tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post7195014933194881918..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: Internal Monologue: Some thoughtsStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-77018555270641442242015-08-30T18:27:04.484-05:002015-08-30T18:27:04.484-05:00Thanks for responding, Shannon!
But what if my ch...Thanks for responding, Shannon!<br /><br />But what if my character is nothing like me? Or, isn't supposed to be anything like me? Should I write from the perspective of someone more similar to myself? <br /><br />Perspective has been a real issue with me lately. I'm trying to figure it out. Which perspective is the best to write from? I mean, I know I want to write "I" but which character? The main one? Or someone with a more interesting point of view, or like I said, should I write myself intentionally into my story so I can write from that perspective?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-30003940984638548362015-08-24T13:06:14.237-05:002015-08-24T13:06:14.237-05:00Sure. It can be a problem, but this is one of thos...Sure. It can be a problem, but this is one of those things that practice will help with. It's good that you've noticed it and it's also probably good to note that all of our characters will inherently have a bit of us in them. We'll never erase ourselves completely.Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-91095839859671138952015-08-24T13:05:09.198-05:002015-08-24T13:05:09.198-05:00I can't say specifically, but white space on t...I can't say specifically, but white space on the page is actually a good thing. It's easier on the reader's eyes. I wouldn't reformat simply to shorten your page count.Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-31620537718115532432015-08-23T18:06:06.250-05:002015-08-23T18:06:06.250-05:00I guess I would tend to be in the first of the two...I guess I would tend to be in the first of the two groups you mentioned. However, I feel like if I do internal monologue too much all my point of view characters become... me, in essence - because I start assigning them my feelings towards their environment. It's a problem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-71690022613483581202015-08-23T14:31:19.030-05:002015-08-23T14:31:19.030-05:00Thanks for the post:) Internal monologue tends to ...Thanks for the post:) Internal monologue tends to be one of my strong points in writing. I've had a lot of it of late because my MC has someone else's voice stuck in his head. The whole situation adds so much to his character, and I look forward to writing more of him. The one problem I've had is his chapters coming out extra long because I format their conversations like dialogue. Any advice? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-84938065750926693112015-08-22T21:13:41.372-05:002015-08-22T21:13:41.372-05:00Thank you. Thank you. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-85826701984773861512015-08-22T12:45:32.612-05:002015-08-22T12:45:32.612-05:00Oh yeah! Those deep thinkers cause us lots of trou...Oh yeah! Those deep thinkers cause us lots of trouble. I'm glad this helped.Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-35607571442045865962015-08-22T12:44:44.799-05:002015-08-22T12:44:44.799-05:00This is perfect, actually. Very good. Some might t...This is perfect, actually. Very good. Some might try to italicize those thoughts, but it would make it so muddy and it's not at all necessary. Ramble on, girl!Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-49851857996089085012015-08-22T12:39:41.221-05:002015-08-22T12:39:41.221-05:00The principle is the same, but it may require you ...The principle is the same, but it may require you to adjust a few words. You want it to be easily readable. And it will vary based on how deep the point of view is. I write a very deep point of view and in my second novel, Pearla's point of view is written in third person. Here's a short excerpt from that.<br /><br />But Pearla can't stop thinking about the bracelet that seems to have captured his imagination.<br /><br />What does he want with it?<br /><br />And why didn't he tell the Prince he had other plans?Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-33805266995529206842015-08-22T10:37:21.333-05:002015-08-22T10:37:21.333-05:00Thank you for this post, it really helped! My curr...Thank you for this post, it really helped! My current MC is a really deep thinker and i have been debating how to place her thoughts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-84414419382378135862015-08-21T18:59:10.311-05:002015-08-21T18:59:10.311-05:00Bouncing off Anon's comment, but in a differen...Bouncing off Anon's comment, but in a different direction... With first person, a lot of the story kind of IS the character's thoughts, whether italicized or not. It's a little more subtle in third, I'm guessing. (Correct me if I'm wrong!) What's going through the POV character's mind can come across in either narrative or italicized thoughts.<br /><br />An excerpt from a story of mine:<br />She fairly flew to her chambers, where she flung herself onto the unmade bed. What would it take to make them see she was not made of glass? That she could ride and travel and walk in the woods without meeting immediately breaking?