1. Internal Monologue (Stream of Consciousness):
* No quotation marks: This is often used for a raw, unfiltered flow of thoughts.
* Dashes can be used for emphasis or to indicate a sudden shift:
* "He was late. Always late. Why did he do this to her? – maybe he didn't mean to. Maybe he forgot."
* Italics can be used for emphasis:
* *He shouldn't have left. What would she think? He couldn't face her.*
2. Direct Thoughts:
* Quotation marks are used: This is for clear, distinct thoughts.
* The thought is usually set off with a comma or em dash:
* "Oh dear," she thought, "I hope I haven't forgotten anything."
* He glanced at her, his mind racing— *Is she going to be okay?*
3. Mixed Thought and Dialogue:
* Combine quotation marks and italics (or regular font):
* "He's coming back," she whispered, "I'm sure of it."
* "I can't believe this," he thought, *what have I gotten myself into?*
4. Thoughts in Third Person:
* Use "he/she thought" or a similar phrase:
* He thought about the storm raging outside. The rain was pounding against the windows.
* She wondered if he would ever call. The phone remained silent.
5. Punctuation Within Thoughts:
* Use regular punctuation within the thought, just as you would in a regular sentence:
* "He's so kind," she thought, "I wish I could tell him how I feel."
* "What am I doing here?" he thought. "This is crazy."
6. Formatting for Clarity:
* Paragraph breaks: If a character's thoughts are long or complex, break them into paragraphs to make them easier to read.
* Indentation: You can indent a thought if it's a separate paragraph.
* Italics for emphasis: Use italics sparingly for emphasis within a thought.
Example:
> "I'm so lost," she thought. *I'm supposed to be strong, but I'm falling apart.* She glanced at the empty seat next to her, the one that always held his presence. The air felt heavy, suffocating. *He's gone.* A tear slid down her cheek, tracing a path through the dust on her face. "What am I going to do?"
Important Notes:
* Consistency: Choose a style and stick with it throughout your book.
* Reader's experience: Use punctuation and formatting to create a smooth reading experience.
* Show, don't tell: Use thoughts to show the character's inner world and personality.
Let me know if you'd like me to elaborate on any specific aspect of punctuation for thoughts in a book!