What is a stream of consciousness writing?

Stream of consciousness is a writing technique in which the writer attempts to capture the flow of thoughts, feelings, and sensory perceptions in the mind of a character, with little or no editing or organization. It is often used to create a sense of immediacy and authenticity, and to reveal the inner workings of a character's mind. Stream of consciousness writing is often employed in literary fiction, and has been used by authors such as James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and William Faulkner.

In stream of consciousness writing, the writer may present the character's thoughts in a fragmentary and non-linear way, using phrases and images that may not be complete or grammatically correct. The goal is to create a sense of the character's thoughts as they occur, without the filter of conscious editing or organization. This technique can create a sense of intimacy between the reader and the character, and can provide insight into the character's inner world.

Here is an example of stream of consciousness writing:

>I'm sitting in the cafe, watching the people go by. I'm feeling restless, like I should be doing something, but I don't know what. I think about my job, and I wonder if I should quit. I think about my family, and I wonder if they're okay. I think about the future, and I wonder what will happen. I'm lost in my thoughts, and I don't know where I am. I'm just sitting here, watching the world go by.