How to Use Your Internal Monologue for Writing

The importance of internal monologues is emphasized in many literary styles. It’s a strategy employed to give readers a better understanding of the characters’ thinking. Significant characters in novels, nonfiction, screenwriting, and poetry use internal monologue.

In writing, the internal monologue can be employed in two ways: as a soliloquy or as a stream of consciousness.  The genre will determine the type of internal monologue. 

A monologue, for example, is employed in plays and screenwriting. However, a stream of consciousness is used for the character in a fiction novel.

This unique storytelling method reveals how a character feels about other characters and events in the story. Additionally, it gives readers a more in-depth insight into the character’s personality.

The essence of fiction is the characters’ inner thoughts—their ideas are written down. Mastery of its core equates, in significant part, to the knowledge of the art form of fiction itself.

Do you want to learn how to build strong character thoughts? Read on to discover the most effective methods of internal monologue in writing and the benefits of doing so.

Let’s dive in!

What is an internal monologue?

Inner monologue, often known as internal dialogue, is a voice inside your head. It occurs due to brain mechanisms that make you hear yourself communicate without actually speaking. This “small voice in your head” is a typical phenomenon, yet it does not affect everyone.

An inner monologue is similar to having an inner voice that narrates your thoughts throughout the day. This inner voice is more common in certain people. Alternatively, it appears strange to those who do not experience it.

When people have an inner monologue, they hear sentences in their thoughts. Other thoughts are nonverbal and abstract.

An individual’s inner monologue may be their best friend and worst enemy. It can be used for a variety of purposes, including delivering advice. It can assist with directions, rehearsing difficult conversations, and much more.

A monologue is frequently used in a play to reveal a character’s secret thoughts or intentions. For instance, when the villain Lago in Othello discloses his wicked designs.

Inner monologue in literature often reflects a character’s internal impressions. It shows their wishes, disappointments, or difficulties.

Inner monologue helps a person utter sentences in their thoughts. It has numerous advantages but can also be detrimental in some circumstances.

Dramatic and nondramatic fiction often use internal monologues. These concepts can be related to perceptions approaching free association. Or more structured processes of thinking and emotion.

Many literary styles highlight the relevance of internal monologues. It’s a technique to help readers comprehend the characters’ thinking. Significant characters in novels, nonfiction, filmmaking, and poetry use inner monologue.

Writers are constantly working to improve this aspect of their craft. Internal monologue facilitates effective communication with the audience and has a more substantial impact.

Internal conversation allows you to delve inside your character’s head. You experience the character’s innermost thought patterns, points of view, and ideas.

A primary character’s inner dialogue may supplement or contradict their spoken dialogue. Revealing blunt truths about the character.

These inner thoughts convey a feeling or point of view that the character believes is too painful or shameful to reveal to the outside world.

Internal monologue can be characterized into two tones: negative inner voice and positive inner voice.

Negative inner voice

The negative inner monologue is a well-integrated pattern of negative ideas against oneself and others. This internal conversation comprises a bunch of nagging “voices” or thoughts. They are the basis of much of our self-destructive behavior.

Self-talk has a significant influence on a person’s perception. It decides your view of the world around you. If you notice that your inner monologue is primarily negative, your mental health will most likely suffer.

When the character only looks at the negative, it isn’t easy to find the silver lining. This might become overwhelming and impede them from achieving their goals in many areas of their life.

Watch what the character says to themself, both consciously and subconsciously. This will determine how they handle each scenario that happens. 

Your thoughts generate feelings, influencing your behavior and impacting your experiences.

Negative self-talk is harmful to your mental health when it becomes the norm. Negativity causes unnecessary distress. Making it even more challenging to deal with difficult situations.  

The more negative self-talk you have, the more stressful everything that comes your way will be. This frequently leads to meditation, a negative thought pattern, and a vicious loop that harms your mental health.

That is not to say that those claims are never valid. However, if you speak to yourself in this manner, such concepts become absolute facts in your subconscious mind.

This type of internal monologue for a character symbolizes a form of mental laziness. It allows the character to remain comfy in the victim mentality. This prevents them from seeing the truth of what could be. It ignores the fact that they still have power.

