“Man is not what he thinks he is, he is what he hides.”
Everyone has secrets. From your crush at high school to an embarrassing incident at work, psychologists claim the average person is holding 13 secrets from their friends and loved ones. And it’s safe to say we work gosh darn hard at keeping these secrets hidden. And yet, there is just something so fascinating about getting a whiff of a secret from another person.
Humans are natural information-gatherers, and our capacity for empathy means we often want to understand or even help those with something to hide. And the same is very much the case with writing compelling characters. Join us today at What We Reading as we explore character secrets, and how you can utilise these to make a more interesting story!
Why Do Authors Use Character Secrets?
In storytelling, character secrets are fascinating to readers as they allow them to take part. They give them a peek behind the curtain at the personality behind what other characters get to see, showcasing the fears, insecurities and vulnerabilities that most people keep hidden. This allows readers to better understand the actions a character might do, forming a bond of ‘getting’ them in a meaningful way.
Just like in the real world, when something is hinted at, it sparks curiosity. Acting as a hook, readers pay more attention to what’s unfolding in front of them, eagerly following the clues as an author chooses how and when to unveil them.
Things To Consider When Choosing A Secret
Before jumping in with planning a killer secret for your character, consider these questions to ensure it is as impactful as possible:
- Does the secret gel the character’s personality with the way you want your readers to feel about them?
- Does the secret fit with the moral code your character has?
- Does the secret enhance the plot or distract from it?
Choosing Your Character Secrets
Choosing the types of secrets your character is not only about how it affects their relationship with the reader but also about the cost harbouring it will have on the plot. Secrets are often kept because the cost of them coming to light can be catastrophic, after all. Because of this, there needs to be a pretty good reason for them to be holding them.
Here are some of the best types of secrets to help you decide what motivates your character in holding onto them:
Secrets From Necessity
One of the most compelling types of character secrets are the ones that come from a character having no choice but to keep them. These secrets are often held not because they benefit a character per se, but rather because they protect others. Examples of this may include:
- Being loyally or ethically bound by a trade or profession (e.g. a priest learning a secret through confession, a lawyer practising attorney/client privilege or a doctor not being able to disclose a patient’s results).
- A family secret that is being closely guarded either due to tradition or unfair persecution.
- A piece of knowledge being withheld from others due to fears of it being manipulated, misused or corrupted.
- Withholding the truth regarding an event or occurrence due to someone being too fragile or unable to accept the truth. Inflicting the secret will only cause more pain, and wouldn’t serve any benefit.
- Keeping a secret because it is not your character’s to share.
Secrets From Exploitation
Exploitation secrets can cross over into the ‘necessity’ category because they are usually thrust upon characters. These secrets are a power dynamic, kept because if they are found out, others may take advantage of them. Examples of these include:
- Having a special power or ability.
- Unearthing a discovery or manufacturing something remarkable that others may look to take advantage of.
- Being a person of interest, either through one’s means or through association with others (e.g. being a renowned celebrity or relative of said celebrity).
Secrets From Guilt
Secrets from guilt are the types of secrets that, if they were to come to light, would negatively impact a character’s reputation. These types of secrets are often the ones where a character has crossed moral grounds. Examples of these types of character secrets include:
- Lying or being knowingly deceitful.
- Behaving aggressively or bullying others into submission.
- Theft or breaking something that doesn’t belong to a character.
- Throwing another character ‘under the bus’ to avoid consequences or obtain something.
- Infidelity or cheating.
Secrets From Shame
Shame is often where guilt surrounding a secret becomes more pronounced. Shame-based secrets tend not to be as ‘clear-cut’ or logical, however. These types of secrets can result from a choice or action, but they can also come from a well-intentioned position or a mistaken belief that the eventual outcome could have been avoided. Examples of these can include:
- Failing to achieve a goal or mission that impacts others.
- Negative associations (e.g. being related to a known criminal).
- Failing in a time of need.
- Past victimisation.
Many character secrets blur the lines between guilt and shame because it is within human nature to internalise situations, even when it isn’t logical or deserved. These two types of secrets can be a great way of adding a nuanced dimension to a character, showcasing their empathy and making readers sympathetic to their cause.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
