Interior Monologue
In short: Interior monologue renders a character's thoughts directly – usually in the first person and present tense, just as they arise in the mind. It opens up direct interiority.
What to watch for
Immediate and unordered: Thoughts jump, break off, contradict themselves – an interior monologue may reflect that.
Use sparingly: Too much interiority slows the action. Deploy interior monologue at decisive moments.
Related terms: Free Indirect Speech · First-Person Narrator · Point of View (POV)
Frequently asked questions
What is an interior monologue?
The direct rendering of a character's thoughts, usually in first person and present tense.
Interior monologue or free indirect speech?
Interior monologue is usually first person and present tense; free indirect speech stays in third person and narrative tense.