An actual author type question...

[RenzaJones]

It's true, I have an authorly type question. I'll give you a moment to recover...

alrighty that's enough. The question is this has anyone here ever written a story in first person in which the narrator's inner voice is a charcter? If so when the inner self of the character "talks" to the narrator is it in quotes? also Is the whole idea of the narrator conversing with her inner voice confusing as a story ? would it make the main character seem like a nutjob?

 

[minsue]

I converse with my inner voice regurlarly, but I try to keep the quotation marks to a minimum. Otherwise people look at me funny.

Of course, I am a nutjob, so I'm probably not qualified to answer your question. My inner voice is, but I'm not speaking to her today.

 

[RenzaJones]

lol I'm forever arguing with my inner voice she seems to think telling me I cannot do things will stop me. "You cannot eat a whole box of cookies" "you can't just unbutton your pants and wear a long shirt you need maternity clothes."
generally I tell her to shut her damn trap and have a cookie with me.

 

[destinie21]

lol I'm forever arguing with my inner voice she seems to think telling me I cannot do things will stop me. "You cannot eat a whole box of cookies" "you can't just unbutton your pants and wear a long shirt you need maternity clothes."
generally I tell her to shut her damn trap and have a cookie with me.

Tell your inner self to keep her paws off of my cookies, or at least have the decency to tell you to buy more.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I see nothing wrong with conversing with your "inner self" but you should probably give her a name or otherwise personify her such as "Conscience" or "Id" or something of that sort.

I would think you would have to put quotation marks around anything that is said, and include these pronouncements as separate paragraphs. The reason for quotation marks is to avoid confusing the readers and making your stories easier to read.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Renza, go grab a winnie the pooh book. Pooh's inner voice is always conversing with the narrator. So you should have no problem seeing how it should be punctuated If you son't have one handy I have the whole collection

By the way, if no one has told you today, you are yummy

-Colly

 

[RenzaJones]

I see nothing wrong with conversing with your "inner self" but you should probably give her a name or otherwise personify her such as "Conscience" or "Id" or something of that sort.

I would think you would have to put quotation marks around anything that is said, and include these pronouncements as separate paragraphs. The reason for quotation marks is to avoid confusing the readers and making your stories easier to read.

I've identified the voice as a charcter. and thanks

Babe I tried to keep her quiet but my inner voice said shut the hell up, no cookies for you
turns out inner me is a bitch.

 

[destinie21]

Psst outer you is a bitch too
lucky for you I love bitches(well not really plural just you)

 

[RenzaJones]

Renza, go grab a winnie the pooh book. Pooh's inner voice is always conversing with the narrator. So you should have no problem seeing how it should be punctuated If you son't have one handy I have the whole collection

By the way, if no one has told you today, you are yummy

-Colly

I don't happen to have any but if you want to hand deliver one to me please do. and wear the outfit from your AV)

 

[ABSTRUSE]

I see nothing wrong with conversing with your "inner self" but you should probably give her a name or otherwise personify her such as "Conscience" or "Id" or something of that sort.

I would think you would have to put quotation marks around anything that is said, and include these pronouncements as separate paragraphs. The reason for quotation marks is to avoid confusing the readers and making your stories easier to read.

I think her muse is pregnant too!

 

[RenzaJones]

I think her muse is pregnant too!

well no wonder I'm so hungry

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I don't happen to have any but if you want to hand deliver one to me please do. and wear the outfit from your AV)

I would look a little silly strolling down the streets of th ecity n that outfit don't ya think?

-Colly

 

[minsue]

I would look a little silly strolling down the streets of th ecity n that outfit don't ya think?

-Colly

Hmmm, silly is not quite the word that comes to mind.

 

[RenzaJones]

I would look a little silly strolling down the streets of th ecity n that outfit don't ya think?

-Colly

psst you mispelled sexy. It's okay I forgive you

 

[destinie21]

I would look a little silly strolling down the streets of th ecity n that outfit don't ya think?

-Colly

Yes you're right strolling would look silly you'd be better off sashaying.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Yes you're right strolling would look silly you'd be better off sashaying.

Can you teach me how to sashay?

Please?

-Colly

 

[Boota]

I wrote my novel in first person and had a few situations where the character was holding an internal dialogue as the narrator. I did it with single quotes and italics. All the spots were brief where it happened, though. Italics for large chunks of text might be distracting.

 

[destinie21]

Can you teach me how to sashay?

Please?

-Colly

it's all in the swing of the hips,
and I can definatly swing my hips

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I think I would look more silly sashaying

-Colly

 

[destinie21]

I think I would look more silly sashaying

-Colly

lol in that outfit I wouldn't give a damn how you were walking

 

[sirhugs]

There once was a thread where Weird Harold proposed single quotes for thoughts or 'inner self', so that's how I do it.

 

[mismused]

It's true, I have an authorly type question. I'll give you a moment to recover...

alrighty that's enough. The question is this has anyone here ever written a story in first person in which the narrator's inner voice is a charcter? If so when the inner self of the character "talks" to the narrator is it in quotes? also Is the whole idea of the narrator conversing with her inner voice confusing as a story ? would it make the main character seem like a nutjob?

=============================

I'm contemplating a story that would require just that, and my thinking has led me to a variety of ways to accomplish it:

Single quotes as already suggested
Italics as partially suggested.
Italics with single quotation marks.
Italics with regular quotation marks.
Different font.

Whatever you select, you would need to keep it consistent; that is, don't mix it up with any other voice/POV. Keeping it consistent is the hard part, I'd think, at least it has been so far for me (and I haven't gotten to far along at all).

If you do it, let us know, I'd love to see how it comes out.

mismused

 

[CharleyH]

I would look a little silly strolling down the streets of th ecity n that outfit don't ya think?

-Colly

LOLROTF and getting rug burn . . . that was great

 

[CharleyH]

I wrote my novel in first person and had a few situations where the character was holding an internal dialogue as the narrator. I did it with single quotes and italics. All the spots were brief where it happened, though. Italics for large chunks of text might be distracting.

I did think of single quotes right off the start too, since it is almost like a quote within a quote, a thought within a character. Unless of course, the inner character is not revealed until the end, in 'Fight Club' style?

Still not convinced about italics, but . . . in short sequences yes, yet editors, readers and me get a little irritated about italicized sequences longer than a word or sentence

 

[dr_mabeuse]

We had a discussion about this in the Editor's forum. The usually accepted way to indicate thought is with italics.

---dr.M.