Best Selling author Carra Copelin writes contemporary and historical romance. The Texas Code Series, contemporary romantic suspense novels include Code Of Honor, Book One. The Brides of Texas Code Series, western historical novellas, explores the Texas Code Series beginnings. Katie and the Irish Texan, Book 1, Matelyn and the Texas Ranger, Book 2, and Angel and the Texan from County Cork, Book 3. Laurel:Bride of Arkansas, American Mail-Order Brides Series, Book 25

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Introspection (interior dialogue,interior monologue,self-talk)

Wikipedia says Introspection is the self-observation and reporting of conscious inner thoughts, desires and sensations. It is a conscious and purposive process relying on thinking, reasoning, and examining one's own thoughts, feelings, and, in more spiritual cases, one's soul. It can also be called contemplation of one's self, and is contrasted with extrospection, the observation of things external to one's self.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introspection

Whew!! Very nicely explained and yet I have so much trouble with it. How much is enough and how much is too much?

I think I'm actually a minimalist, therefore it's difficult for me to go too far into a character's thoughts. Hence the "how much is enough" question. At this last statement, my husband would protest loudly and longly as he prefers a "yes" or "no" answer, but perhaps I'm confusing introspection with embellishment. Aha! she thinks to herself(introspection). Perhaps this is this my problem. I confuse introspection with embellishment. So, when I'm giving the character's thoughts, it's OK to "embellish" a little more to encompass all that character is feeling; to allow those inner thoughts to deepen characterization and, therefore, to enhance the story.

This is the challenge with which I currently struggle. I want my readers to understand and commiserate with the reason Jack has come home surrounded by lies and, to struggle with Maggie as she faces the difficulty of learning to trust again.