Manifestations of negative internal monologue include procrastination and a victim mentality. This phenomenon also results from a stuck perspective and a scarcity mindset.

Psychologists grouped negative internal monologues that can cause anxiety into four categories: Catastrophic, self-critical, victimizing, and self-demanding.

Catastrophic

Negative internal monologue contributes directly to anxiety. This occurs when a person imagines the worst-case scenario. As a result, the character predicts and exaggerates certain events that will never happen. This causes erroneous perception, which can result in a panic attack.

“Anything can turn into a tragedy when you least expect it” is the important word in this type of internal discourse.

Self-critical

Negative inner voices are characterized by self-criticism. This form of discussion is distinguished by a constant state of judgment and negative appraisal of one’s behavior. The character highlights their weaknesses and limits, making their lives unbearable.

Self-critical characters are often dependent on others and compare themselves to others. Consequently, they feel inferior. They are envious of others who attain their goals and get frustrated when they cannot reach them.

In this style of mental talk, the recommended phrases are “I can’t,” “I’m incapable,” and “I don’t deserve it.”

Victimizing

This type is characterized by a sense of being defenseless and desolate. This leads people to believe that there is no cure and that they are not making any progress.

They believe that everything will always be the same. The overwhelming difficulties will always stand between them and what they desire. They dislike the way things are, but they do not attempt to change them.

People who engage in victimizing internal dialogue often use phrases like,

“nobody understands me,”

“nobody values me,” and,

“I’m hurting, and nobody cares.”

Self-demanding

Perfectionism causes exhaustion and persistent stress in people in this category. They are intolerant of mistakes and try to convince themselves that their flaws result from factors other than their own.

They exhaust themselves with negative reflection. They usually believe they were unable to meet their goals due to a lack of money or prestige.

Internal dialogue includes comments such as “it’s not enough,” “it’s not perfect,” “it didn’t go the way I intended it to,” and so on.

Positive inner voice

It’s about intentionally deciding to improve rather than beating yourself up over a particular outcome. Stop blaming yourself when things don’t go as planned.

A positive inner voice does not imply pretending everything in life is perfect. The human experience is not all rainbows and sunshine. Positive self-talk is all about changing your perspective on things.

Strength and resilience are usually symbols of characters with positive inner voices. When characters employ a cheerful inner voice, they are generally successful. They are not troubled by doubts or catastrophic thoughts.

Rather than being judgmental and self-critical, a positive inner voice seems encouraging. It’s empathetic and motivating. A person’s environment and perception of themselves are affected when they read positive self-talk.

A negative internal voice says, “I can’t believe I made that mistake again.” But, an empowered and self-compassionate internal dialogue sounds like “I’ll try harder next time.”

Types of internal monologue

An internal monologue occurs when a character’s inner thoughts are voiced to the reader. In literary works, the internal monologue is divided into two subcategories:

Soliloquy

In a soliloquy, a mythical figure expresses their thoughts aloud to the audience. Soliloquies frequently appear throughout Shakespeare’s work.

People do not reveal their private thoughts to strangers in a private speech in real life. But in the world of a play, a monologue allows the audience access to a character’s inner state.

Stream of consciousness

In the stream of consciousness writing, an entire literary work is told in the present tense. This is done from the perspective of a character’s inner thoughts.

A stream of consciousness is frequently a lengthy piece of internal monologue. Thus it is not usually written in italics. Still, its role is evident from the lack of quotation marks and, maybe, the inclusion of thought tags.

Certain writers use italics to indicate internal voice. Italics create a narrative gap between the character’s thoughts and what is happening in the scene.

A stream of consciousness works best in character-driven literary or genre fiction with a single point of view. It wouldn’t be impossible in other genres, but it would be difficult not to have a lot of head-hopping!

Your writing style will determine your format and whether you write in the first or third person. The use of direct and indirect dialogue is also common to present a character’s thoughts.

There is a distinction between the two as each determines the type of monologue the person has.

Direct internal dialogue vs. indirect internal dialogue

Internal dialogue is deemed “direct internal dialogue” when written in the present tense.

This type of internal dialogue should be used for emphasis. And the ideal method to display it is as if the character had spoken out loud. Still, the lines are italicized rather than set aside with quotation marks.

