Revealing Character Secrets (Fiction Writing Advice)

Рет қаралды 16,570

3 жыл бұрын

Character secrets can add suspense and energy to your stories. Learn how to nail your big reveal.
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Пікірлер: 96

@InfernosReaper Жыл бұрын

To be real on the Vader reveal, Lucas didn't come up with that until they were working on Empire.

@samaelkrieg Жыл бұрын

The Villain in my current work is a mystery wrapped in a riddle. Once the protagonist learns why the Villain does what he did to him, he will end with some answers, yet more questions. (It is the first book in a series. With each book the reader will learn a bit more, until the book that has the Villain tell his story, as the protagonist. Each book has a different protagonist, but events and places that tie them all together. I am still considering if I should bring them all together in a continued adventure after that, but I think at least one book after the reveal to bring everything to it's conclusion. We'll see.)

@WriterBrandonMcNulty Жыл бұрын

Awesome, best of luck with it!

@Zero09877 11 ай бұрын

@WriterBrandonMcNulty I have a villain I want to throw out on the table. His name is Zero, and he is the embodiment of Chaos and evil. For the most part he is an all powerful being, except for one thing, he needs a vessel to walk around the mortal world. The importance of this is I want to make said vessel one of the protagonists' mentor / partner from their past who suddenly disappeared. I would put more but I would be rambling at that point, an feedback would be appreciated.

@Eldanogrande Жыл бұрын

It wasn’t misdirection. Vader was originally intended to have killed Luke’s real dad.

@mikewazowski350 Жыл бұрын

This is true

@thebasketballhistorian3291 Жыл бұрын

Exactly! In the third film, Luke asks Obi-Wan why he lied to him and Obi-Wan gives the BS answer "Oh, but Darth Vader killed the Anakin who was inside him!" Even Luke doesn't buy that explanation. 😂 I still love the Star Wars trilogy and think it's excellent writing though.

@gnarthdarkanen7464 Жыл бұрын

It's all part of the DEVELOPMENT of great story writing... Granted, the answer Obi-Wan gave could've been a LOT better... Hell... "I told you what you NEEDED to know at the time, Luke." would've done better... BUT in multitudes of written and cinematic works, stories get developed, and that comes with re-writes, revisions, additions, and changes to the original drafts... seconds... thirds... etc... It's 100% why most professional writers will tell you NOT to worry about getting your story "right" in any sense of correct. Instead, JUST focus on getting it WRITTEN... Because up until that point you release it to the public, it's still flexible. You CAN change stuff... make adjustments... shift the timings around... change relationships... make poignant moment more of a gut-punch. The fact that through 2 full movies, Darth Vader might really have killed Luke's real dad but there's exactly ZERO legitimate evidence of it is only a "happy accident"... an avenue of story Lucas hadn't explored until he decided the end of "The Empire Strikes Back" just wasn't "punchy" enough... Vader NEEDED to hit Luke one more time with something powerful... AND it really WAS at the risk of being "just another friggin' sequel that didn't live up to the original or hype"... SO "No, Luke. I am your father." became the line that literally EVERYONE remembers from it... even people who have NEVER seen the movie know about that line... ;o)

@christiansrensen5958 Жыл бұрын

His name was taken from low german/dutch for Father. For us it was very telegraphed upfront.

@John-fk2ky Жыл бұрын

@@christiansrensen5958 If that were intentional, that would be very strange, considering how the other “Darth” names work. It’s not pronounced the same (Dutch “vader” has a short ‘a’ while Star Wars “Vader” has a long ‘a’). It’s quite literally “invader” with the first two letters chopped off. Same for Sidious, which is “insidious” with the first two letters chopped off. Maul and Tyranus (Dooku) are an actual English word and a corruption of either “tyranny” or “tyrant”, respectively. With all the other names being various negative things, combined with Vader originally not being Luke’s dad, it seems highly unlikely that Lucas got the idea for the name from Dutch.

@susiduo3438 Жыл бұрын

Vader being his father was a retcon, Leia being his sister too.

@John-fk2ky Жыл бұрын

The former wasn’t a huge retcon. A stretch going by the exact words of the first film, but an interesting one. The second one was a more drastic retcon due to Lucas deciding to make his films a trilogy instead of making his own Episodes VII, VIII, and IX.