<br /><br />Those last two questions *could* be italicized, with the appropriate pronoun changes, but it's just another way to accomplish the same thing. Anyway, I'm not even sure whether I'm asking or answering a question... XD Don't mind me! I ramble sometimes.Tracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-33653909338505690972015-08-21T16:25:16.231-05:002015-08-21T16:25:16.231-05:00Thanks Shannon!Thanks Shannon!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-27028921016498899252015-08-21T14:55:59.629-05:002015-08-21T14:55:59.629-05:00Is internal dialogue different when writing in thi...Is internal dialogue different when writing in third person?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-51731238807693885292015-08-21T12:43:41.043-05:002015-08-21T12:43:41.043-05:00And I don't mind the typos ... my comment had ...And I don't mind the typos ... my comment had some too :). ~Savannah P. Anna Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15690260231019336738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-10761587294031443552015-08-21T12:36:58.193-05:002015-08-21T12:36:58.193-05:00You're welcome!You're welcome!Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-68340843134386621852015-08-21T12:36:46.190-05:002015-08-21T12:36:46.190-05:00Thanks Mrs. Dittemore, this really helped! I'l...Thanks Mrs. Dittemore, this really helped! I'll make sure not to bounce back and forth :). ~Savannah P. Anna Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15690260231019336738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-83773602504198011772015-08-21T12:36:45.124-05:002015-08-21T12:36:45.124-05:00Oh yes! That's what edits are for though.Oh yes! That's what edits are for though. Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-75952296089265509582015-08-21T12:18:39.915-05:002015-08-21T12:18:39.915-05:00Thanks for the post, I've been struggling with...Thanks for the post, I've been struggling with this for forever, and this was really helpful. Thank you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18392447732699639197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-42575426554790465212015-08-21T12:16:32.278-05:002015-08-21T12:16:32.278-05:00Thanks for this post! It was very helpful. My prob...Thanks for this post! It was very helpful. My problem with internal monologue is that I tend to put in too much, and it distracts from what's happening.<br /> -MiriamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-85670688721951163702015-08-21T12:03:17.525-05:002015-08-21T12:03:17.525-05:00Yes! Very normal. I'm sort of the opposite. I ...Yes! Very normal. I'm sort of the opposite. I don't italicize anything when I'm drafting, but when I'm editing there is the odd phrase here and there that gets the special treatment. Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-87890977958882773112015-08-21T12:01:44.306-05:002015-08-21T12:01:44.306-05:00Eh. I hate rules like this. I don't KNOW if it...Eh. I hate rules like this. I don't KNOW if it's true, but a good rule of thumb would be to stay true to your voice. Would your character ask the question? If so, it's probably okay. HOWEVER, when you're editing, you may find the narrative reads better without it. Sometimes we beat our readers over the head hoping they'll understand what we're trying to say, so we frame the question and then we ask the question and then we expect them to stew on it. It can be too much. Less is generally always more, so I understand the gist of your question up there, but I wouldn't hold hard and fast to it either. Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-38253405019445235042015-08-21T11:58:50.669-05:002015-08-21T11:58:50.669-05:00Dude. So many typos in that comment. I'm sorry...Dude. So many typos in that comment. I'm sorry. My brain was moving faster than my fingers.Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-13052784854998254222015-08-21T11:57:54.835-05:002015-08-21T11:57:54.835-05:00This is a perfect example of when using italics is...This is a perfect example of when using italics is beneficial to the reader. Yes, I say do it! As far as the formatting and quotation marks. I can't say specifically. I wonder if Jill or Steph would have an opinion here? Here's another dirty secret about publishing: there isn't ALWAYS a right way. Sometimes there's just they way you and your editor decide to do it. Your editor then puts together a Style Sheet explaining that to other in the publishing house who will read it. It's also helpful for future books in the series. ANYWAY, I digress. Whatever you decide to do with regards to the quotation marks, stick with it throughout the manuscript. If you bounce back and forth, you're inviting confusion. Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-49438040266869154062015-08-21T11:57:49.363-05:002015-08-21T11:57:49.363-05:00Really good post. I tend to write a lot of italic...Really good post. I tend to write a lot of italicized thoughts in my first draft and then weed them out as I go, turning them into dialogue or most times, just deleting them. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11316328217006467698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-61511436254305166022015-08-21T11:53:55.727-05:002015-08-21T11:53:55.727-05:00Fancy terms can confuse anyone! My motto, KEEP IT ...Fancy terms can confuse anyone! My motto, KEEP IT SIMPLE. Happy writing, girl!Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.com