The Lie Your Character Believes: The Secret to Great Arcs

Every unforgettable character starts with one thing: a lie they believe. Without it, your story is just pretty scenery and noise.

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A lot of writers overcomplicate character development. They chase personality quizzes, elaborate worldbuilding, and detailed backstories. But here’s the truth: your character doesn’t need 40 pages of notes to feel real. They need one thing—a believable lie they tell themselves.

This lie is the heartbeat of your character arc. It’s the false worldview that shapes how they act, sabotages their relationships, and blocks them from the truth they actually need.

Think of it like this: the lie is an internal antagonist. It’s the voice inside your character’s head telling them they’re unworthy, or unloved, or destined to fail. Every scene in your story should force that lie into the spotlight, daring them to cling to it or break free.

Why Lies Work

Your audience doesn’t actually care about your dragons, laser battles, or romantic twists. They care about the struggle happening inside your character’s chest. Without that tension, even the coolest plot twist lands flat.

The lie gives you that tension. It gives your audience something to root for beyond explosions or witty banter. It makes them lean in, because we’ve all been there—we’ve all believed something about ourselves that wasn’t true.

Two Types of Lies

There are two major kinds of character lies you can work with:

Inner Lies: False beliefs that come from within. “I’ll never be good enough.” “I don’t deserve love.” These stem from scars, trauma, or experiences your character hasn’t processed.

Outer Lies: Beliefs imposed by the world around your character. “Corruption is just how things are.” “Vulnerability is weakness.” These let you explore society-level themes while keeping the story personal.

Both types are powerful, and often, the best characters wrestle with both at once.

How to Build Your Character’s Lie

Here’s a simple process to make sure your protagonist isn’t a cardboard cutout:

1. Find the wound. What painful scar shaped this false belief?
2. Write the lie bluntly. “I don’t deserve love.” “Trust gets you killed.” Keep it raw.
3. Show the fallout. How does this belief wreck their relationships, decisions, or dreams?
4. Define the truth. What must they accept to grow?
5. Crack it with the story. Every event should chip away at the lie until the climax forces a final choice.

Quick Tip

The stronger the lie, the better the arc.

Generic lies like “people can’t be trusted” fall flat. Personal lies like “my father’s abandonment means no one will ever stay” cut deeper.

Aim for the diary-entry level of honesty.

Want to go deeper?

​Read the full article here for more tips and examples of the Lie your character believes.

Explore more Drill Downs like this on the StoryFlint site. View archives.​

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StoryFlint @storyflint Your story’s secret weapon might not be your main character... it’s their second-in-command. Here’s how to write a deuteragonist your audience actually remembers: 👇 12:0 PM • Aug 20, 2025 0 Retweets 0 Likes Read 1 replies

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Jocelyn Lindsay Book Coach, LLC I help writers write and publish their books. I'm a book coach who helps writers turn ideas into powerful, publishable books. With a mix of strategy and encouragement, I guide authors through story structure, character development, and the publishing process. My goal? To help you trust yourself, write with confidence, and finish your book. Subscribe​

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