Aim for Interiority by Pat Rullo
As a nonfiction healthcare and medical author, I rarely have to bring characters to life. In fact, I don’t think I would be very good at it. Way too impatient! That is why I appreciate others who have a talent for it. As I considered this, the importance of interiority came to mind. Interiority is a crucial element of writing that is often overlooked. It refers to the thought process in a character’s mind as they navigate a situation. The inner monologue reveals the character’s emotions and thoughts and is essential for creating a well-rounded and believable character.
When writers incorporate interiority, they allow their characters to come alive in a way that is relatable to the reader. Interiority can connect the reader and the character, giving readers a deeper understanding of the character’s actions and behaviors. It can show a character’s secrets, desires, fears, or how past experiences affect their behavior.
There are several ways to incorporate interiority into writing. The most common way is to use it as an internal monologue. This is when the character’s thoughts are expressed in the first-person perspective. It allows the reader to hear the character’s thoughts and emotions in their own words.
Another way to incorporate interiority is to use it as a physical sensation. This can be the sensations a character feels in their body, such as a racing heart or sweaty palms. Physical sensations can show the character’s emotions and reactions to a situation.
Interiority can also be used to show a character’s actions. It can explain why a character did something, their motivation, and their feelings about their actions, or show the consequences of their actions.
An example of interiority in writing can be seen in the book “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger:
“I felt so damn happy all of a sudden, the way old Phoebe kept going around and around. I was damn near bawling, I felt so damn happy.”
This excerpt shows the character Holden Caulfield’s internal emotions and how he is affected by his sister’s innocent actions. The repetition of the word “damn” adds to Holden’s unique voice and the overall tone of the book. The use of interiority in this example allows the reader to understand Holden’s personality and motives.
Another famous example of interiority is the novel “Mrs. Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf. The novel tells the story of Clarissa Dalloway, an upper-class woman in post-World War I London, as she prepares for a party she is hosting. Throughout the novel, Woolf delves into the characters’ interior thoughts, emotions, and perceptions, providing a deep exploration of their inner lives. The narrative style of “Mrs. Dalloway” is known for its stream-of-consciousness technique, which allows the reader to experience the characters’ thoughts and feelings in a highly introspective and intimate way.
As I consider interiority, I realize how important it is to strike a balance. Too much interiority can bog down the pacing of a story, creating a slow and introspective narrative. And too little can make characters feel flat and one-dimensional. Therefore, interiority must be used judiciously, revealing the inner thoughts and emotions that are most relevant and impactful to the story.
By exploring the character’s interiority, the story can evoke empathy and compassion and even resonate with readers who might have experienced similar thoughts or emotions. For me, as a reader, when I finish a book and feel a shared emotional bond with one or more characters, when I can’t stop thinking about them and want to read more, that’s when a book transcends the pages and becomes something more. And as writers, this is what we aim for, right?
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