getting used to my husband's sarcasm when they first met him, as he delivers it the same way as normal speech. This is very different from my brother-in-law, who can't help but bring his facial expressions and body language into it when he is using sarcasm. Both could be saying the same thing, but delivering it in a different way and receiving different reactions.

maestrowork · Feb 21, 2006

Remember, fiction and real life are different. Most people wouldn't make good fictional characters.

Christine N. · Feb 21, 2006

That was a very good post, James. Very enlightening, and I say that with no smart-a$$ tone whatsoever...

Of course, I could have said "Gee, thanks James, I guess now all those years of college were worthless, and I just should have asked you instead, and saved myself a whole buttload of money."

I GOT IT! (and James, you know I was just kidding

- putting your teaching to good use.)

maestrowork · Feb 21, 2006

"Christine is so sarcastic," Ray said sarcastically.

scarletpeaches · Feb 21, 2006

Yeah, but James always gives good advice, no-one on here is ever rude and maestro's just, like, waaaaaaaaaay too ugly for me.

Cheryll · Feb 21, 2006

Christine N. said:
Of course, I could have said "Gee, thanks James, I guess now all those years of college were worthless, and I just should have asked you instead, and saved myself a whole buttload of money."

Jewel101 · Feb 21, 2006

Well, now that we got that cleared, we can all help me (i search my doc and found one spot that I need to fix.)

Kaz and Tanya blinked while Alec snickered silently behind his hand.

“Oh! Well, I’m sorry, Twoubit. I didn’t mean to be offensive.” He withdrew and studied the square instead.

“I’m sure you didn’t.” Alec said, a bit sarcastically. Ajani hid his surprise at Alec’s remark and hoped that the other two didn’t sense the sarcasm. He didn’t think they did because Kaz smiled at the lad.

Alright, have at it. I need to show that Alec 'has that tone' towards this man. This is the first time too. I could simply tell, but I rather show, but my mind is drawing a blank so a little help is appreciated. (beside it'll be good practice

)

PastMidnight · Feb 22, 2006

Jewel101 said:
Well, now that we got that cleared, we can all help me (i search my doc and found one spot that I need to fix.)

Kaz and Tanya blinked while Alec snickered silently behind his hand.

“Oh! Well, I’m sorry, Twoubit. I didn’t mean to be offensive.” He withdrew and studied the square instead.

“I’m sure you didn’t.” Alec said, a bit sarcastically. Ajani hid his surprise at Alec’s remark and hoped that the other two didn’t sense the sarcasm. He didn’t think they did because Kaz smiled at the lad.

Could you clarify who it is that says the first bit of dialogue? Is it Ajani?

Shadow_Ferret · Feb 22, 2006

Jewel101 said:
Well, now that we got that cleared, we can all help me (i search my doc and found one spot that I need to fix.)

Kaz and Tanya blinked while Alec snickered silently behind his hand.

“Oh! Well, I’m sorry, Twoubit. I didn’t mean to be offensive.” He withdrew and studied the square instead.

“I’m sure you didn’t.” Alec said, a bit sarcastically. Ajani hid his surprise at Alec’s remark and hoped that the other two didn’t sense the sarcasm. He didn’t think they did because Kaz smiled at the lad.

Alright, have at it. I need to show that Alec 'has that tone' towards this man. This is the first time too. I could simply tell, but I rather show, but my mind is drawing a blank so a little help is appreciated. (beside it'll be good practice )

First, I think this is what JamesRitchie was refering to. In your case the person isn't being sarcastic, she's being snide or scornful.

Second, maybe if she said: "You just couldn't help yourself, it's natural," Alec said.

A line that actually has sarcasm in it.

maestrowork · Feb 22, 2006

"I'm sure you didn't mean to be stupid either," Alec said.

scribbler1382 · Feb 22, 2006

"Yeah, and chickens don't mean to cluck," Alec said.

Cheryll · Feb 22, 2006

Both suggestions by Marty and Ray work for me. The wording says it all.

Cheryll

loquax · Feb 22, 2006

Shadow_Ferret said:
First, I think this is what JamesRitchie was refering to. In your case the person isn't being sarcastic, she's being snide or scornful.

Indeed, with the examples ray and scribbler gave it would be hard "not to notice" the sarcasm, as you want some of your characters to do.

Sarcasm

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

scribbler1382

Write For You, Edit For The Reader

Celia Cyanide

Joker Groupie

PastMidnight

Oponionated

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Christine N.

haz a shiny new book cover

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

scarletpeaches

Cheryll

Jewel101

PastMidnight

Oponionated

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

scribbler1382

Write For You, Edit For The Reader

Cheryll

loquax

I verb nouns adverbly