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Most character in fiction are far more introspective than people in everyday life. There are numerous writing advantages in this which is much of the reason but the most important is because reading is the only media where a person can truly get inside the head of another person. You may get a voiceover in a movie, or a flash daydream in a TV series but if you truly want to walk a mile in someone else's shoes then you must go to the written word.

With this in mind it becomes clearer why the thoughts of your character are so important to your story. They are the connection the reader has to the story, the best description of your protagonist and the only advantage the writer has over media that is admittedly far easier to consume. But how do you create interesting character thoughts.

One of the most important keys to this is the use of the five senses. We often don't think carefully about each of the senses in our daily lives but unless you are missing one each of them will come into play every day of your life. Not only this but each has a distinct way that it connects both with the protagonist and the reader. Sight and sight are the most familiar, and give us the majority of our information, smell is connected to memory, taste is powerful because is it used less and touch is the most personal. Learn to use them effectively and your characters thoughts will become far more real to your reader.

Next, you should consider how your character thinks about emotions. It is rare for people to actually think, "I am happy," or "I am angry" Yet it is far more common for a character or narrator to use these words. This can be effective in some cases but almost always more effective is the use of character thought and physical reactions to create the emotions. This is why the clich seeing red is more descriptive than angry even though they mean the same thing.

Lastly, characters thoughts are the easiest way to bring the weight of history to your story. Characters who are real have histories that existed before the story begins, and characters thoughts are a great way to create that weight without making it a major plot point. A fleeting thought of an ex wife can create an interesting conflict even if it is never a major part of the story.

No matter the style of narration or tone of your story the motivations, hopes, dreams and general thoughts of your character are what draws in the reader. Use them effectively because without that connection your reader isn't going to care about anything else that happens in your story.

Learn more about this author, Elton Gahr.
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