Many writers use italics for flashback and introspection, while others do not bother. This confuses the novice writer. As always, writing is an art that must never be confined in strict conformities. Flashbacks and insights are two different things. Flashback refers to an event in the past, while introspection delves into what a character is thinking at the moment. 

Let us tackle introspection first. Most writers prefer to put introspection in italics to identify between thought and action. The writer needs to be selective with these thoughts. Sudden introspection must be brief so it does not impede the flow of action--something that a long introspection will do.

The scene: In a crucial basketball game, the star player has the ball. His team needs only one point to win. With barely five seconds on the clock, he raises against time to make a winning shot in a do or die game.

This scene makes for an ideal combination of speeding thoughts and action. What is going through the player’s mind and whether or not he makes a successful shot is a breathtaking moment.

Example: Montel hunched as he dribbled the ball, looking for an opening. The crowd’s tumult is unbroken. Hecklers kept booing. His mind’s eye told him about the running time. I gotta make this shot. In a blinding flash, he sidestepped and passed through his guard. No time to pass the ball. He shifted the ball behind his back as he made a layup. Three other guards were ready to block him. It’s now or never!

A scene like this can be effectively conveyed through action alone. If we are to remove the italicized thoughts, the scene can manage to stand alone. However, it lacks tension. At such a crucial moment, the player’s thoughts become an essential component. Moreover, the italicized thoughts are short enough to blend well with the pace. It provides symmetry.

As for flashbacks, they are full scenes set in the past or at an earlier time that often has a connection with the present. This is where it gets tricky since writers are divided into the pro and anti italics. A full block of flashback visually appears to separate the reader from the then and the now. If the writer does not wish to create this effect, he could use a transition phrase or expression as a flashback signal.

Example: On the night before the big game, as he was having dinner with his girlfriend, a coach from an Ivy League basketball team paid him a visit. This coach came close to promising him the moon and the stars and offering Montel a scholarship. Montel’s girlfriend, while supportive, was struggling deep inside. The big leagues could lure him to a lot of groupies.

Notice how the time phrase “On the night before” indicates a flashback and does not set the paragraph in italics. On account that the length of a flashback can run as short or long the writer wants it to be, this technique is more effective. If in a flashback the writer wishes to convey character introspection, then effective use of a time phrase and italics for insight renders a more effective drama.