Stream of consciousness is a narrative device that is the written equivalent to a character’s thought process-or a stylized way of thinking out loud. (There is a wonderful essay on the topic written by Yanxia Sang for those who want to take a closer look.) However, for our purposes, the most important thing to know about stream of consciousness is that it is not a synonym for internal monologue. Much has been written about stream of consciousness and there are many fussy definitions. It has been used in Ulysses by James Joyce, but in a way that was more traditional for the time. At the time, the use of this device was highly experimental. Dalloway, are good examples of the narrative device stream of consciousness. Two of Virginia Woolf’s most notable novels, To the Lighthouse and Mrs. “Life is not a series of gig lamps symmetrically arranged life is a luminous halo, a semi-transparent envelope surrounding us from the beginning of consciousness to the end.” – Virginia Woolf In our first of these mini-lessons, we’ll take a look at the narrative device stream of consciousness.

Writing exercises are wonderful for generating new material and working outside your comfort zone.

It’s a great way to learn and inspire yourself. In our Craft Lessons and Writing Prompts series we take a quick look at a craft element and pair it with a writing exercise.

Shortcomings novel