The tense is changed from the past tense of the remainder of the narrative to the present tense with the first-person point of view. If a book is already in first person/present tense, the tense or point of view would not be changed).

For instance:

Hell of a thing, he thought to himself, leaving a wife and two children alone out there. Even as he stated, he knew that many men had no option. You gambled in this country; some of them paid off, while others did not.

– Conagher by Louis L’Amour

When internal dialogue is written in the past tense, however, it is referred to as “indirect internal dialogue.” It is more typical to convey indirect internal discussion without using italics.

Indirect handling is one of the simplest/most natural methods. Put your thoughts into the narrative without changing the tense or italicizing them.

As illustrated in this passage, for instance:

That monitor will be available today. We’ll take it straight out, and it won’t hurt at all.” [….] Ender gave the nod. Of fact, it was a lie that wouldn’t hurt at all. But, because adults usually stated that when it was going to hurt, he could rely on that remark to be correct. Lies were sometimes more reliable than truth.

– Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Remember, all of these approaches serve a purpose. To transmit information to the reader and expose their reasons, so characters appear logical and credible. They also provide clues so the reader can correctly understand external events.

If your mental dialogue becomes repetitious rather than instructive, it has failed. Remember to keep things simple and to flow so that the story takes precedence and we don’t get stuck in our heads! 

Is internal monologue beneficial for writing?

When used correctly, the internal monologue expands on the story and presents the character’s point of view. This technique benefits the story by making it more unique and exciting. It is also one of several things required to create a complete, well-rounded account.

Literature can quickly transport us into the inner lives of its characters. Allowing us to think and feel alongside them. An author can express simple, sensitive information about a character’s secrets. Such as their memories of the first time they fell in love.

Surprisingly, this is accomplished without the need to write a discussion. All of this is feasible because of the technique known as Internal Monologue.

Following the character through a gun duel or a dogfight is exciting for a reader. Similarly, witnessing a character’s internal conflict can be just as exciting and unforgettable. Inner monologue is challenging to acquire, but it more than pays off when done right.

Inner monologues abound in compelling literature. Use it sparingly (or not at all, depending on your genre) and wisely for the best effect. Unfortunately, it is one of the most misused and overused ingredients.

Assume your protagonist recently lost their job. It’s a job they’ve always despised but have persevered with for years because it pays the bills. Instead of blaming themselves for losing their job, you may flip the script. Turn what they initially considered a negative situation into a positive one.

You can achieve this by making them recognize that they’ve been allowed to pursue a career. This can be something they’re enthusiastic about rather than going to a job they despise daily.

Everything boils down to perception and how you choose to see things.

The inner voice is much easier if your novel is written in the first person. That’s because the entire book comes directly from the main character’s lips (and head).

But, if your story involves many points of view, avoid excessive inner chit-chat. Otherwise, you risk sending your reader on a wild head-hopping ride.

Many authors reject the concept of internal monologue entirely. In their defense, many of these authors work in the suspense and thriller genres, where speed and action are critical.

They must believe they can’t inject three pages of internal conversation in the middle of a suspenseful pursuit sequence. This will kill the suspense. And it very certainly would.

Similarly, many authors must take advantage of a golden opportunity to expand their stories. They are afraid of clogging up their work with needless narrative and monologue. When done effectively, inner monologue may add mystery and emotion to an account.

So, in the interest of helping you avoid these blunders, allow us to offer a few principles that could be more comprehensive.

Experiment with inner conversation. Practice incorporating it into the character’s thoughts and in your writing. Including it and establishing a clear sense of your character’s voice will feel natural.

It’s a chicken-and-egg skill set: the more you read and the more genres and writers you devour, the more you’ll notice its application. You’ll be able to perceive how it may be applied to your outstanding work, and the more you’ll use it yourself.

An internal conversation that is well crafted is frequently the key to creating characters that readers adore. And it will get your readers talking about your book, which is precisely what you want!

How can you leverage your inner monologue in writing?

Internal monologue is utilized in two ways when putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard: as a monologue or as a stream of consciousness.

The former comes into play when writing a play. Allowing a character to express their innermost thoughts and emotions with the audience. If you tried it in a novel, it might come across as a massive information dump and distract your reader from the action.

