Character Secrets: Hidden Truths and Skeletons in the Closet (guide)
1000+ categorized secret ideas, examples, and step-by-step tips to craft character-driven secrets that raise stakes and move your plot.
Just $12.87
Give your characters something to hide
Skim-friendly (TL;DR)
♥ What → 1000+ categorized secret ideas, tips, examples, case studies, worksheets
♥ Goal → Easily brainstorm secrets for your characters
♥ Includes → types, how-to, 10 shot case studies, popular media examples, workshop pages
♥ Use → Brainstorming, writing, plotting, revision
♥ Format → Digital PDF eBook, 131 pages, letter size; personal use
Give your characters something to hide … and a reason to act.
We all know the best stories are built on hidden truths and every great character has something to hide.
Whether it’s a tiny embarrassment, a buried trauma, or a life-changing lie, secrets add depth, tension, and relatability to your characters.
This practical guide helps you brainstorm with 1000+ secret ideas (sorted by theme), see how secrets work in popular stories, and use them to deepen character, raise stakes, and drive plot.
What We’ll Cover:
♥ Why secrets matter → creating tension, driving plot, revealing emotion, hooking readers
♥ Kinds of Secrets →good, bad, necessary, snowballing, exploitation
♥ Character Secrets you can use → identity, relationships, health, crime, trauma, beliefs/phobias, guilt/shame, family/friends, addiction, and more
♥ How-to tips → planting, revealing, consequences, “secrets vs. lies,” and common pitfalls to avoid
♥ 10 short case studies → that show secrets in action (light spoilers)
♥ Dozens of examples → pulled from books, movies, and TV shows (spoiler alert!)
♥ How to create a strong character →with steps and questions to help inspiration
This isn’t a rigid rulebook … it’s a brainstorming companion designed to get your ideas flowing. Mix, match, and twist the secrets to fit your characters and your story.
What’s Inside Your Download
A 131-page eBook that includes:
♦ Why Do Characters Need Secrets?
♦ Kinds of Secrets
♦ Secrets and Lies
♦ Common Mistakes to Avoid
♦ 1000 Character Secrets You Can Use (themed lists)
♦ 10 Case Studies
♦ Popular Books, Movies & TV Shows
♦ How to Create a Strong Character Secret
♦ Brainstorming and what-if questions
Look through the flip book to see everything included.
Please note that you can adjust between one and two-page toggling by clicking on the book below the video. Do you want to make flipbooks like these? Check out Designrr (affiliate link).
What secrets are your characters hiding? Download the guide and build story-shaping secrets today.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
♦ Digital download
♦ Digital file type(s): PDF
♦ Letter Size: 8.5 x 11 inches / 21.6 x 27.9 cm
♦ Need another size? Reach out and I can customize one for you.
IMPORTANT NOTES
♦ This is a digital product (instant download), not a physical product (nothing will be shipped)
♦ This is an eBook/guide you can use as a reference (or a printable that you can print at home or send to a print store).
♦ Quality of the actual printouts will depend on the quality and type of printer and paper used.
♦ Once payment is complete, you get instant access to the product.
♦ PERSONAL USE ONLY.
Just $12.87