Buzz
If you're eager to master the art of crafting lively, vivid banter, you've landed in the perfect spot. Whether you're embarking on a novel or drafting a script, it's crucial to imbue your characters with a sense of depth in their speech, and banter serves as an excellent vehicle for achieving this. In this piece, we'll dissect the myriad ways you can create captivating banter while providing insight into honing those skills. Additionally, we'll furnish banter examples, offering you a practical understanding of infusing wit into your writing.
Key Steps
Subvert audience expectations subtly.
Banter thrives on subtly challenging expectations. Being too straightforward undermines its essence. Consider what the audience anticipates your character to say, then gently veer away from that anticipation. Remember, banter is only effective when it exudes amiability and amusement. If it leans towards acerbity or brevity, it simply morphs into traditional wit.
- John: “Oh, I’ll finish my homework. You should trust me a bit.”
Jane: “Trust? I'm uncertain about you. I'm not convinced you'll complete it, but I lack definitive evidence either way.”- Here, Jane alters the expected notion of 'trust' by depicting herself as uncertain. The audience anticipates expressions about trust, hence Jane's religious allusion is unexpected.
Add a dash of playful sass to heighten the moment.
Banter often straddles the line between teasing and flirtation. A clever, quick-witted remark can create tension and reveal character traits. When executed adeptly, it can truly animate the relationship between two characters.
- John: “Oh, don’t tease.”
Jane: “I’m anything but ordinary, darling.”- While John's comment implies Jane shouldn't tease, she cleverly interprets 'tease' as 'ordinary,' offering a secondary meaning. Adding “darling” transforms her boast into playful and flirtatious banter.
Exaggerate whimsically.
Exaggeration underscores that a phrase isn’t meant to be taken literally. Much banter occurs just beneath the literal surface of conversation. By playfully exaggerating, you signal to your audience that the dialogue isn't entirely serious. This cues them into the banter unfolding.
- John: “You’re unusually cheery today.”
Jane: “Woodchipper, perhaps. I barely slept a wink last night.”- Here, 'cheery' is read sarcastically by John. If Jane responded with sarcasm, it would lack the playful tone. Her mention of a “woodchipper” implies she’s utterly exhausted, a comically exaggerated response.
Unexpectedly reference past topics.
If you create a memorable scene, revisit it later. A callback is a humorous reference to a previous event in the story or plot. It's a simple way to bring a smile to your audience's face and recycle successful material.
- Imagine these characters as adults.
- John: “Isn’t it a school night? Why are you out so late?”
Jane: “Just expressing my teenage rebellion.” - Jane: “Hey John, what's up?”
John: “Not much. Just expressing my teenage rebellion.”
- John: “Isn’t it a school night? Why are you out so late?”
- The “school night” line is already playful, but the “teenage rebellion” comeback is a clever retort. John later turns the tables on Jane in a clever, humorous manner.
Add humor to a tense moment.
Weave banter around the plot's action for an unexpected twist. Sometimes it's not just what's said, but when it's said. If your characters are in a serious or perilous situation, injecting some surprising banter can catch your audience off guard.
- Imagine John and Jane entering a courtroom as witnesses in a criminal case.
- John: “I’m really nervous. I’ve never testified before.”
Jane: “Relax. You take stands all the time. Just yesterday, I saw you stand up twice. You'll be fine.”
- John: “I’m really nervous. I’ve never testified before.”
- Here, you'd expect Jane to reassure John, leading with “Relax. You'll be fine.” What follows is a silly (albeit slightly terrible) joke, completely unexpected given the circumstance.
Incorporate double meanings.
Double entendres add to the playful atmosphere. When characters employ double entendres, it suggests they're being intentionally flirtatious or elusive. In flirtatious banter, this sets the stage for relationship progression or tension building.
- John: “We seem like a perfect match.”
Jane: “I'd tend to agree. I definitely feel a spark.”- John means “match” in a romantic sense. Jane's mention of a “spark” indicates interest in him, aligning with both a romantic match and a fire-starting match.
Let the subtext do the talking.
Forcing banter to be “funny” often backfires. There's an old saying that explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog. You understand it better, but the frog dies in the process. Don't ruin your banter by being too explicit or overanalyzing it. Your audience is savvy enough to grasp the nuances.
- John: “What can I say? I’m a dog.”
Jane: “That’s amusing. I was just about to say you’re barking up the wrong tree.”- John’s remark about being a dog is a self-deprecating joke about pursuing multiple romantic interests. Jane's response suggests he's not making any progress with her. It would be far less engaging or playful if Jane simply said, “You're disgusting” or something similar.
Employ banter to drive the narrative.
Banter solely for the sake of banter is enjoyable, but lacks substance. It's acceptable to sprinkle in some quirky dialogue to flesh out a character, but once a characteristic is established, excessive use is unnecessary. Ideally, utilize banter to propel the storyline—whether by introducing conflict, influencing a character's decision, or disclosing crucial information.
- Consider the previous example (“That’s amusing. I was just about to say you’re barking up the wrong tree”). This dialogue line stands alone, yet it also showcases Jane's disinterest in pursuing a relationship with John. There's conflict!
- It's fine to enhance regular dialogue with playful banter, but avoid overwhelming the audience with excessive banter. Sometimes, less is more.
- Additionally, there's an element of realism to consider. People don't frequently use clever remarks and coy jokes in everyday conversations.
Maintain a light and informal banter.
If banter becomes too harsh or unkind, it deteriorates into petty arguments. Many mistakenly equate bickering with banter. A useful guideline is to inquire, “What is the purpose of the character's wit here?” If the intent is to be “cruel,” “complain,” or “sow discord,” it doesn't qualify as banter.
- John: “I really admire how you carry off that dress.”
Jane: “I appreciate my dress sense too. Unfortunately for you, it's not coming off.”- This dialogue could be construed as banter, depending on the scene's ambiance. If Jane is portrayed as romantically interested in John and the audience understands she's teasing, then it's banter. However, if John stands no chance with Jane and she holds no interest in him, it's merely teasing.
Avoid crossing the line into offensiveness.
Banter should never offend the audience with its inflammatory nature. It doesn't matter if it's “just a joke.” Intentionally cruel or offensive characters add little value to your work. Good banter should be akin to a refined cocktail—smooth and enjoyable, rather than jarring and headache-inducing.
- This doesn't imply that you can't include problematic characters if they serve the theme and purpose of your work. However, like a skilled chef, exercise caution when adding spice to your narrative.