Alternatively, the latter is primarily concerned with books, those of the fiction type. Again, when writing novel-based fiction, we will typically offer an internal narrative in italics (for the most part). Or as a chain of thinking organized on non-structured thought.

Let’s look at some of the most excellent ways to incorporate internal monologue into our stories. Here are six reasons why you should use inner monologue in your writing:

Express a character’s thoughts more easily

The dramatic contrast between words and a character’s inner thoughts can be presented using a monologue. The internal monologue should be placed intelligently throughout a story to achieve this.

The intelligent use of the inner voice effectively draws readers into the drama and mindset. This approach makes the characters more understandable and relatable.

You can portray your characters’ internal voices if you write in the first or third person. Interrupting the continual narrative voice with occasional inner speech can be effective. This method will add a spark to your writing.

Spanish Love Deception, a current BookTok sensation, can be used as an example. Author Elena Armas spends a lot of time inside the thoughts of her female protagonist, Catalina. 

Throughout the rom-com, Catalina is full of self-doubt on her slow-burn road to love with her quarry, Aaron Blackford:

My mind had started racing with questions somewhere between slipping into my silky fawn shoes and the beautiful, flowing burgundy gown I was wearing. Those that are significant. Can I locate Aaron among the crowd? Also, will he be alright? Will he arrive at the arena and find a seat? And the show’s star: I might not see him until after the ceremony. What if I can’t locate him?

– The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

Similarly, in a crime book, you may use a similar internal monologue to emphasize your main character’s ideas. The protagonist analyzes the array of suspects. 

In a fantasy world, a wicked queen may be scheming her revenge on the princess. You can create fresh tension by using dramatic irony through the inner monologue. Because the reader knows what the queen is plotting, but the victim does not.

Don’t start an inner monologue with “I can’t do this.” Instead, frame it as a question, such as “How can I make this happen?”

When you’re seeking the positive, it’s challenging to stay pessimistic. This is a highly effective way to demonstrate increased self-esteem. This indicates that the character is not paying attention to their inner critic.

Describe events or characters from the protagonist’s perspective

A character’s internal monologue gives a glimpse into how the story unfolds from his point of view. This is especially useful when we want to show how a primary character interacts. 

We acquire an authentic feel of interpersonal dynamics and emotions through internal monologue. This style of inner dialogue has a rawness and depth to it. It can frequently elicit our feelings, inspiring empathy with the protagonist and allowing us to feel like we are walking in their shoes.

Furthermore, if there is little ‘telling,’ it’s a fantastic method to convey a character’s features and ideas.

We have this example in Joanne Harris’s psychological thriller Gentlemen and Players. Roy Straitley, the odd Latin teacher, presents an inner story mixed with random Latin phrases to stunning effect.

 These internal dialogue snippets are translated into English beneath the italics by Harris. And they add weight to our perception of her lovable but finicky MC:

I have no intention of retiring gracefully.  In terms of your written warning, pone Ubi sol non-lucet. I’ll either get my Century or die trying. One for the Honors Committee.

– Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris

Inner monologue helps us see our character’s train of thinking and their internal discourse concerning other people. This can provide us knowledge about other characters we wouldn’t have known otherwise, as well as a taste of our primary character’s voice.

In addition to physical descriptions, we can sense our primary character’s subjective sentiments. These sentiments are shown toward other characters through their thoughts and inner dialogue.

Accurately describe the protagonist’s internal conflicts

When handled with accuracy and sensitivity, an internal monologue can pull at the reader’s heartstrings. Drawing them into the page so they will root for a character with whom they may not have previously had much empathy.

We may portray so much mental struggle with very few words. We insert meaningful inner monologue remarks into our character’s thinking. It’s a primary but effective method.

Voicing a character’s thoughts can be a vital tool for demonstrating internal conflict. This highlights the decision-making process that the character is going through.

There are several beautiful examples of this case in Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Throughout the story, we see Raskolnikov’s agitated, paranoid mind.

