Every character hides something. Sometimes it is a big, plot-changing secret. Sometimes it is a small thing they are ashamed of or afraid to admit. Journaling as your character is a gentle, low-pressure way to find out what they are keeping close.
Why Journal as Your Character?
When you write in your character’s voice, in private, you give them room to be honest. A journal is a safe space. Things come out on the page that they would never say out loud in a scene, and you often learn things you did not plan.
How to Start
- Pick a quiet moment and write as your character, in first person.
- Do not worry about plot or polish. This is just for you.
- Write for five or ten minutes, or as long as feels good.
- If your character refuses to answer a prompt, write about why they refuse. That is a clue too.
Journaling Prompts to Uncover What They Hide
- What is one thing you have never told anyone, and why?
- What do you hope nobody ever finds out about you?
- Write about a time you lied and got away with it.
- Who would be hurt most if your secret came out?
- What do you pretend not to want?
- Describe a memory you try very hard not to think about.
- If you could confess one thing with no consequences, what would it be?
- What does your secret cost you every day?
- Who almost found out once? What happened?
- Write a letter you will never send to the person your secret is about.
Using What You Find
You do not have to put every discovery into your story. Some secrets work best as quiet background that shapes how your character acts. Others might become the turning point of your whole plot. Let the journal show you, then decide what fits.
Writing Sanctuary Question
Have you ever journaled as one of your characters? What surprised you most about what they were hiding? Tell me in the comments.
Happy Writing ^_^
