Formatting Interiority in Fiction and Memoir
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
Whether you’re an aspiring writer or a published author, you’ve probably heard of the term “interiority.” I’m sure you’ve been wondering what it means, how to use it effectively in your writing, and why it’s important. In this article, I’ll explore everything about interiority in creative writing. We’ll look at what it is, when to use it in your narrative, why it’s vital for fiction storytelling, and the dos and don’ts of formatting interiority, which is one narrative technique that writers often use incorrectly. Avoid common errors and mistakes with formatting interiority, and watch your fiction writing or memoir craft soar!
What Is Interiority?
Interiority is a writing technique that allows the reader to access the internal thoughts and emotions of a character, including their struggles and logic. It’s a way of showing what the character is feeling or thinking without having to state it blatantly (in most cases, though you’ll see there’s opportunity for verbatim thought, below). It’s an excellent tool to utilize because it can help the reader better understand and relate to the character because you’ve done character development ahead of time. When you use this technique, your reader can see the world through the character's eyes and experience the story more deeply, regardless of whether you’re writing in first person point of view or third person point of view. The techniques you learn for interiority will be consistent, no matter the lens.
Formatting Interiority
Formatting interiority in your writing largely depends on the structure of your story and your narrative point of view or POV choice. You can either try formatting interiority as verbatim thought or incorporate it into the narrative, so that it flows with the rest of the writing.
Verbatim thought involves using distinct formatting, usually with italics or a “thought” tag (she thought, I think, etc.), to indicate the content of a character's thoughts. This formatting interiority approach is useful for small thoughts and character reactions, as well as big turning point moments.
Here’s an example:
I should really switch careers, she thought as the umpteenth customer of the day ranted about the store’s return policy.
By comparison, incorporating and formatting interiority into the narrative is more convenient for more extended thoughts and emotions. Writers typically achieve this by slipping in the thoughts, feelings, and reactions of the character blended into the narrative itself.
Here’s an example:
She listened to the customer’s abuse and felt her mind drifting. If she applied for that restaurant job, she could easily work her way up to manager, like Kenny had. Sure, there were complainers in restaurants, too, maybe even worse ones than in retail. But once she had “manager” on her resume, no one could take that away. Who knows, maybe she’d even go back to school or start an online store, where she could answer emails instead of having to listen to people venting their bad attitudes to her face.
As you can see, the second instance is longer, but this example of interiority formatting is more detailed and follows a stream of consciousness flow, with cause and effect logic. You can easily identify things that are distinct thoughts and feelings, but they aren’t separated from the narrative with italics for formatting interiority.
When to Use Interiority
Besides formatting interiority in different ways, you’ll find that using it is critical when you want to access the deeper part of a character. It is particularly useful when a character is not preparing to vocalize their thoughts or feelings out loud, but still has an internal reaction. This can add some great dramatic irony or tension to a scene that’s unfolding, even if the character isn’t actively participating. It’s usually not as appropriate for situations in which a character is conversing in real-time with the other characters, unless you want to tease out some subtext or dissonance. Consider formatting interiority as a longer paragraph when a character has just done several action beats and needs time to reflect. This will also help with your balance of action and information.
Points of View That Support Interiority
Generally, the first person and third person limited points of view are the best supports for utilizing and formatting interiority in your writing. These approaches offer the reader an opportunity to get a better understanding of the character's thoughts and feelings. As a result, third-person limited is an efficient and widely used approach that allows the writer to delve into the internal workings of the character's mind while avoiding the pitfalls of a pure first-person approach, which can be overused and limited in its scope. However, all points of view, even omniscient third, can support both options for formatting interiority.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Formatting Interiority
When incorporating and formatting interiority, it's essential not to overuse because it can hinder the pace of your story. Overused internal monologue can also wear on your readers, and seem too much like “navel gazing.” Interiority is very much tolerated more in memoir because self-reflection is a big part of genre expectations there. Additionally, some writers assume that any thoughts or minor emotions have to be conveyed. If your focus is too granular, this can result in slowing down the narrative needlessly and can discourage readers from continuing with the story because the pacing drags. Consequently, it's essential to master how to balance the use of interiority in your writing. Mistakes with formatting interiority often involve inconsistency, such as sometimes using italics and sometimes not, and this can make a manuscript look unpolished and unfinished.
Interiority is a valuable technique in creative writing that connects the reader to a character’s experience, raising the level of immersion for audiences. Mastering how to use interiority is essential to create compelling and memorable stories. Formatting interiority properly is essential so that readers don’t get lost or confused. Consider this information on formatting interiority, using it, and common mistakes to avoid when incorporating interiority into your writing. By mastering this writing technique effectively, writers can develop in-depth characters and create a more intimate experience for their readers.
Click here to purchase Writing Interiority: Crafting Irresistible Characters, my book on interiority and character creation. Explore your protagonist’s thoughts, feelings, reactions and interpretations, expectations, and inner struggles to create a rich, immersive experience. This guide will empower you to create characters who live and breathe on the page, fostering an unbreakable bond with your audience.