In the below-mentioned scene, Raskolnikov is going to flee after murdering a pawnbroker towards the beginning of the novel. The section is written in the third person. However, the phrasing, which captures transient impressions, transports us to Rodion’s mind:

At the same time, many men talking loudly and quickly began noisily climbing the steps […]. He rushed directly to meet them, filled with sorrow, thinking, ‘come what may!’ If they stopped him, everything was lost; if they let him pass, everything was lost as well; they would remember him […] they were just a flight away from him – and then deliverance! A few steps away, on the right, was an empty flat with the door wide open, the apartment on the second floor where the painters had been working and had just departed, as if for his benefit.

– Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment (1866).

To trigger the reader’s senses

Internal discourse has the potential to activate all five senses. This is a distinctive kind of writing and not something you’ll see much of in commercial literature.

James Joyce used this method to a significant effect. Joyce is well known for his usage of stream of consciousness. He employs a whirlwind of words to considerable influence in “The Sirens,” an episode in his book, Ulysses. 

As readers, we can almost hear the distinct sounds of each observation. The cadence is captivating.

“Bloom, noded, looped, and unlooped.”

As seen in this passage:

Bloom. Flood of warm jimjam secretness flowing in music out, in yearning, dark to lick flow, invading. Tipping her, tapping her, and topping her. Tup. Dilation of the pores. Tup. The satisfaction of feeling warm. Tup. To pour grushes via sluices. Flood, gush, flow, joygush, and tiptop are all words for water. Now! Love language.

– “The Sirens” by James Joyce

The technique above can be used when creating a work of fiction from a single point of view. But, it is easier to utilize – and more usually found – in poetry or scriptwriting.

To express characters’ mentality and self-perception

Internal monologues can assist us in acquiring a better grasp of a character’s mental state. We, as readers, can finally understand why people act the way they do, thanks to the inclusion of an internal monologue.

Suppose you’re creating a novel with two (or more) opposing points of view. It is a must to get into your key characters’ heads and share their inner monologues. 

Writing in a character’s inner voice gives the reader access to the character’s immediate mental processes. It shows that the abruptness of that internal voice can deliver quick information while increasing the intensity of a scene.

In a story, for example, where a character’s primary or secondary battle is accepting their body, there may be a scene in which they stare in the mirror:

He twisted and stood at an angle, sucking on his stomach. God, how did I get here?

Consider a character getting ready for a job interview:

He lifted his chin and tightened the knot in his tie. 

“You can do it,” he said to himself. 

He gave a wink. “Stop, and don’t wink at them.” 

He made a serious expression. “No, you appear like you’re applying to be someone’s bodyguard.”

To show connection and emotions

Inner monologue can be used in literature to show how people establish personal associations. Their inner voices represent their connection to the other characters. Similarly, it can also depict emotions during a particular event.

Consider this internal monologue from Virginia Woolf’s novel To the Lighthouse:

But what have I accomplished with my life? Mrs. Ramsay thought as she took her place at the head of the table, looking at all the plates with white circles on them. ‘William, please sit by me,’ she asked. ‘Over there, Lily,’ she replied tiredly. Paul Rayley and Minta Doyle had that; she had only this – an indefinitely long table with plates and utensils […] Meanwhile, she sat quietly waiting for someone to respond, for something to happen. But this isn’t a thing. She thought as she ladled out soup.

Ramsay’s inner monologue reveals that she has mixed sentiments about domestic life. Ramsay’s inner monologue implies that she links domestic life with scarcity (‘she, only this – an eternally long table’).

The inner monologue successfully allows us to grasp Ramsay’s desires and frustrations.

Note how Woolf balances inner monologue with set description and vocal delivery. We observe the ‘white circles’ formed by the dishes and the people seated around the table.

Also, the Internal monologue is anchored in three-dimensional action. Ramsay’s thoughts are read aloud as she takes her place at the head of the table and serves everyone.

Benefits of a positive inner voice for writing

The advantages of having a cheerful inner voice for characters are enormous. It opens the door to a better self and a better life. It is one of the essential techniques you may use to affect the reader profoundly.

Some of the goals and benefits of having an inner monologue, especially if it is mainly positive self-talk, are as follows:

Creates positive reality

The inner voice of the character influences reality as well. Optimistic scenarios will manifest in better results. This can encourage readers to think positively to achieve positive outcomes. As a result, people will not only be immersed in the plot but also sense a connection with the character.

