S is for Secrets

Image courtesy of Michal Marcol / freedigitalphotos.net

Everyone has secrets, whether big or small, and so do your characters.

The secrets we keep, and our reasons for doing so, say a lot about us as people. The very fact that they are secrets means that no-one else knows this about us, and you don't need to inform your readers about every character's secret (unless it is somehow important to the plot to do so). However, the secrets we are keeping can alter our relationships with others, affect the choices we make in life, impact on our mood and self-esteem. If you can find out your character's secrets you will have a deeper understanding of them as a person and how they will react in the different circumstances you throw at them.

There are two great posts on other sites that cover this topic much better than I have here and I highly recommend you go check them out. The first is Your Character Has a Secret, and the second is 5 Secrets About Your Character's Secrets.

Have you given any thought to your character's secrets? Share in the comments below, I'd love to hear from you.