Writing Tips & Site Help → italics
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Most folks seem to think italics for thought is fine. What are other times to use it? For instance, I have a story with lots of flashbacks, dreams, and memories. I need a way to distinguish them in text. Would this be a place to use italics? Thoughts/comment?
They all strike me as being similar to thoughts. I would use italics. One downside to italics is that it is such a busy font, I have to use underlining to show emphasis within italics. Not really a big deal if you self-publish. The other options for showing emphasis within italics didn't work for me. I tried using regular font within italics to show emphasis, but the occasional word in regular font within a sea of italics is not easily distinguished. I also tried bold, but it stood out like a sore thumb, dragging the eye away from what I was trying to read.
You're up late. :-)
Dirk
For me, I use italics for thoughts and regular to show emphasis within italics. I normally don't use a "sea" of italics, so this works for me!
Janet, Dirk,
Y'all read the first chapter of Wilted Magnolias and let me know if the italics for the dream sequences bothers you.
I think flashbacks and dreams work fine in italics - it's commonly used in other books I've read, so it doesn't strike me as odd. I think it's pretty easy to distinguish between thoughts and a dream or flashbacks, so the chances of confusion are pretty slim.
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Writing Tips & Site Help → italics
