Tony Tips Tuesday™: Writing Fictional Inner Monologues

Hey storytellers—Tony here.

Today, I want to talk to you about one of my favorite writing tools: inner monologue. It’s that quiet, powerful space where your characters say what they really think—the stuff they’d never dare speak aloud.

When you use it right, it gives your reader VIP access to your characters’ true hearts. The fears they hide. The doubts they wrestle with. The desires they bury. It's where the real story unfolds—not just in what happens, but in how your characters process what happens.

If you’ve ever wanted to make your stories more emotional, more relatable, and more unforgettable, learning how to write inner monologues with authenticity is key. So let’s get into it.

🧠 What Is an Inner Monologue?

An inner monologue is your character’s private, unfiltered thoughts. Think of it as giving your readers access to their inner voice—the one they never share but always hear.

It’s not exposition or narration—it’s the raw, immediate reaction that shows how your character is interpreting the moment. And trust me, some of the best emotional beats in fiction happen when the outside and inside are in total conflict.

She smiled and nodded. But inside, her stomach was a knot of rage. “Smile. Just smile. Don’t let them see you break.”

That’s it right there. That’s where the magic lives.

🧩 Why Inner Monologues Matter

Here’s why you should always consider what your character is thinking:

• They add emotional depth and show your character’s hidden layers.

  
  

• They make your writing more personal and immersive.

  
  

• They build tension when thoughts don’t match actions.

  
  

• They let readers walk in your character’s shoes, completely.

When we hear what a character won’t say, we start to feel for them—and that’s where connection is born.

✍🏾 How to Write Powerful Inner Monologues

Let’s break down the craft:

1. Write in Your Character’s Voice

Keep it real. Your character’s inner thoughts shouldn’t sound like your narrator. They should sound like them—complete with sarcasm, hesitation, slang, or stumbling logic.

“Oh great. Another crisis. Because clearly, the first three weren’t enough.”

2. Use a Close POV (First or Deep Third Person)

You want to pull readers into your character’s head—not observe them from a distance.

“I shouldn’t be here. Why am I here?”He shouldn’t be here. So why was he walking toward her anyway?

3. Make Every Thought Earn Its Spot

Don't add random internal rambling. Let the monologue reveal something—a secret, a shift in emotion, or a deeper layer of motivation.

“I love her. I can’t love her. Not after what happened.”

4. Blend with Action and Dialogue

Too much internal chatter can stall your pacing. Balance it out.

“He laughed, but it felt hollow. ‘Yeah, sounds great,’ he said. Inside, he was already planning his exit.”

5. Use Contradiction to Create Tension

Let your characters lie with their mouths but tell the truth with their thoughts. That’s where your readers lean in.

She shook his hand, polite and warm. But inside? “You liar. You absolute liar.”

🧱 How to Format Inner Monologue

Here’s how I recommend doing it:

• Italics work for direct thoughts.

• 
  

• Free indirect style blends thought into narration.

• 
  

• You can also use tags like he thought, she wondered, they realized.

Examples:

“Don’t mess this up,” she thought, adjusting the mic. Don’t mess this up, she told herself, adjusting the mic. She adjusted the mic. Don’t mess this up.

Pick the style that fits the tone of your book. Just keep it consistent.

🎭 Iconic Inner Monologues in Fiction

Let’s learn from the best:

📚 In Books:

• Holden Caulfield (Catcher in the Rye): raw, restless, unreliable.

  
  

• Katniss Everdeen (Hunger Games): calculating but emotional.

  
  

• Jane Eyre: subtle, rich inner struggle beneath her composed exterior.

🎬 In Film/TV (via Voiceover):

• Joe Goldberg (You): seductive and scary.

  
  

• Meredith Grey (Grey’s Anatomy): introspective and thematic.

  
  

• Dexter Morgan (Dexter): emotional duality in real time.

🎮 In Games:

• Ellie (The Last of Us Part II): wounded, reflective, fierce.

  
  

• Max Caulfield (Life is Strange): introverted, poetic, reactive.

What these all have in common? We feel like we know them. Because we’ve heard their thoughts.

🧨 Inner Monologue and Conflict

Use internal dialogue to deepen every major moment:

• Character about to kiss someone? Let us hear their doubt.

  
  

• About to lie? Show the guilt in their mind.

  
  

• About to betray someone? Let them justify it silently.

These are the moments that shape how readers understand your story—and your character.

✍🏾 Writing Prompts to Practice:

• A character smiles at someone they secretly despise. What are they really thinking?

  
  

• A character is about to confess love but chickens out. What's their excuse inside?

  
  

• A character receives bad news. How do they hold it together publicly—and fall apart inside?

Try them. Twist them. Make them yours.

💬 Tony Tip:

“Your story’s greatest truth may never be spoken. Let it live in the mind of the character—and the heart of your reader.”

Let’s be honest—some of the most powerful moments in fiction don’t happen out loud. They happen internally. So take your time crafting what your characters think. Let them be vulnerable. Let them contradict themselves. Let them think the unthinkable—and let your readers be the only ones who know.

That’s intimacy. That’s story.And that’s how you write unforgettable inner monologues.

📚 Want to see more stories where thoughts and emotions shape the action?Check out my novels and get your own autographed copies at:👉🏾 www.tyronetonyreedjr.com/the-shop

Until next time—keep your characters honest. Even if it’s just in their heads.