@ludovico6890 Жыл бұрын

There's a reason why they didn't reveal Darth Vader was Luke's father in the first Star Wars movie: it was not even established. It is something that they came up with during the development of Empire.

@cain666 Жыл бұрын

So, you're saying that making out with his sister was not clever misdirection?

@ludovico6890 Жыл бұрын

@@cain666 I don't know if it was or not, I know that when they released the first movie they were not meant to be related and the Luke-Vader antagonism was meant to be a straight vengeance story.

@renzezekieldivida3014 3 жыл бұрын

So if I combine: Longer process = suspense of mystery, curiosity and more = lead of misderection = the major reveal. I hope I can do all of that right, especially the timing of the reveal.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 3 жыл бұрын

This might help... Try not to worry too much about this during the drafting process. Instead, draft your story/novel, then when you're editing it, identify the periods of suspense and your revelations. For some writers, it's easier to address suspense/revelations during the editing process.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 2 жыл бұрын

@Caitlyn Carvalho Not necessarily. You just need to divert attention away from their father/daughter status. Did you watch the new Batman? That pulled off this idea well

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 2 жыл бұрын

@Caitlyn Carvalho I brought it up because the movie implies they were a couple early on, then later we're hit with the revelation about how they're parent/child

@blairharper970 Жыл бұрын

I would like a video of adding depth to characters. Like for example in the first lines of dialogue in Harry Potter everything seems very simple, but I feel as though if you go into the depth of it, it reveals instantly the relationship they have with each other, their temperaments, their places in the hierarchy it makes a promise to the reader of conflict and eludes to a deep secret. I feel like knowing this though, how it so simply reveals the trope of a gentle giant or sage old wizard and makes you look more into these characters. It pulls you into their hypothetical worlds and want to know more. I don't know if I could know all this and know how to replicate it. I guess there's a suggestion of making a character backstories to have an arsenal of ways in which they'd react...maybe that's my next move. Idk can you do a video for me. Peas.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty Жыл бұрын

Hmm. So to be clear… You want a video on how to reveal backstory (and prior character relationship info) in the present without being too obvious about it? Am I on the right track?

@blairharper970 Жыл бұрын

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty I don't know! However you interpreted that probably makes more sense than whatever incoherent word salad was in my mind; Whatever youve taken from that is fine. Lol Just keep me posted 🤣

@WriterBrandonMcNulty Жыл бұрын

@@blairharper970 Hahah I’ll add it to my request list and do my best with it

@weresofansie1457 11 ай бұрын

My villain does have a secret! I’m not going to spoil it but it explains a whole lot when it’s revealed.

@browneyeofsauron1244 9 ай бұрын

This video was extremely helpful. I've been struggling with the pacing of revealing one of my character's secrets. I think I'm going to drop it at the midpoint, or maybe 40% into the story so I can use it to amplify a major event. Great video!

@christiansrensen5958 Жыл бұрын

I absolutely love your advice and work. Just an observation, when you get excited and open your eyes wide you give of Nick Cage vibes. The resemblance is actually eerie.

@TKHaines Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this video. It helped to clear up some issues and uncertainty I was having.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty Жыл бұрын

Glad it helped!

@JollyGreenComics 5 ай бұрын

Hey you have East/West on your shelf. Can you make a vid or two about writing comic books/graphic novels?

@jennymunday7913 9 ай бұрын

My secondary character has a major secret (royalty that has been affected by an amnesia type spell to be forgotten) and for now the audience knows this but no one from that world. I keep changing my mind. Starting the story slightly before she's forgotten, and maybe not revealing who she is exactly, OR keeping the audience in the know and having them cheering her on as she breaks the spell and finds out who she is.

@kellywilliams1332 Жыл бұрын

Through this video, i just realized my main secrets mirror those of star wars and i didn't even do it on purpose. guess that shows you how much star wars impacted my life! My main villain is the mother of the brother and sister whom the audience don't know are brother and sister (but at least they do and they known the villain is mom so it's a little different.). hmm. another helpful video. thx.

@ivorylike9601 2 жыл бұрын

That was helpful, thanks

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 2 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear--thanks for watching!

