I know everyone is really looking forward to spring right around the corner. Especially all of you who are still getting snow. I’m counting down the days to the end of March for another reason, though. You see, around that time is about the half-way mark for my husband’s deployment. Though the days are long and the separation isn’t my favorite, I’ve been thankful that he’s been sent somewhere that allows us to still communicate on the phone via texts, FaceTime, or Marco Polo videos. My heart goes out to the military spouses of the past who had to wait to receive any type of communication from their loved ones through the mail. But being able to communicate almost daily has allowed us to stay connected though we’re separated by an ocean. Sometimes it’s just a quick “I love you” and sometimes it’s a whole text thread like this one:
I mean, I’m not saying it was a competition…but if it were, I clearly won. ;)
I love seeing texts in books too. It’s a great way for characters to get to know each other better and also a nice opportunity for some great banter. Here are some titles of books where texting is a big part of the heroine’s and hero’s relationship journey.
Do you like reading texts between characters? Why or why not?
Winner of the Holt Medallion and Selah Award, Sarah Monzon is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a navy chaplain's wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her.
I don’t mind reading text between characters in books. That’s the world today. Everone text.
It’s true
I enjoy seeing the texts between characters in a story. It makes it seem more real, since that’s the way so many people communicate today.
I agree!
Texting is a normal part of life today, so if your fiction is contemporary, it fits.
Definitely
I don’t mind reading texts in books but I am less of a fan of them being used in movies because it’s often hard to read what the message says.
Oh that’s true! Now I’m trying to think of a movie where text is a main part of it.
There are some Hallmark movies I’ve seen where the characters do a decent amount of texting, which is what I was thinking of and sometimes you are just expected to read the phone screen. I can’t think of any movies offhand where it’s a main part of the story.
I love texts in books. In real life, texts give us a chance to say the words we may not be brave enough to say aloud. I think the same is true for our characters. Some of us need to write, read, consider, and reword before we share something important. The expectation for such conversations to only happen verbally/within dialogue dismisses people who process or communicate differently. Plus there’s something exciting about that moment of waiting when you aren’t sure how they’ll respond but know they are.
Yes! Exactly! Well said.
I don’t mind seeing them in books, but I prefer more face-to-face. I know it happens in real life, but that doesn’t mean I like it! lol! I prefer books to be better than real life. I went out with two friends of mine from elementary school. We were the ONLY ones sitting near us in the restaurant actually TALKING to the people we were sitting with! Everyone else was on their phone. No. Just no. I would much prefer TALKING to my significant other (if I had one) than texting with him. Texting is ok, but you miss the cadence of the voice, the little nuances in things being said.
For sure if you’re in the persons presence, verbal communication is best.
I don’t mind seeing texts in a book. It makes it more like real life.
I love them. :)
I’ve really enjoyed Pepper Basham’s Authentically Izzy and Positively Penelope (got to read the ARC) in which she mixes texts and emails (and “live action”) into really fun epistolary style gone modern books!
I still need to read these!
I love them because it means the characters looking to keep the connection/conversation with the other person going even though they’re not together. I also love when narrators in audiobooks give texts the “ping” sound to make it clearer to the listener that the conversation is via text (like Jay Dyess does with Jessie Gussman’s books). Now I’m off to bump Jocelyn up on my TBR list.
Yes! Exactly!
I hope you enjoy Jocelyn. :)
You and your hubby are too cute!
Haha thanks. He’s a keeper.
I like text messages in books it makes it more real I don’t think I have read much books where the main characters text back and forth.
Well, now you have a few recommendations to try. :)
I enjoyed your texts! I do enjoy reading texts in books–especially if the texts are funny!
Texts are great for banter!
Yes, I like seeing texts between characters, it makes it more real.
It does!
I like reading text messages in books when it doesn’t distract from the book or is to hard to read.
Now I’m curious what would make a text hard to read. The formatting?
I enjoy reading texts because you get a closer look into their personalities, and it’s a great avenue for banter/flirting. :D
Agreed!
Yes, texts can make characters feel more relatable to real life.
It’s true
Yes I love seeing texts in books !
Yay!
I think texts can work well in books, you can really get a good sense of the characters connecting and flirting. Books in the past included letters written by characters (first one that comes to mind is Mr Darcy writing to Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice) so it makes sense to have the modern equivalent with texts or emails.
Yes!
I hadn’t really thought about it. It is more normal nowadays. I don’t text a lot but I do use messenger.
I struggled to read the texts here because I was to lazy to enlarge the text.
Actually Now I think of it it was in recent reads but I just didn’t take note of it. I guess that makes a good book when you read it as normal and it doesn’t jump out as something not natural.
I personally text a lot. I don’t mind texting in a story. It seems natural. I am glad that you and your husband have been able to text each other while he is away.
I am in my 70’s, so I have seen it all, from handwritten letters and waiting forever for a response to emailing and a quicker response to texting and zooming.
It’s crazy how fast technology changes, isn’t it?
I don’t mind texting in a book.
I like seeing texts in books, but I also love books without any.
There’s room for both. :)
I haven’t read any books where I remember texting being a major part. Wonder if I’m forgetting some?
Well now you have a few recommendations. :)
The only book that I remember reading with texts in it Tacos for Two. It was fine. I am from an older generation that is not so much into texting. I am glad you husband will be home soon. Thank you for sharing, God bless you.
yes, can be fun
I enjoy texts in a book. It can be a fun way to see the characters communicate and move the plot along.
Most of my stories happen back in the time of letters… which sometimes crossed Europe and the US (from Venice to St Louis, in early 1800s) in 6+ months, sometimes one full year.
I am glad to introduce phone, texts and FB in the stories happening in the contemporary time – alas, I have not so many in our times.
I am getting use to texts in books. I text all the time. So I should like it!!!! Prayers for surviving deployment. I lived through the old days of mail and some phone calls, on both sides( as the spouse and the soldier), neither side was easy!.
I like texts in books. Some texts are really funny, and they can include the emojis, which is fun.
I do! Esp. if it’s a fun banter ;)
Since it is the way many people communicate these days, it does not bother me to see it used as a form of communication by two people in a story. I find it rather realistic.