Bantering: Funny or Annoying?

My two main characters have a big habit of arguing with each other, making cracks at each other, and just pushing each other's buttons. It's all in good fun, but still, I'm a bit nervous about it. When does it become annoying? When is it just rendundant? And how do I know it's entertaining for the readers, and not just me?

My thoughts are it can be tempered by the following... 1) Balancing it out with serious conversations and moments where there are no jokes,so it's not just bantering all the way through. 2) Making it so the jokes and cracks aren't just the same thing over and over, so it's not just the same conversation over and over again.

Thoughts, ideas?

In my opinion, stuff like that gets annoying starting from the second time it's shown, almost completely regardless of writing. Unless the arguing is radically different every single time, it gets old really quickly.

edited 6th Mar '12 7:49:19 PM by burnpsy

While I am always eager to point out the brilliance of Pulp Fiction in effective banter use, it's an example that needs to be carefully studied and dissected before use. Jules and Vincent are chatting away on the most asinine of subjects... while heading to threaten, cajole, and kill. This serves to establish that they're far too used to their business to be considered mentally healthy.

Also, the debate needs to be different every time, and it doesn't hurt if it bears some relevance. The relevance can be tangential, though, like a discussion on the merits of Superman and Batman being echoed when the time comes to try and solve a problem with honor and force, or ruthless guile.

edited 6th Mar '12 7:57:46 PM by KillerClowns

It works better when it's not the focus of the scene.

This. I have characters "banter" pretty regularly (though that's not the same as arguing), but I rarely make it the focus of a scene. Its goal isn't to elicit laughs, but to show what the characters are like and maybe get a smile or two from the readers.

Also seconded.

edited 6th Mar '12 8:45:34 PM by nrjxll

It's something that also typically works better in visual media than in literature.

Correction: A medium with audio

Then you can use timing.

Actually, I think it is the visual part that matters - with that, you can have it be in the "background".

It can probably work well in purely visual media (i.e. comics) even if you regard timing as important, because you can do timing stuff with comics.

I think that if you use bantering, it should have some sort of purpose within the story instead of being just "there". Is it an Establishing Character Moment? Does it move the plot forward in some way? Does it forshadow a future situation where the bantering characters might have to apply what they talked about? Is it a setup for a Brick Joke? If none of these apply, then it's probably not necessary.

I'd also have to agree with the idea that it should be used as sparingly as possible to avoid becoming annoying, especially if it's the central focus of a particular scene.

I am of the opinion that if done well, banter can add considerable depth to characterization. Just via an unassuming small talk, we can learn a lot about how a character is like, what they do outside of serving the plot. Banter is also an effective way to make exposition interesting without feeling contrived.

edited 7th Mar '12 3:18:27 AM by Nightwire

Some of the best scenes in Firefly was just them, around the table, talking after the mission. It isn't banter if it's characterization.

Like everything else about writing, it can be horrible, wonderful, or anywhere in-between. it's all in how well the writer does it.