Delete Button: Thinking To Yourself

April 30, 2009 in Advice, Revision, Writing | No comments

Can we please put a manuscript moratorium on the following phrase:

I’m so bored, she thought to herself.

I need a cheeseburger, he thought to himself.

Of course a character thinks something to themselves. They’re the ones thinking it! They don’t think it to someone else unless they can communicate telepathically (in which case this moratorium doesn’t affect your book). Normally when someone has a thought, it is directed to his or herself.

That makes logical sense to you, right? So why am I seeing so many characters thinking to themselves?!

The correct thing to write would just be “she thought” and “he thought.” Simple, effective!

If ever you find this in your WIP, highlight it and then… press the delete button.

Tags: ,