@julietardos5044 3 ай бұрын

The Harry Potter books have a great many secrets. Some were revealed really well, and some not so much.

@emilyeshraghi8197 Жыл бұрын

Excellent!

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 3 жыл бұрын

Does the villain in your current work-in-progress harbor a major secret? Let us know!

@TheBluenyt09 3 жыл бұрын

The villain in my short story I'm writing right now is a beautiful haunted porcelain doll and she holds a lot of secrets 😎🤘😉

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 3 жыл бұрын

@@TheBluenyt09 Haha that sounds awesome! Now I'm curious (which means you've done your job right)

@potatomanboooi3105 3 жыл бұрын

The villain of my story held the secret of being a spy working against the main characters side.it was revealed when the main characters side lost and when they lost she saw what the villain did when she ran to save the leaders of the war on her side on time of the execution.making her hate the villain and she blamed herself for trusting the villain

@AnnoyingMoose 2 жыл бұрын

My villain doesn't have any big secrets but my hero does. How does he know so much about the villain? How does he know her every move? It turns out that he has been following her for years...because she is his daughter.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 2 жыл бұрын

@@AnnoyingMoose Nice! Sounds like you've got an interesting family dynamic at play

@markmarkel5120 Жыл бұрын

New writer, well that took my secret to another level. I need this information. I have always liked in book of movie, that you didn’t see it coming. Usual if see something happen earlier, Alexander Checkoff thing, use it later. That’s ok But having a secret you didn’t see it coming is better. One of my favorite from the book the Best of Me, one of the main character was killed. I didn’t see it coming. Movie they took it one step further and used his heart.” to for her Son. Thanks , Video pushed my big secret to better idea!

@WriterBrandonMcNulty Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear it helped!

@ElemonAdventures 11 ай бұрын

Yes, my villain does contain a major secret. I agree with all of this. Timing on the reveal is perfect. And you have to learn to care about the characters before. One of the best examples of mystery reveals done perfect is a show called gravity falls.

@tylerkulig6028 11 ай бұрын

All the important chatacters have secrets in my story. I dont even plan to reveal the backstoey of the main cast for quite some time.

@ab-ij6qi 3 жыл бұрын

bro your eyes.. opens up too wide! creppy!.. suits thriller genre😆

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 3 жыл бұрын

Haha my greatest talent!

@connorcoltrane1777 10 ай бұрын

In my WIP, the big villain secret is that they're the villain.

@trafalgarlaw8373 Жыл бұрын

Another thing to note is to avoid secrets and reveals for the sake of it. Sometimes the expected route is just better. Especially if the secret revealed makes the characters actions make less sense, or be less interesting. For example, let's assume a hypothetical where star wars was about Darth Vader, and his path to noticing that the emperor was evil. He was previously content just keeping his family safe by corruption, but he's finally growing to see the evil, and progressing towards betraying the dark lord for good. Now, revealing that Luke is his son actually fucks up his character development, because instead of finishing his arc and killing the emperor because it's the right thing to do, he goes back to doing it for family, which would be frustrating.

@SunBrohan 3 жыл бұрын

In a story I'm writing where the main character is in an uphill battle to restore balance between two kingdoms at war over the death of one of their kings. His secret is that he was forced to kill That/his king in a coup In order to spare the lives of thousands of people.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 3 жыл бұрын

Ahh, shades of Jaime Lannister!

@SunBrohan 3 жыл бұрын

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty Thanks for the reply! It's kind of like that except the king's not mad :)

@larrytillmanjr1130 6 ай бұрын

I've got a couple of characters in my fanfic that have secrets I want to reveal at some point. A teenage boy from a ninja clan is falsely accused of trying to r**e his Daimyo's granddaughter, and even his family sides with the accuser. He escapes and spends a few years with another ninja group, but he's technically a convicted sex offender, something he's afraid to share with his crew, especially the woman he's in love with. Said love interest is in a similar boat: she's into him, but fears being rejected because of her past as a prostitute. Both secrets are revealed at different points by other character trying to keep them apart. I'm open to any tips on how to pull the reveals off well.

