In an article for Writer’s Digest, Jen Craven reveals 10 secrets about using secrets in your story. “In the world of fiction, secrets serve as a literary device that propels the narrative forward, adding layers of intrigue and complexity to your storytelling,” she writes. “Whether it’s a hidden past, a clandestine affair, or a long-buried family secret, the art of incorporating secrets into your fiction can elevate your writing beyond the expected.”
Her 10 secrets include:
- Timing is everything. “Consider strategically placing revelations at pivotal moments to maximize their impact,” Craven writes. “Build suspense by dropping hints and foreshadowing, creating an air of anticipation that keeps readers engaged.”
- Give your hero a secret. Make the secret integral to your protagonist’s history, personality, motivations, and goals.
- Add complexity. Add layers to the secret or interweave several connected secrets to create an intriguing tapestry.
- Leverage consequences and repercussions. Every secret should have consequences for keeping it. Who is hurt by someone keeping a secret and who is hurt when it’s revealed?
- Use an unreliable narrator. Unreliable narrators are powerful secret keepers.
- Create symbolism around the secret. “A hidden object, a cryptic message, or a recurring motif can serve as more than just a narrative device—they can become powerful symbols that enhance the overall meaning of your work,” Cravens says.
- Withhold the information. You can build tension by revealing the secret slowly. Keep back the details or nature of the secret and let it unfold gradually for your readers.
- Use multiple perspectives. With multiple POV, you can reveal various elements of your secret to your readers, even as your characters only know one piece of it.
- Reveal the secret with foreshadowing. “Cleverly placed hints and red herrings can pave the way for a satisfying reveal later, ensuring that the secret feels earned and seamlessly integrated into the narrative,” Craven writes.
- Engage your reader. Use the secret to encourage your readers to speculate. Raise questions without answering them to make your story more interactive and immerse your reader into your story world.
