Tags
crafting characters, Creative Writing, doppleganger, dual character, how to write a dual character, writing, writing characters, writing craft, writing fiction
Dear Fiction Writers of the World:
Let’s say that I have a character who is actually also another character (a la doppleganger). The voices are distinctly different. The secondary voice is not always present; but when it is, I need a way to present that for the reader in such a way that it is apparent that one person is thinking (different but correspondent) thoughts simultaneously. In my head, it’s organized rather like music – a treble line and a bass line, running concurrently.
How would you visually represent this in text? I know in screenwriting you do it by placing the dialogue side-by-side. But how would you handle it in fiction/ a novel setting?
There is no hard and fast rule. It’s a stylistic choice. Literal description, italics, different font (I hate that one) or maybe something I’m not even thinking of.
Actually, different font could be useful in this particular situation… will have to seriously consider that if nothing better comes along (realizing that you also write that it’s not your favorite). Thank you for weighing in on this! It’s been bugging hell out of me.
Could you do it in italics?
that’s what I would do
I could, but since both of them are thinking at the same time and I’m using italics for the first character, it would still be confusing. I’m playing with it now… will definitely let y’all know how it goes!!
I think font, bold, italic can be used
I’ve gone with bolding and a different font, and so far I am liking it – it’s only for about eight lines in the entire first book, so not too distracting.
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