hi all
when a character thoughts are not not said out loud should they be in quotation marks or be in italics?
thanks
Robert
In 3rd or 1st person?
In first person you don't really need to use italics because what the narrative is coming directly from the MC. In 3rd you'll want to use italics so we know it's the character's thoughts and not the author's. You should only use quotations when the character is speaking to another character.
These are things I've learned from experience. Others may disagree or differ in their opinions.
~Rian
it would be 3rd person
I think it's better to write "Joe thought that he looked snappy," than it is to write, "Joe thought, boy don't I look snappy?"
Neither of these are any good though, as they violate the show-don't-tell principle.
Better to write:
"Joe checked his teeth, straightened his tie, nodded at the mirror and then went outside."
Italics if the sentence is constructed like dialogue. It's not a hard and fast rule though so you can go without it if you are consistent about it. It's better to make the point of view character's thoughts flow seamlessly as part of the dialogue though by dipping into their thoughts here and there rather than repeatedly writing things like "he thought." But you get used to doing that with more experience.
thanks all
Just don't get creative in formating, whatever you do. If you are in a spot that it's cool to show us what he thought in a 3rd person and that is what you are going to do either use the italics or don't. There isn't any point in breaking immersion by having it be some weird thing you just made up like a uncommon font or who knows what. It won't convey extra meaning, and it will be a distraction.
I agree with Blair. It makes the writing less confusing.