Inner monologue is the source of all emotions for humans. When a character’s internal monologue is primarily negative, they create a negative reality. Positive perception yields positive results.

The character’s mind cannot distinguish between what is true and untrue. It accepts ideas without questioning them. It believes anything the first person continually teaches it to think.

You create your reality daily based on how you perceive yourself and the world. If you tell yourself you’re fat, you’ll only see a fat person in the mirror. You already know that prominent individuals don’t exercise or eat healthily, so you won’t either. You may be big, but it doesn’t mean you have to identify as one.

As a result, it is vital to tone down self-criticism and envision a brighter future. It becomes a reality when the protagonist is encouraged to believe that he can attain their goal. Readers may be persuaded to adopt the same theory after noticing the excellent result.

Makes the character antifragile

The inner monologue is the source of a character’s self-assurance and tenacity in adversity. A positive nner voice makes them antifragile and provides them the confidence they need to face their issues and stay strong.

A good story, like life, is analogous to a game. There are ups and downs, twists and turns along the way. You have no say in what occurs next. What you can control is your internal dialogue.

It is critical to demonstrate that the character can overcome any obstacle. All by using antifragility self-talk and developing a positive internal narrative.

If the protagonist is frail, they will snap if put under enough pressure. But, if they are forced to be tough, they will survive the pressure. However, If they are antifragile, they will grow in response to stress. This is the difference between those who survive and those who thrive.

The good news is that everyone can become antifragile by harnessing the power of their internal voice. When faced with life’s obstacles, how you talk to yourself will either make or destroy you. Pain can either make you weak or powerful.

Everyone admires a solid and rugged character. A cheerful internal voice in the character’s head can increase their readership.

Changes the subconscious thinking

With positive Internal monologue, positive changes in the subconscious might also occur. Our thoughts penetrate our subconscious and cause us to take diverse courses. A positive subconscious will take you down the right road.

The majority of your brain programming is from your upbringing. Your thoughts and habits are defined by the subconscious scripts you have installed in your head.

The character can have a lot of bad memories from their childhood. It can be with their siblings, parents, and peers. And it can alter how they see and think about themselves.

As a result, it is vital to compose a reassuring, positive internal monologue. This is important to demonstrate character development and evolution.

Media, culture, news, society, and education are the driving factors for a subconscious mind. It’s like someone implanted a chip in your head. You obey its orders without even recognizing them.

When the characters realize they have been given lies, they compensate by indulging in harmful behavior. This form of behavior is recognizable from various actions. For instance, the character spends more money, eats more food, and becomes addicted to entertainment.

The protagonist must first penetrate their subconscious mind to demonstrate progress and control. This can only be accomplished with the assistance of a positive internal monologue.

Productivity is also required to transform subconscious thinking. The subconscious will adapt if the character engages in unproductive, rapid gratification actions. As a result, the person will continue to engage in these detrimental acts.

When the character is productive, they feel better about themselves. Additionally, their internal monologue improves. As a result, a better subconscious is created.

If you want to discover productivity hacks and tactics, check out our productivity course. This course will educate you on how to increase productivity and is ideal if you’re unsure how to exhibit your character to be more productive.

Boost self-image

Internal monologue is directly related to self-perception. A positive inner dialogue fosters a positive self-image and vice versa. If the characters use a positive internal monologue, it will act as a confidence booster and improve their self-image.

The personality of the character has an impact on their self-image. When you modify their nature, you change their self-image. When you modify their self-image, you influence their actions.

When you change their actions, you change their outcomes. When you change their results, you change their belief in themselves. They are more likely to attract what they believe they are entitled to.

It is difficult to modify one’s convictions. The most significant impediment to greatness is a lack of self-belief. The paradox of belief is that you do not have to work directly on changing your thoughts. It is far more beneficial, to begin with, self-image work.

People do what they believe they are capable of doing. As a result, you are what you think you can do. Your faith bridges the gap between what you can and cannot do.

Motivates you to success

Positive internal monologue improves the characters’ self-image. It gives them confidence in their talents. As a result, they are driven to succeed.

