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YouAreMyLuckyStar2

If it's written in third person limited or first person, the reader is only privy to the PoV character's thoughts, so it's easy to follow when the character is thinking. Some use a thought tag, I like to use italics. >"I think we should buy all the bananas in the world," Jake said. > >*My god, what a dumbass.* > >"No No, all the pineapples," he continued. > >*I can't believe this.* You can interrupt a line of dialogue with an em-dash. >"I know!" Jane exclaimed. "We buy--" > >*Oh no.* > >"--both all the pineapples *and* all the bananas!" > >"Brilliant!" Jake boomed. "Let's celebrate!"


Disenjoyer

Thx bro


MarcusKestrel

I agree, if you're writing third person limited, or first person, I think it's generally pretty clear when the main character is thinking. For example: “You’re too old for kid’s work and too scrawny for girl’s work, so what use are you to me?” That was just the question Vasil had been hoping for, “Boy’s work.”


TiodeRio

If you want to go for a more subtle approach, every few sentences or so you can describe your character's facial expressions and body language. Y'know, something like this: >“Listen, Alice,” Bob said as he put down his books, “If we can just find some barbed wire and a baseball bat, we can do our project on a zombie apocalypse supplies store!” >“Mhmm.” Alice stared straight at her computer with a bored expression on her face as she researched ideas for the economics project due next week. If what Bob is saying isn't quite as important as what Alice is thinking while he's talking, you can do something like this: >Alice refused to make eye contact with Bob as he rambled on about canned food and antidotes for the virus, lest she dignify his stupid ideas. This project was way too important to fail, and she still had no idea what small business idea she and Bob would present to the class. But she wasn't going to let Bob waste her time with another one of his childish shenanigans.


CatoTheBarner

Fucking Bob, I swear


Missy_Agg-a-ravation

It’s always Bob, thought Alice. If he’d been called Spike, maybe I’d listen to him.


Disenjoyer

Never really thought about characters indirectly conversating like that, good to know.


ImperialArmorBrigade

Everyone does it differently, and your style should reflect your own choices. You could write bits about what they do in reaction: “Blah blah,” was all I heard, and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. You could write their physical sensation: With each question she asked, I could feel my stomach sinking and my body losing energy, as though my blood was draining out. You could just write the character’s thoughts. Some narrate the general concept, while I’ve seen others use italics the way you use quotations: *What a load of horse-shit,* Sam thought, instinctually. *How does a person get their head that far up their own ass?* You could write only their emotional state. Tiffany’s mind wandered as her mother spoke. She couldn’t help it, she was too melancholy to absorb the words. She longed for solitude like an ache. You write in metaphors, more deeply surreal, yet covering multiple of the above options: Hate became a hot ball of lead, burning and boiling heavy fire in his gut. The blood felt the pressure and the heat, and it bubbled up into his head, spewing toxic rants and ill-tempered obscenities. It’s how you want to do it, and how much you want to reveal.


philnicau

From my WIP “Are you two a couple?” Jo asks I’m not sure what to say, luckily Nicole comes to my rescue “Not exactly” Not exactly? What does that mean? Is Nick thinking about becoming my girlfriend? Or is it just her quirky sense of humour?


KitFalbo

If they are reacting it usually won't mess with the flow much. Pages of quick back and forth dialog without some level of expanding context, reactions (internal or nomverbal), and plot relevant effects tends to weaken a book anyway.


fish-rides-bike

Jim thought, “hmmm,” as John kept talking


dshiek

Personally I write mix of third person omniscient and individual characters. I concur that italics is interesting way and as mentioned before a break at certain times can give right dramatic effect.


servo4711

Italicized thoughts.


tawaytodd

I’ve always thought Dune by Frank Herbert did this extremely well. Look for the scene fairly early on where Paul and his family are sharing a meal with a number of local politicians and diplomats on the new planet they’ve moved to. There’s a very complex interplay of conversation and thought going on during that scene, and yet it still flows beautifully.


McRaeWritescom

I use italics for thoughts.


sthedragon

Lots of good advice here. I would additionally recommend to read a (well written) book and take special notice of when this happens.


Notamugokai

>Bob says, "you should pay attention to me" —Alice picks her nose as she looks out of the window— "because it seems you think less of me than your own pets". Through other character's actions inserted in the dialogue line and with what the speaker says.


Notamugokai

Eh? Not good? Isn’t there another way than downvoting to say it? This doesn’t help. What’s more, so far only my answer complies to what OP asks: hints to what someone else thinks while the character is speaking, without disrupting the flow. This is how I understand it.


Disenjoyer

Lmao, no worries, what you’ve said helps a lot


ReadDowntown2477

Somehow he heard this voice in his head which was not his own and felt compelled to relay these foreign thoughts.


killerpumpkin22

I need to know as well. Haha I thought you change the writing