@jesusromanpadro3853 5 ай бұрын

M. Night" Shyamalan ruin one of the secrets in The Village movie when the protagonist, and we, learn the truth about the monster. Making the final confrontation way less scary that it could have been.

@Arvidkattsmatte 8 ай бұрын

yes

@NedstarYouTube Жыл бұрын

My major villain is actually the protagonist from the future returned to the past. That's a big secret that I'm pretty sure should be near the end of the story.

@ericminch Жыл бұрын

What? Darth Vader is Luke's father? NOO-000-oooo! Excuse me, I've been in a coma since 1977. Has anything else happened?

@RM-yw6xe Жыл бұрын

The story was changed after the first film, btw.

@Fransokyo 6 ай бұрын

Im writing a fanfic and revealed just a glimpse of the MC's secret in the 2nd and 3rd chapter just to explain the background of the character and readers would have an idea already with main cast. is that okay?

@PuppetMaster-Blade 3 жыл бұрын

What about a secret with the main character in a 1st person present tense story. Example my character was a Pirate captain/warlord and down the lines he decided to settle down with his wife and grow a family and forget about his past, but events in my story happen where he and his family have to move to a big city, And in that city some people may have known who he was or something, but he wants it to remain a secret from not only his family but himself. How would one write that so the audience/reader is also kept secret but also being inside of his head? I have plans to reveal it later on at about the halfway point, so from beginning to middle how would i keep it a secret? I've watched a KZfaqr review a book that was in a first person setting and they gave it a low rating because the main character kept something about herself a secret from the audience, but wasnt revealed until the very end. Will that ultimately happen with my book, or is it something where depending on if its well written it can be done correctly? I know certain movies have secrets of the main character revealed later on, but movies are typically in the 3rd person and can get away with it because we're not always in the characters head. Like in the movie "Red" we are not told Bruce Willis's character is a retired badass until that halfway point, but that can be done in that story because its 3rd person. So my question is how would i keep a secret from the reader about the MC when they're always in the characters head??

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 3 жыл бұрын

In order for it to work in 1st Person Present, you would probably have to resort to the old writer's crutch: amnesia. Of course, you could find a way to spice this up and put your own twist on it, but the only way to play "fair" with a revelation like that is to have the protag forget whatever must be revealed. I mean, The Bourne Identity and Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic pulled it off, so it's not unreasonable to go that route

@barbaralong5154 2 жыл бұрын

Great question!!!!! I wish this was addressed more on these sites! I was really hoping Brandon was going to address (as the title of the post suggests) a secret that the character is keeping, and stay within the subject of novels, as I believe movies are very different from novels. Movies don't allow us to get inside the heads of characters, short of voice-overs. I too have a character with a huge secret, and no, she doesn't have amnesia. I really would love to hear about others' techniques for keeping a main character's secrets in Deep 1st and 3rd POVs. As it stands, I've written the story in 1st person and most of my developmental readers begin piecing the secret together about the time I want them to (around 3/4 mark). But a few saw it coming in my earlier drafts, so I revised. Although I think so far it is working, and foreshadows the secret (and raises curiosity) without giving the secret away too soon, I still am concerned that readers will feel cheated as it is hard to justify how my female main character has keep this secret from the reader when they are in her head. I have employed several techniques that I think help--about five--but to explain would be very long-winded and inconsiderate, as this is Brandon's channel. Anyway, I'd love to hear what others do to subvert a secret their characters have without lying and cheating the reader, and without using the amnesia trope. And, do you think that this can be effectively and fairly done in 1st person, or better done in 3rd person? What are the pros and cons of the POVs in this case?

@user-ko3vw7ow8l 11 ай бұрын

Ed Boon!

@TrevorDuran3390 3 жыл бұрын

I always assumed major revelations come at the midpoint.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 3 жыл бұрын

It depends. The midpoint is a messy plot point in terms of "what should happen there." Often times you might get a revelation there as to what the villain's true power or true intentions are. So consider using a mid-sized secret at the midpoint, but save the big one for later if possible.

@TrevorDuran3390 3 жыл бұрын

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty got it. Thanks.

@thebasketballhistorian3291 Жыл бұрын

Sixth Sense... came at the very end though hinted at in the middle.