Self-talk provides new commands to the subconscious mind. It’s the language of success. Success is not challenging; it is simple. When your character develops a positive inner dialogue, their journey to success will begin.

You are not born with the ability to succeed. We’ve been misled into thinking we’re powerless. A positive adjustment in thinking can lead to beneficial consequences in reality. This can be demonstrated through the character’s journey.

The cycle of negative interior monologue begins when the protagonist fails to accomplish what they know they should do. Relatable? However, this cycle can be broken through the art of positive self-talk.

You can accept and encourage yourself by engaging in positive internal monologue. It allows you to forgive yourself, love yourself, and change yourself as needed.

Creates resilience against setbacks

Positive internal monologue helps the character develop resilience in the face of adversity. Positive self-talk immediately improves their ability to manage stress. In contrast, negative self-talk increases stress levels.

The protagonist naturally learns to adopt a positive attitude by reframing stressful events. This attitude is towards anything that comes their way. This produces a much healthier mentality than obsessing over what went wrong or how things should have gone differently.

An excellent writer demonstrates that no matter what you go through in life. There is always something positive to be found in every problematic situation.

Setbacks are a critical juncture in every good story. If the character stays resilient against setbacks, they are bound to succeed.

You can enhance the character’s confidence. Correct their negative self-talk and limiting views about themselves. This is to demonstrate that what you focus on becomes your reality.

Success becomes real if that inner dialogue tells you to believe in yourself. It helps remind you that your goals are attainable. As you do this, you will see more confidence in all facets of your life, from personal to professional to interpersonal.

Shields from negative feelings

Internal monologue can affect your feelings. A character’s inner monologue should be positive and self-compassionate. This changes their perspective on themselves, and the world improves immediately.

Positive self-talk can assist the protagonist in turning the situation around rather than allowing a terrible scenario to tear them down.

As an author, you must demonstrate that not everything is always under control. A character will make mistakes sometimes, but they are not the problem. The negative self-image caused by a minor setback should not overpower the character.

Understanding this can assist you in shifting those ingrained underlying assumptions. These assumptions are detrimental to the protagonists’ mental health and overall well-being.

Greater confidence comes from eliminating negative self-talk. This paves the way to developing stronger relationships. People who speak kindly to themselves are more likely to address difficulties with those around them.

Friendships, business partnerships, partners, and family members are all examples of this. Positive influences are drawn to self-assured people who strive to maintain an optimistic mindset.

If a character is constantly subjected to unpleasant emotions, it may negatively impact their performance in life. These bad feelings may be the result of a negative subconscious. As previously discussed, this can be linked to childhood traumas.

Negative childhood memories are generally detrimental to a person’s mental health. If a character is subjected to harsh words such as “You’re unattractive” or “You’re not good enough,” they are more prone to succumb to opposing ideas.

Suppose you can show your character how to overcome these obstacles. In that case, it will inspire the reader to make similar changes in their own lives.

Takeaway: Leverage internal monologue to create an interesting and engaging story

Internal monologue allows you to delve inside your character’s head. You can experience the character’s innermost thought patterns, points of view, and ideas. A primary character’s inner dialogue may supplement or contradict their spoken dialogue. It can reveal plain truths about the character.

Internal monologues can be both positive and negative. If a character has optimistic thoughts and scenarios, reality will follow suit. The polar opposite of this is a negative inner dialogue. Constant self-doubt and negative ideas can hinder progress.

The internal monologue, when employed effectively, expands on the plot and gives the character’s point of view. This strategy improves the story by making it more engaging and unique. It is also one of the numerous elements needed to construct a complete and well-rounded story.

A positive inner voice creates a positive reality, changes subconscious thoughts, boosts self-image, motivates success, creates resilience against self-doubt, and shields you from negative thoughts. 

But a negative inner voice can be catastrophic. 

In writing, you can use the character’s internal monologue to describe their thoughts. It can be used to give a character’s perspective on an event or an individual. Furthermore, the inner monologue can express a character’s mental state and feelings.

Reading more can also make you write better. But sometimes, it may get overwhelming when you have to consume a lot of content, and you may struggle with comprehension.  

Enroll in our course to maximize your memory and improve reading comprehension. The course is ideal for both students and professionals.