How to write an interior monologue that doesn't bore readers to death?

Chances are you've already written one but you probably don't know how to write an interior monologue in a focused way. Many authors abuse these internal reflections (also called "introspections"), thinking they provide adequate character development when in fact, they are simply telling the reader everything the reader would like to be shown .

If you want to have substantial characterization while giving the reader a peek inside the character's motivations, goals, and emotions, it's important to learn how to write interior monologues.

What is an internal monologue?

Simply put, an interior monologue is a snapshot of an in-depth narration about the thoughts and feelings of the character where he is thinking about his life, contemplating the circumstances, happenings, situations and it all takes place in his mind.

Unlike a monologue in a movie or TV show, an internal monologue is exactly as described: internal. It takes place in the character's mind, and is only sometimes accompanied by the narrator's thoughts, depending on the narrative style of the story.

How to write an interior monologue that isn't boring

A writer would never want readers to put their book down, but they especially don't want that to happen when they read insights into a character. Learning to write an inner monologue that is good and purposeful takes many steps and are the parts your editor will recommend you rewrite most often.

These are important tips to remember and use whenever writing a monologue.

1. Understand your character

Before you dive into writing an inner monologue, it's crucial that you have a deep understanding of your character. Consider their background, experiences, personality traits, and motivations .

The interior monologue should reflect the character's unique voice, thoughts, and emotional ensemble. Think about his choices of language, syntax and vocabulary. By immersing yourself in his psyche, you'll be better equipped to create an authentic and believable inner monologue.

But that is not all. The interior monologue is to show your reader how your character thinks and operates.

Does he justify his bad decisions through multiple levels of thinking?

How does he distinguish a good idea from a bad one?

What is his general thought process and what does he consider when deep in thought?

These details all come from the initial development of the character in the first place. Each character who gets a point of view will have a different "sound" to their internal monologues and that's what develops them.

2. Create a distinctive voice

Each character has a distinctive voice and the interior monologue provides an excellent opportunity to showcase it. Pay attention to the character's speech patterns, quirks, and idiosyncrasies. Is it formal or informal? Are you prone to ramble or are you terse in your thoughts?

Use these elements to shape the character's inner monologue and make it identifiable and coherent. A strong voice will engage readers and bring the character to life. But remember that a whiny and overly sad tone will be hard for a reader to bear for long periods of time.

You must have a level of balance. The more you use an internal monologue, the more you'll need to include actionable, faster-paced scenes to keep up. A great example of this is Donna Tartt'sThe Goldfinch . While a long book, it is a character-driven story that includes many examples of this balance, and is a great study if you want to learn how to write an interior monologue well.

3. Embrace realism

The interior monologues aim to capture the authenticity of human thought processes. Embrace the ebb and flow of thoughts, the interruptions and tangents that occur naturally in our minds. It's not a perfectly structured narrative, but a representation of raw, unfiltered thought.

Allow the monologue to wander, jump between ideas, and incorporate snippets of dialogue or memories if it's consistent with your characterization. Realistic inner monologues mirror the natural chaos of the human mind.

Here are some things to think about for this realism:

• Choose whether your character is logical or emotional in his thoughts (does he use logic or emotions to structure his thoughts?)
• Identify the emotions that make him spin and capture them as best you can
• Think of those thoughts that he tends to avoid even thinking, as what he doesn't think about may come up later as he traverses his character arc

4. Use vivid imagery and sensory detail

Engage the reader's senses by incorporating vivid imagery and sensory detail into the interior monologue. Use descriptive language to paint a vivid picture of the character's environment and experiences.

Show, rather than tell, the character's emotions and reactions through sensory stimuli. By appealing to the reader's senses, you immerse them in the world of the character and create a more evocative and engaging inner monologue. This is key to learning how to write an inner monologue that doesn't feel overly boring.

When your reader stands on solid foundations, they have more tolerance for internal reflections.

5. Show character development

Inner monologues can be an excellent tool to show character development and growth. As the story progresses, the character's thoughts and reflections should evolve. Use your inner monologue to reveal your own perspective changes, doubts, and personal discoveries. Allow the character to deal with internal conflicts, make decisions and experience epiphanies.

This adds depth and complexity to the narrative, making the character's journey more compelling. Plus, it's a great way to explore new thoughts and feelings that your character has previously avoided, further showcasing their growth.

Whenever you have impactful moments, like if you're writing about a heroic deed and creating its big moments, you'll need to accompany them with inner monologues. More often than not, the best insights take place when the character is about to take action and make a big change in their life.

That inner monologue serves above all to make those important choices.

6. Balance inner monologue with action and dialogue

While inner monologue is a very powerful tool, it should always be balanced with action and dialogue to maintain a dynamic pace, as mentioned above. Too much introspection can slow down the narrative and interrupt the flow. Integrate the internal monologue with external events, interactions and dialogues to create a well-rounded narrative.

By striking the right balance, you provide readers with a multidimensional experience that combines internal and external perspectives.

A great rule of thumb for knowing how to write an interior monologue is to take a look at paragraph length. If you have pages of large paragraphs with very little dialogue, you're probably overdoing the introspection. At the same time, if you have a lot of action or dialogues and you want to slow down the pace, let your character pause by adding an interior monologue. This is an effective way to slow down.

Overall, each novel will have insights. Learning to write an inner monologue is the key for any writer to compose strong, well-paced books that don't put readers off by boring them.