Interior Dialogue

[crlisle]

How do you show interior dialogue for your main character? Do you put it in quotes? Do you italicize it? I have Googled this and just ended up confused. What is the best way for WoTF?

[disgruntledpeony]

How do you show interior dialogue for your main character? Do you put it in quotes? Do you italicize it? I have Googled this and just ended up confused. What is the best way for WoTF?

When you say interior dialogue, are you talking thought processes or an exchange between multiple characters? (Italics would probably be best for either, but if it's multiple characters speaking telepathically it may get a bit confusing.)

[reigheena]

I am a fan of free indirect speech, which does not use italics, but you can still use italics to convey direct thoughts. I have only seen quotes used for something said aloud, whether to themselves or another person.

[disgruntledpeony]

I am a fan of free indirect speech, which does not use italics, but you can still use italics to convey direct thoughts. I have only seen quotes used for something said aloud, whether to themselves or another person.

I'm also a fan of free indirect speech, though I've experimented with italics from time to time. It really depends on what I'm trying to do with a story, I guess.

I have, from time to time, literally had one character speak into another's head, because I've written stories where symbiotic spirit possession is a thing. In those cases, I use italics to represent the speaker who's less 'in control' talking directly into the other character's mind, and have the other character reply out loud. Makes for some interesting conversations (also potentially awkward if other people overhear, but that just makes for more interesting conflict).

[crlisle]

How do you show interior dialogue for your main character? Do you put it in quotes? Do you italicize it? I have Googled this and just ended up confused. What is the best way for WoTF?

When you say interior dialogue, are you talking thought processes or an exchange between multiple characters? (Italics would probably be best for either, but if it's multiple characters speaking telepathically it may get a bit confusing.)

I like the way you think! I was thinking along this line, "What is in the box?," he wondered. So I guess I should write it this way: What is in the box? he wondered.

[crlisle]

I am a fan of free indirect speech, which does not use italics, but you can still use italics to convey direct thoughts. I have only seen quotes used for something said aloud, whether to themselves or another person.

What is indirect free speech? Could you give me an example? It sounds intriguing.

[reigheena]

I am a fan of free indirect speech, which does not use italics, but you can still use italics to convey direct thoughts. I have only seen quotes used for something said aloud, whether to themselves or another person.

What is indirect free speech? Could you give me an example? It sounds intriguing.

https://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php ... speech.php gives a decent explanation. Basically, it's the thought, told in third person, without the "he thought" marker. So to use your box example:

free indirect speech

He set the box on the table. What had he put in here? He opened it.

vs direct thought

He set the box on the table. What did I put in here? He opened it.

[crlisle]

Yes, I see. Free indirect speech has more visual action to it. I get into the character's head easier vs direct thought. This is awesome! Thank you so much!

[reigheena]

You're welcome!

[morganb]

How do you show interior dialogue for your main character? Do you put it in quotes? Do you italicize it? I have Googled this and just ended up confused. What is the best way for WoTF?

When you say interior dialogue, are you talking thought processes or an exchange between multiple characters? (Italics would probably be best for either, but if it's multiple characters speaking telepathically it may get a bit confusing.)

I like the way you think! I was thinking along this line, "What is in the box?," he wondered. So I guess I should write it this way: What is in the box? he wondered.

You could also avoid the situation altogether by writing something like this:

He turned the box over, the inlaid woodwork smooth against his fingertips. The multi-colored grain patterns outside the box were beautiful, but the contents inside remained a mystery.

[crlisle]

When you say interior dialogue, are you talking thought processes or an exchange between multiple characters? (Italics would probably be best for either, but if it's multiple characters speaking telepathically it may get a bit confusing.)

I like the way you think! I was thinking along this line, "What is in the box?," he wondered. So I guess I should write it this way: What is in the box? he wondered.

You could also avoid the situation altogether by writing something like this:

He turned the box over, the inlaid woodwork smooth against his fingertips. The multi-colored grain patterns outside the box were beautiful, but the contents inside remained a mystery.

That is beautiful.