Start a new line. For a lengthy internal monologue or longer stream of consciousness thoughts, start a new paragraph. This is a visual cue that we’re no longer in the external world but in the character’s head.

In the first-person narrative, everything you write is straight out of the main character’s brain. You don’t need to clarify the character’s thoughts by placing them in italics or qualifying them with an “I thought” tag.

How to Format Dialogue in a Story

1. Use Quotation Marks to Indicate Spoken Word.
2. Dialogue Tags Stay Outside the Quotation Marks.
3. Use a Separate Sentence for Actions That Happen Before or After the Dialogue.
4. Use Single Quotes When Quoting Something Within the Dialogue.
5. Use a New Paragraph to Indicate a New Speaker.

“Thought” tags are exactly like the ones you use in dialogue – their only real purpose is to make it clear to the reader who is speaking or, in the case of thought tags, that these are the character’s thoughts and not the narrator’s words. It’s obvious that these words are coming straight from the character’s head.

For traditional third-person narration, you can use italics to indicate a character’s thoughts or inner dialogue. This sends an unambiguous signal to the reader that what she’s reading is thought or inner dialogue and not spoken dialogue.

If you’re writing fiction, you may style a character’s thoughts in italics or quotation marks. Using italics has the advantage of distinguishing thoughts from speech.

The definition of thought is the act of thinking, or the outcome of mental activity. An example of thought is to be deeply concentrating on how to figure out a problem. An example of thought is an idea on how to solve a problem.

You must have a reason for writing in the second person — and it must involve the reader’s experience.

1. Avoid too much repetition where possible.
2. Set it in the present tense.
3. Consider using it sparingly.
4. Choose a form that makes sense.
5. Test the waters with a short story.

Example: “I lied,” Charles thought, “but maybe she will forgive me.” Notice that quotation marks and other punctuation are used as if the character had spoken aloud. You may also use italics without quotation marks for direct internal dialogue. Example: I lied, Charles thought, but maybe she will forgive me.

“Single quotes are used if you voice the person’s thoughts,” one writes.

An internal monologue, also called self-talk, inner speech, inner discourse or internal discourse, is a person’s inner voice which provides a running verbal monologue of thoughts while they are conscious. It is usually tied to a person’s sense of self. It may reflect both conscious and subconscious beliefs.

Rules to Format Dialogue

1. Enclose the spoken words with double quotation marks.
2. Dialogue tags (the he asked/she said portions) stay outside the quotes and get separated by a comma.
3. Actions that occur before or after the dialogue go in a separate sentence.
4. Punctuation goes inside the quotes.

Dialogue refers to a conversation or discussion or to the act of having a conversation or discussion. Often, we read outer dialogue, which occurs between two characters as spoken language. Examples of Dialogue: “Lisa,” said Kyle, “I need help moving this box of toys for the garage sale.

How To Write Dialogue:

1. Keep it tight and avoid any unnecessary words.
2. Move the action of the scene forward.
3. Keep it oblique, where characters never quite answer each other directly.
4. Reveal character dynamics and emotions.
5. Keep speeches short.
6. Ensure characters use their own voice.
7. Add intrigue.
8. No small talk.

The short answer is yes, starting your novel with dialogue is a viable option. There are many ways to open a story, and that’s one of them. But you want to do it in a way that helps the reader understand the story and its characters.

You absolutely can write a story with no dialogue. You also can write a story using only dialogue. You can and may do anything you wish in a work of fiction. Many, many, many stories have been written without dialogue.

Rules for Writing Punchy Dialogue by Terry Tierney

1. Don’t forget that literature started with oral tradition.
2. Dialogue sounds like speech but not transcribed conversation.
3. Reveal character.
4. Move the story forward.
5. Avoid stock phrases.
6. Not all complete sentences.
7. Characters talk within a scene.
8. Convey unspoken information.

: very exciting or lively. punchy colors. a punchy tune. punchy dialogue.

10 tips for more concise writing

1. Start sentences with the subject.
2. Use the active verb.
3. Get rid of adverbs and reduce your adjectives.
4. Use the shortest form of the word.
5. Use the shortest form of a phrase.
6. Keep your sentences to 25-30 words.
7. Keep your paragraphs to 250-300 words.
8. Don’t refer back.