In writing fiction how do you handle internalized thoughts? Are Italics enough?

Pamster · Jan 14, 2007

Like for instance this line:

Why do we have to do this stupid stuff anyway? It doesn't prove we can do good at anything. I wish I could do it better and make those girls shut up, Patty thought to her self, still fighting to hold in her emotions.

Are the italics enough or should it have a single quote like this and italics?

'Why do we have to do this stupid stuff anyway? It doesn't prove we can do good at anything. I wish I could do it better and make those girls shut up,' Patty thought to her self, still fighting to hold in her emotions.

(Hope this is the right forum for this inquiry...)

Siddow · Jan 14, 2007

JMHO, but I would skip the italics if you have 'she thought' in there. That makes it clear it's a thought. Plus, I'm not really fond of italics; think about it: if you put every line that was a thought in italics, you'll most likely end up with a lot of italics. Also, I would change 'she thought to herself' to simply 'she thought', because who else would she be thinking it to?

Pamster · Jan 14, 2007

Good points Siddow, thank you for replying.

Stormshine · Jan 14, 2007

I use italics occasionally when I have a thought that I really want emphasized. For instance, in my WIP my main character thinks I'm going to crash into the sea.

It just doesn't seem to be enough to just say that she realized she was about to crash into the sea. It's not really an idle thought.

I agree with Siddow that you don't need both italics and 'she thought' in there.

Pamster · Jan 16, 2007

Welcome to the Cooler Stormshine.

Thanks for posting.

Puma · Feb 18, 2007

Bumping this up

I'm bumping this up to see if we can get some more opinions on how to handle thoughts in writing. What's the best way to do it ...

1. Enclose thoughts in single quotes
2. Put thoughts in Italics
3. Do nothing with them, no special handling

I hope some of the grammar gurus find this thread and reply. Thanks. Puma

scarletpeaches · Feb 18, 2007

How exactly would one externalise thoughts anyway?

Sandi LeFaucheur · Feb 18, 2007

Because I write in first person or in third person limited, I use italics for thoughts without any tag. But I use thoughts--and therefore italics--sparingly.

maestrowork · Feb 18, 2007

Italics.

In first person, however, italics are not necessary.

If you use a tag like "he thought," italics are not necessary: What a son of a bitch, he thought.

Duncan J Macdonald · Feb 18, 2007

maestrowork said:
Italics.

In first person, however, italics are not necessary.

If you use a tag like "he thought," italics are not necessary: What a son of a bitch, he thought.

I'd argue that from a first person POV, even the tag is unnecessary.

I watched Mary saunter into the room. She had the most gorgeous eyes, but wearing that dress, no man who was still breathing would look higher than her chest. Damn but she was stacked. "Nice dress. It goes with your eyes."

Mae · Feb 18, 2007

IMHO, italics are fine if not overused. No quotes needed.

Silver King · Feb 18, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
How exactly would one externalise thoughts anyway?

By speaking.

maestrowork · Feb 18, 2007

Duncan J Macdonald said:
I'd argue that from a first person POV, even the tag is unnecessary.

Of course, I didn't say it was.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 18, 2007

Italics

Quotation marks are only for words spoken aloud. Italics are only for words and phrases that are supposed to be emphasized.

ErylRavenwell · Feb 18, 2007

Internalized thoughts?

Well, don't set them with quotes. Second example is correct (many writers do that). But if you tag it with "thought", then I'll suggest you use past tense for continuity.

scarletpeaches · Feb 18, 2007

Silver King said:
By speaking.

'Externalised' thoughts are not thoughts - you call that speech.

Thoughts, by their very definition, can only exist inside one's head, therefore there's no need to say they're 'internalised'.

ErylRavenwell · Feb 18, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
'Externalised' thoughts are not thoughts - you call that speech.

Thoughts, by their very definition, can only exist inside one's head, therefore there's no need to say they're 'internalised'.

It strikes me as peculiar as well for a thought to be characterised as "internalised".

In writing fiction how do you handle internalized thoughts? Are Italics enough?

Pamster

Counting Stars

Siddow

I'm super! Thanks for asking

Pamster

Counting Stars

Stormshine

Pamster

Counting Stars

Puma

Retired and loving it!

scarletpeaches

Sandi LeFaucheur

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Duncan J Macdonald

Plotting! Not Plodding!

Mae

this is me - is that you?

Silver King

Megalops Erectus

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Jamesaritchie

ErylRavenwell

scarletpeaches

ErylRavenwell