Sarcasm - Page 4

maestrowork · 02-22-2006, 02:31 AM

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

scribbler1382 · 02-22-2006, 02:33 AM

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

Celia Cyanide · 02-22-2006, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamesaritchie

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 · 02-22-2006, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maestrowork

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 · 02-22-2006, 03:37 AM

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

Christine N. · 02-22-2006, 03:43 AM

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 · 02-22-2006, 03:57 AM

"Christine is so sarcastic," Ray said sarcastically.

scarletpeaches · 02-22-2006, 04:01 AM

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 · 02-22-2006, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christine N.

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 · 02-22-2006, 09:44 AM

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 · 02-22-2006, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewel101

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 · 02-22-2006, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewel101

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 · 02-22-2006, 06:43 PM

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

scribbler1382 · 02-22-2006, 07:27 PM

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

Cheryll · 02-22-2006, 08:43 PM

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

Cheryll

loquax · 02-22-2006, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow_Ferret

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.

02-22-2006, 02:31 AM	#76
maestrowork Surrender to the Death Ray Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: wgasa Posts: 38,305	Smart-a$$. That's the word I was thinking about. And no, that's not the same as being sarcastic. __________________ I didn't want to work. It was as simple as that. I distrusted work, disliked it. I thought it was a very bad thing that the human race had unfortunately invented for itself. -- Agatha Christie The Pacific Between • A Bunch of Stories (2006 IPPY Award) WIP: The Terrapin's Trail - 155,000 words Home Page \| Blog \| Reviews

02-22-2006, 02:33 AM	#77
scribbler1382 RUE: Resist the Urge to Edit Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Posts: 1,429	I actually liked your adding of "as if" to the phrase. I knew exactly how that would sound. __________________ Marty "There's a lot of really good stuff in here, and some of it is even factual." -- Richard Castle __________________________________________________ ______ www.soderstrom.ca msoderstrom.blogspot.com

02-22-2006, 03:37 AM	#80
maestrowork Surrender to the Death Ray Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: wgasa Posts: 38,305	Remember, fiction and real life are different. Most people wouldn't make good fictional characters. __________________ I didn't want to work. It was as simple as that. I distrusted work, disliked it. I thought it was a very bad thing that the human race had unfortunately invented for itself. -- Agatha Christie The Pacific Between • A Bunch of Stories (2006 IPPY Award) WIP: The Terrapin's Trail - 155,000 words Home Page \| Blog \| Reviews

02-22-2006, 03:43 AM	#81
Christine N. studies Library Science Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Where the Wild Things Are Posts: 6,889	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.) __________________ Christine Young Adult Fantasy Author The Mirror of Yu-Huang (The Library of Athena, Book Three): coming in 2010 I tweet

02-22-2006, 03:57 AM	#82
maestrowork Surrender to the Death Ray Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: wgasa Posts: 38,305	"Christine is so sarcastic," Ray said sarcastically. __________________ I didn't want to work. It was as simple as that. I distrusted work, disliked it. I thought it was a very bad thing that the human race had unfortunately invented for itself. -- Agatha Christie The Pacific Between • A Bunch of Stories (2006 IPPY Award) WIP: The Terrapin's Trail - 155,000 words Home Page \| Blog \| Reviews

02-22-2006, 04:01 AM	#83
scarletpeaches One third of an unholy trinity Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Echelon, ushering in the Golden Age of PWNography Posts: 25,727	Yeah, but James always gives good advice, no-one on here is ever rude and maestro's just, like, waaaaaaaaaay too ugly for me. __________________ My blog: Scarlett Parrish * "So imperfectly what you should be..." -Adam Lambert

02-22-2006, 09:44 AM	#85
Jewel101 AW Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 265	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 ) __________________ Remind me to take my crasy pills, will ya?

02-22-2006, 06:43 PM	#88
maestrowork Surrender to the Death Ray Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: wgasa Posts: 38,305	"I'm sure you didn't mean to be stupid either," Alec said. __________________ I didn't want to work. It was as simple as that. I distrusted work, disliked it. I thought it was a very bad thing that the human race had unfortunately invented for itself. -- Agatha Christie The Pacific Between • A Bunch of Stories (2006 IPPY Award) WIP: The Terrapin's Trail - 155,000 words Home Page \| Blog \| Reviews

02-22-2006, 07:27 PM	#89
scribbler1382 RUE: Resist the Urge to Edit Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Posts: 1,429	"Yeah, and chickens don't mean to cluck," Alec said. __________________ Marty "There's a lot of really good stuff in here, and some of it is even factual." -- Richard Castle __________________________________________________ ______ www.soderstrom.ca msoderstrom.blogspot.com

02-22-2006, 08:43 PM	#90
Cheryll AW Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cheapeake, VA Posts: 549	Both suggestions by Marty and Ray work for me. The wording says it all. Cheryll __________________ ~ Never settle for the plain black shoes. ~

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