There’s Banter for That: 4 Elements to Upgrading Dialogue From Sweet to Sassy
Banter is hot right now, but don’t be fooled by characters pulling off witty dialogue. Mastering the art of verbal sparring may not come naturally, and that’s okay. This playful teasing is an unspoken test between two characters, each one asking without asking, Do we understand each other without explanation? This playful teasing has big shoes to fill in walking the story toward the final chapter.
Tip #1: Relate.
Let’s start by addressing what banter is not. It isn’t a dialogue assembly line to produce comebacks and one-liners, nor is it mean-spirited or cruel. Think of banter as a communication style for making clever, lighthearted small talk. Instead of trying to be smooth, consider creating relatable dialogue.
Think about moments where you commiserate with a friend over something “ordinary” like spilling a drink while at an important meeting, or someone stealing your parking spot. What is your reaction? Mostly likely it is colorful, vibrant, and from-the-gut. Take your characters and apply similar, honest reactions by exaggerating their words and feelings. Use their reaction to show the reader they can take a bad moment and poke fun at it.
These “we’ve all been there” times are significant in storytelling; they are like handing out humor to your characters without requiring much comedic legwork. What topics might characters “get” each other from the get-go? Think about movies, songs, food, there are hundreds more examples, a diehard country music lover will have clashing opinions if her date only listens to rock. You’re creating conflict from the topic, not pulling words out of thin air.
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When dialogue is grounded in common experiences, your audience can identify because they’ve had that conversation themselves. And like a good joke, you should never need to explain the punchline.
Tip #2: Create Intimacy.
Writing banter isn’t just for main characters with romantic intentions. This playful word exchange is for everyone. The 60-year-old, the angsty college student, or the middle-aged mom too tired to edit her words can all be characters with sharp tongues. Look at all your characters in a scene, what sets apart your main characters from everyone else? It’s intimacy, personal interaction.
You want your two main characters to have a series of small moments which can spur dialogue that’s just theirs, a private joke, a nickname, or a topic which sparks conflict. Conflict is a good thing, it pushes your characters to be who they are, say the wrong thing, and act like they feel.
Imagine Character A is having a rush-out-the-door morning and realizes as she’s about to board the commuter train that she put on two different high heels. Stressed, frazzled, and now she will miss an important meeting. She says to herself, “Great, now I have to rush home.”
Character B is on the train holding the doors and overhears, jumping right into the scene and adding fuel to the fire by saying, “Too bad you didn’t wear at least a running shoe.”
This example gives characters a private joke between them, unshared by secondary characters. Character B is making fun of the situation without hurting Character A and gives them a bond to reference later in the story. Sass is just saying what a character feels in the moment to prove they were paying attention.
Tip #3: Scene Matters.
If you think of dialogue as a layered process, consider how the scene comes into play. Treating banter like a fine-tooth comb will move the story along.
If two acquaintances are debating about cat versus dog ownership, there is a ton of room for coy comments, but make sure you use conversation intentionally. A page of dog/cat discussion might be your best work, but where are you going with the story? Slipping in coy comments should be used as a mechanism for revealing character vulnerability and foreshadowing.
Another trick to livening dialogue is to use questions instead of statements. “You’re saying since I’m a cat owner, I’m high maintenance?” Character A says.
“You said it,” Character B remarks. “Not me.”
We don’t know Character A’s life story, but maybe Character A is hinting at a sensitive subject, the way she views herself. Character B treads lightly, using her words to not get herself in trouble, she realizes there might be more to this comment. Playful teasing can break up a difficult conversation if applied gently.
Tip #4: Read Aloud.
Warning, this next tip might induce levels of discomfort. When your eyes glaze over because you’re staring at a string of dialogue for too long and nothing is working, level up and dust off your acting skills and—gulp—read aloud.
Sometimes the best way to smooth out the right line is by getting out of your comfort zone and working out the verbal kinks by speaking. If you expect your characters to speak naturally, put their words into practice. You might surprise yourself at how fast scene dynamics like body language, facial expressions, and dialogue change when you go off the page. The most amusing moments in your story might come from this exercise.
Don’t sweat if writing the perfect dialogue is an uphill battle, start small. Layer in one of these elements to quick start your scene. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all for creating banter, most of it comes with re-writing until the words work, but if you’re stuck, find relatable moments, create a memory just for the main characters, and use words intentionally. And if all else fails, read aloud.