Mastering the Art of Character Thoughts in Writing

When crafting a narrative, diving into a character's thoughts can be a powerful tool to enhance your story. However, it's essential to approach this technique thoughtfully to ensure it enriches your plot rather than overwhelming it. Let's explore how to write character thoughts effectively without crafting an excessive amount of content.

Why Include Character Thoughts?

Consider why you're delving into a character's mental processes in the first place. It's not about capturing every fleeting thought but about choosing the thoughts that truly matter. Thoughtful reflections should contribute to character development, advance the scene, and propel the plot forward.

Character Development: Thoughts reveal a character's inner world, helping readers understand their motivations, flaws, and growth. Scene Advancement: Strategic thoughts can deepen the scene's emotional or thematic impact. Poetic Progression: In literary fiction, thoughts add depth and nuance, but in most genres, they should support the narrative, not overwhelm it.

When to Delve into Thoughts

Quick and ephemeral thoughts are more common in everyday life. Characters typically have lengthy, complex thoughts when they are deeply engaged in a specific topic or making significant decisions.

My advice is to provide thoughts with the attention they deserve. Ask yourself: How important is this to the character, and how easy is their decision?

For example, if a character is solving a mystery, their thoughts should be focused and purposeful. Instead of a random review, they should analyze the situation critically:

"OK, we know A happened and B and C. We don’t know what happened with D and E, so I need to chase those. Oh wait, what if C is false?"

In a romance, a character might reflect on a recent event:

"OK, he’s handsome and witty, but sloppy and forgetful. Should I try to fix him now or wait, or not fix him at all?"

Advancing the Story Through Thoughts

Thoughts need to serve a purpose. They should move the story forward, not be a collection of random musings. Here are some tips:

Planning: A detective reviews clues or a character contemplates their next move. Problem Solving: Characters analyze their situation and potential solutions. Decision Making: Characters make choices based on their reflections. Repeating Thought: New information justifies revisiting a previous thought.

For instance:

Initial Thought: "I need to chase D and E." (Replaces a random thought) Revised Thought: "What if C is false?" (Introduces new information)

Conclusion

Effective use of character thoughts can enrich your narrative and deepen reader engagement. However, it's crucial to be selective and purposeful. By focusing on thoughts that contribute to character development, scene advancement, and plot progression, you can craft a compelling and dynamic story. Always ask yourself how the thoughts serve the narrative, and ensure they move the story forward rather than become a random collection of musings.