What techniques can you use to make your character's inner thoughts stand out?

1 Internal Monologue

An internal monologue is a powerful tool for revealing a character's private thoughts and feelings. By directly presenting the character's internal voice, you invite readers into their mind, creating an intimate connection. Use it sparingly to prevent overloading the narrative with introspection, but when done right, it can provide profound insights into the character's motivations and conflicts. Think of it as a private conversation that offers a glimpse of the character's true self, away from the external facade they may present to other characters.

2 Stream of Consciousness

Stream of consciousness is a literary technique that presents a character's thoughts as they occur, often in a disjointed or nonlinear fashion. This method can vividly illustrate the complexity of human thought and the way ideas and sensations intermingle in our minds. When you use this technique, aim to capture the rawness of your character's thoughts, letting readers experience the unfiltered essence of their consciousness. It's a way to showcase the character's personality and emotional state without the constraints of formal narrative structure.

3 Free Indirect Speech

Free indirect speech blurs the line between the narrator's voice and the character's thoughts, allowing you to express inner thoughts without quotation marks or italics. This technique provides a seamless way to incorporate a character's perspective into the third-person narrative. By adopting the character's language and viewpoints within the narration, you create an empathetic link between the reader and the character. It's a subtle yet effective method to make inner thoughts stand out without explicitly signaling them as such.

4 Reflective Dialogue

Dialogue can also be a vehicle for expressing a character's inner thoughts, especially when it includes reflective moments. Have your character express their internal considerations in conversation with others, which can reveal their thought process and personal struggles. This approach allows you to maintain the flow of interaction while still providing insight into what's going on beneath the surface. It's a dynamic way to expose the character's inner world through their spoken words.

5 Descriptive Action

Sometimes, actions speak louder than words. Descriptive action can convey what a character is thinking without stating it outright. Through detailed descriptions of a character's gestures, expressions, and reactions, you can hint at their internal state. This indirect approach requires readers to infer the character's thoughts based on observable behavior, engaging them more actively in the narrative. It's a show-don't-tell strategy that can make inner thoughts stand out through subtlety and implication.

6 Symbolic Imagery

Symbolic imagery involves using metaphors and symbols to represent a character's inner thoughts and emotions. By associating the character's feelings with images or objects, you create a visual shorthand that conveys complex ideas in an evocative way. This technique requires a bit more interpretation from readers but can add layers of meaning to your character's internal experiences. It's an artistic way to make inner thoughts resonate on a deeper, more symbolic level.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?