Today, we’re talking about Free Indirect Speech.
Sometime last year, I bought these two books in the clearance rack at Barnes and Noble and as of today I starting working on the light green book, Fiction Writers Notebook.
If you’re a creative writer like myself, I highly recommend you add these to your cart. The time is now to get in your writing bag. Especially with AI running rampant on these internet streets.
The first work page goes over the usage of Free Indirect Speech.
Free indirect speech or free indirect style is a method of conveying a characters internal thoughts by embedding them within the narration, rather than expressing them directly. Expressing thoughts directly requires the use of ‘he/she thought’ in italics to signal the reader the character’s internal thoughts that are being directly expressed.
example 1: Heather stared at Miles with a look of disgust smeared across her face as he gobbled down chicken wing, after chicken wing without even chewing the meat. What a slob, she thought and rolled her eyes.
This is an example of direct speech. As the narrator, I’m directly saying what Heather is thinking with the use of she thought tag.
The goal of all fictional writers is to weave the reader into the story. Make them feel apart of what is happening as if they are sitting beside the omniscient narrator, yet becoming one with each character.
If you enjoy writing first person, but want to switch to third, using this method is fantastic.
Here’s an example of Free Indirect Speech
Example 2: Miles reached for a napkin to dab his BBQ stained cheeks and quickly glanced at Heather. Why was she sitting with her arms crossed? She received her order made correctly.
The last two statements were thoughts from Miles and written in an indirect form. There’s no indication tag at the end.
I enjoy using this method because its like having the best of both worlds. I try not to use this method often, as to keep a good balance of immersion and storytelling. However, if your a fiction writer wanting to switch narration, I recommend having this in your arsenal.
Dots and Beige
Mrs. Fields blended in well with the owls of the night. With a little attitude and stylization of the youth, she looked thirty one. Her bone ached her true age, though. Don’t stop moving. The music feels wonderful.
When she raised her arms in the air, the tug at her muscles were tense. Her knees popped as she dipped and thighs burned coming back up.
But, it didn’t matter anymore more. He always hated that blouse she wore. The way it wrapped snug around her chest and flowed at her torso. He was envious. No good. Not worth the time to this body. Mrs. Fields smiled and hugged herself.
It was now her favorite top, discovered in the back of her closet collecting dust. A beige button up and for that one night, she decorated it in red polka dots.