@Weber408 2 жыл бұрын

Small channel. But amazing tips. Though you like books. I recommend trying manga. Some interesting stories in there.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 2 жыл бұрын

Haha I was just reading some Junji Ito last night! I have Attack on Titan, Berserk, Death Note, and The Drifting Classroom lined up for the near future. Any others you'd recommend?

@Weber408 2 жыл бұрын

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty not much manga more anime. My best option watch some funny anime moments then go from there

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 2 жыл бұрын

@@Weber408 Gotcha, is the anime on any streaming service right now?

@Weber408 2 жыл бұрын

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty search around. It's there. Then if you like anime find the manga

@jimihendrix23456 Жыл бұрын

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty It's a long, long, LONG manga, but One Piece is worth the read for sure. It pulls so much depth out of characters, and it's still incredibly engaging even nearing 1,100 chapters. Its tone is also much lighter and more goofy than the horror and psychological stories on your list, so the dark subject matter of piracy is offset. I've not seen Drifting Classroom, but the other manga on your list are great at keeping you enthralled. All very dark though.

@potatomanboooi3105 3 жыл бұрын

I reveal my main characters.secret that she lost her eye when she was I a sword fight and they realised she doesn't have a good field of vision. There was allot of build up to it,I made her hair cover one eye because she is insecure about it when characters asked why she has her hair like that she refuses to answer.untill that sword fight

@potatomanboooi3105 3 жыл бұрын

My most favorite examples of a secret reviews is maga minds one and rangos one because you know if they reveal their true selves they will be in trouble because how much has happened with their fake identity

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 3 жыл бұрын

Hiding physical wounds/deformities almost always has great impact. I still remember the first time I watched Darth Vader with his helmet off as a kid. Got me so curious about what caused those injuries.

@WriterBrandonMcNulty 3 жыл бұрын

Haven't seen either of those you mentioned. I'll have to add them to my list

@potatomanboooi3105 3 жыл бұрын

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty indeed I use her only having her have one eye make her struggle to win any fight

@potatomanboooi3105 3 жыл бұрын

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty they are amazing movies to watch

@c704710 22 күн бұрын

I think Obi-wan is Luke's father.

@TwinPeaksIndustries 10 ай бұрын

In a way, Obi-Wan was right. Whatever Anakin was before, it died when he became Darth Vader

@Lonewolf-jv5yo 3 жыл бұрын

Best advise don’t be like J.J Abrams deliver on your audience feed your audience don’t buy into his mystery box crap because there’s nothing in there that’s really special. Unlike Abrams In my second story and a little in my first of my own version starwars I left hints dearth Vader is Luke father and also I left a little of fore shadowing when Luke left the new rebbel base and his friend Biggs was just told by Luke that Leia is his sister and he told his superior who was with him when Luke departed this and Biggs is starting to question if he really knows Luke at first he thought just a farm boy on Tatooine where they grew up but now he knows Luke born from a father Jedi and now he just realizes he from royalty and than he falls his superior he afraid of what Luke might tell him next as the fore shadowing go’s Biggs jokes that he Luke might tell he’s related to the emperor or Vader as they both laugh. And at the end of my second story I will reveal that Aniken is alive by the emperor but where is he and what’s he doing is unknown and won’t be revealed till the next story

@jeremyhelquist 11 ай бұрын

You could have used the same trilogy to show revealing a secret too late. The reveal that Leía is Luke’s twin was revealed too late for anyone to process it. Bam, here’s a secret let’s end the movie

@Torby4096 Жыл бұрын

I revealed a secret early on. "Now I must tell you the secret of the boy called Tentoes, or this tale will make no sense to you at all." (Narrated by the boy) Of course, I am not going to tell YOU the secret.😊

@markdpricemusic1574 Жыл бұрын

Luke is Vader's son? He looks kind of weedy and white in comparison.. was Vader in prison for any length of time? I'd be asking for a DNA test for sure.

@Kdowg222 7 ай бұрын

Luke i am your father nooooooooo

@horumgrombo6519 Жыл бұрын

I just finished watching Star Wars and couldn't wait for Empire Strikes Back. You fucked that right up, didn't you? I'm about to watch a film called The Usual Suspects - I'm keeping away from your videos just to be on the safe side.