Pietas, the immortal king, has a good bit of snark. You can read that post here. He also tends to be patronizing and condescending and is not above outright insult.
Writing a character with snark and a tendency to be imperious is a delightful experience. But when does that attitude go too far?
How do you know when to dial back a haughty character's arrogance?
Patronizing
A patronizing attitude reveals a character flaw, but it can be entertaining as well. How do you keep from going overboard? Here are 3 ways I found to temper my temperamental immortal king.
1 Do not use a patronizing attitude for no reason. Nothing alienates a reader faster than a character who is nasty to others just for the sake of being nasty. Make insults in the scene spring from an obvious need or cause. In the opening of Origin of Pietas: Bringer of Chaos, Pietas offers a direct insult to his father, but it's in response to his father's callous treatment.
2 Do not substitute a patronizing attitude when a scene calls for action. An action scene such as a fight or physical action can do much to advance the story. If you have your character just be snarky instead of dealing with danger, it comes off as negativity, or worse, as cowardice. Nothing says that you can't have your character mouth off during a fight. The fact that they can deal with physical action and still be able to think of something snarky to say says a lot about a person.
3 Do not allow the character to be verbally vicious unless the scene demands it. There is a big difference between disdain and cruelty. If your character insults someone viciously, ask yourself how that will move the story forward. Will it fuel the plot? Or do you intend the scene to show a major character flaw? If so, show the consequences as early as possible. Your character gets fired, or loses a friend, or someone takes it out on a person they love.
10 patronizing quips by Pietas
- Oh, how exciting. (delivered deadpan) One can scarcely articulate the excitement.
- I trust people, except for two types: those I know, and those I don't.
- You don't wrestle your demons, do you? You cuddle them.
- My father does indeed have a heart. It's shaped like a fist.
- Am I going to be arrogant my entire life? I think we both know the answer to that question.
- I see you're spoiling for a fight. Don't let me stop you. I'm ready to defeat you anytime.
- He states the obvious with such an astonishing sense of discovery.
- It's not that she's insane. It's that she's a high-functioning basket case.
- I won't be there. I don't attend irredeemably boring events.
- His life is a pedestrian and lamentable melodrama.
Just as in real life, actions and words have consequences. It's great to show the flaw, but remember to show the result as well.
Pietas inhabits many books in my story universe, including the Bringer of Chaos series, the Antonello Brothers, and Tales of the Chosen. Download a printable PDF list of my books: Booklist
Pick up the first story in the Bringer of Chaos series, Lights Out, free by joining a reader group!
https://kayelleallen.com/reader-groups
Origin of Pietas
Forged in Fire
Lights Out
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Great article – I love his comeback about his father’s heart!
A fitting “tribute” to the man. Reviewers in the Bringer of Chaos series tended to agree that “his father needs to get dead.” 🙂
Patronizing characters can be great fun to write. I wrote a novella that was a tribute to H.P. Lovecraft. Nyarlathotep, or at least my interpretation of him, does patronizing very well. Great post!
~cie~
Thank you. I think this kind of character is such a hoot. I started out writing Pietas as a bad guy, and he can be very bad indeed, but I finally realized he’s more of an antihero, and generally, though the others want to throttle the man, he isn’t the enemy. 🙂
I don’t know if this is a duplicate comment. I have so much trouble commenting on WordPress blogs it isn’t even funny!
This is a great post. Writing condescending characters can be a lot of fun, I think.
~cie from naughty netherworld press~
If this is a duplicate, that’s okay 🙂 And thank you! I agree.
What a great post and good advice. I have a character who is really a nice guy but a shock and a fear for his son make him say things he shouldn’t have.
Our kids do that to us, don’t they? And friends can be right behind them. :O
Interesting post. Thanks for sharing. I love a character with snark. LOL Good luck!
Me too, Tena. Especially for this guy. 🙂
Great advice! Sardonic humor, like a sword, can cut both ways. Your article reminds me of an old saw: “A gentleman never insults anyone unintentionally.” (Paraphrased from a quip often credited to Oscar Wilde.) By the way, “I trust people, except for two types: those I know, and those I don’t” made me laugh aloud.
I love yours! That’s so Pietas. 🙂