Thoughts in stories

[AsheBurn]

Do thoughts in stories require quotation marks? I have been writing them without them. Thanks.

 

[mokkelke]

think you have to stick what feels right for you. Personally when I have a conversation going I use " ", when I want to incorporate thoughts I put them in italics so it it's more clear for the reader what the actual thought is.

 

[sr71plt]

think you have to stick what feels right for you. Personally when I have a conversation going I use " ", when I want to incorporate thoughts I put them in italics so it it's more clear for the reader what the actual thought is.

It's not a really great idea to use more than one treatment in a story. It's confusing for the reader. Consistency is important to a clear read.

 

[Experiencedguy]

It is your story, so whatever you are comfortable with fits. This site is not known for going with precise literary guidelines. I would, however, suggest that you find some way of letting the readers know the difference between spoken words and thoughts.

 

[Penelope Street]

Like mokkelke, I reserve quotation marks for words actually spoken and use italics to represent thoughts, but I don't believe there is a single standard, so the most important thing is to simply be consistent within a story.

 

[sr71plt]

Like mokkelke, I reserve quotation marks for words actually spoken and use italics to represent thoughts, but I don't believe there is a single standard, so the most important thing is to simply be consistent within a story.

Well, yes, in U.S. publishing there's a standard (Chicago Manual of Style 11.47--either roman font with double quotes or roman font with no quotes).

But I agree that on Lit. would be just fine to go with one choice (not a mix) of these or italics. (I prefer italics myself.)

It's just that . . . yes there is a publishing standard for these things.

 

[Penelope Street]

..in U.S. publishing there's a standard...

I agree, in the states, publishers widely recognize the CMS, but it's hardly universal, even within that context.

P.S.
With Chicago in the title, I'm surprised anyone from New York uses it, lol.

 

[Penelope Street]

There's another thread by the same author with the same subject matter in the Editor's Forum, which is probably the better place for it. Any additional comments can be directed there.

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=734383