Michael T. Hare

Banter is crucial to a good story, and it’s helped me add a unique flavor to my characters’ relationships. My family knows that if they read one of my books, they’re in for some sweet back-and-forth banter, and today, I’m gonna share some of my secret sauce.

Banter scenes require fluidity—as in, the audience needs to feel as though they’re sliding down the page, the banter so natrual and connected that it’s almost soothing to read. Check out these short banter scenes from my favorite Christmas movie, Three Wise Men and a Baby:

Stephen: “She is very intense.”

Taylor: “Says the guy who arranges his socks by color gradient.”

Stephen: “Okay, Dungeons and Dragons.”

Taylor: “Okay, Pet Detective.”

Stephen: “I’m a pet therapist, not a pet detective!”

Taylor: “Alrighty, then.”

Mom: “Boys, please!”

See what I mean? Instead of bogging down the audience with lengthy monologues, we get these short, witty comebacks that form a sort of threaded sequence. Stephen’s line leads into Taylor’s, which leads into a round of name-calling, prompting a final insult before the mom interrupts the flow. With the power of banter, our character relationships can blossom into something memorable and comedic with very little content.

Here’s another scene. It takes place after Taylor gets banned from a local grocery store. Notice how, instead of having a well-rounded conversation, the brothers communicate through the use of quick one-liners? While it isn‘t the most polite way of speaking, it‘s an effective tool for a writer:

Taylor: “They shouldn’t allow children in stores.”

Stephen: “By children, are you referring to yourself?”

Taylor: “You’re so superior. My whole life, you think you’re better than me.”

Stephen: “At not being banned from grocery stores, yeah.”

Of course, banter isn’t limited to people who don‘t get along. I‘ve written plenty of friendly banter scenes with characters who do enjoy each other‘s company, and the tips and tricks remain the same (minus the mean-spirited environment, obviously, haha).

Untitled Dragon Rider Project has given me yet another opportunity to put these skills on the page. It contains my very first haters-to-lovers plot, and I‘m pretty psyched about it; think Hiccup and Astrid with some Elita-One and Orion Pax thrown in for good measure. It’s been fun so far, and it’s gonna be perfectly bizarre when they end up becoming best friends.

Banter will make your characters come to life. It keeps their conversations fresh and funny, making people itch to read the next bout. The key is to let it flow. Keep it witty. Keep it quick. Keep it connected, and your banter will flow like butter on stainless steel.

Until we next meet, traveler.