Quotation Ques. Character's Thoughts

[lickmyboot]

Help! I'm in need of editorial aid! When writing a character's thoughts, should I put them in quotes? Italicize? Do nothing except have the "she thought" tag? Here's an example:

Not likely, Trevor thought to himself with a grimace. Not likely at all.

I want to maintain consistancy throughout the story. Any advice would be appreaciated!

Thanks,

lickmyboot

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Either of those options would work, Lick', as long as you maintain that consistency.

Some people prefer to use single quotation marks (assuming you're using double quotes for speech - it's important not to get thought and speech notations confused); others prefer italics, but in that case it's better not to have too long sections of stream of consciousness.

Personally, I think that thoughts fall in the territory of the narrator. Following your exemple, I would simply go for:

Not likely, Trevor thought with a grimace. Not likely at all.

"Thought to himself" is one of those pleonastic no-nos.

 

[HawaiiBill]

Thinking

Maybe it's because erotica is such a head job, if you'll pardon the intrusion, but this question comes up fairly often. Reference works can be found for any combination you like so the bottom line is, "Do it any way you like but do be consistent."

In literature you will find examples of italics, single or double quotes and without any indication at all, as Lauren notes.

Frankly, that's the way I like it, he thought.

 

[zephrbabe]

Right, do what you want, and be consistent. If you have a problem doing so (I know I sometimes do), that's what editors are there for.

Faulkner had three kinds of thought: what people say aloud, put in double quotes, what people consciously think in single quotes, and somene's subconscious thoughts, written in italics. That way, it was much easier to indicate motivation, and to display how what people say, think, and feel aren't always the same.

In my stories, I use telepathy, so any telepathic conversation is italicized, regular speech is in " ", and personal thoughts are plainly written (Yeah right, she thought.)

-Kathryn