Your character is going to keep secrets. Maybe there’s something in their past they’re ashamed of and don’t want people to know. Or they’re currently engaged in an activity that would have serious consequences if it came to light. Or they have ideas and desires that others wouldn’t approve of. Or . . . the possibilities are virtually endless.
Secrets are powerful drivers because of the stakes (real and perceived) involved. As the character prioritizes maintaining their secret, the required deception will take a toll on their relationships, health, reputation, goal-achievement, and even the way they view themselves. This makes secrets a key component of good storytelling and character development.
Use this thesaurus to brainstorm potential secrets for your character and see how it could impact their behavior and mindset. Will they be pushed to confess their secret, or will it will be discovered by someone else? Maybe it won’t be disclosed at all. This resource should help you flesh out your character’s secret and the best way to utilize it in your story.
Recommended Reading:
What is a Character Secret Thesaurus?
What’s Your Character Hiding?
Does Your Character Have a Secret?
Character Secrets:
Being a Serial Killer
Being an Anonymous Financial Donor
Being Pregnant
Choosing Cowardice over Bravery
Concealing a Sexual Identity
Coveting Someone Else’s Life
Doubting One’s Faith
Faking an Illness
Fleeing a Crime Scene
Giving Up a Child
Having an Addiction
Having an Undisclosed Bias
Helping Someone Die with Dignity
Hiding a Sexual Relationship
Hiding the Truth about Family
Hiding Wealth
Knowing About a Cover-Up
Knowing Death Is Coming for Someone
Knowing Where a Body is Buried
Living Under a Curse
Making a Black Market Purchase
No Longer Loving a Partner
Pursuing a Personal Goal
Using a False Identity
Monitoring Someone Without Their Knowledge
Safeguarding Someone’s Secret
Withholding Help from Someone in Need
