We Only Know the Half of It

Just like we can’t fully know someone, I like to think there’s always more to a character than what is simply on the page. They have a past, a family, and other things about them, all of which add layers and depth. As a writer, this is very exciting. What isn’t known about a character can be a great source of tension within a story. Maybe it’s a way to create intrigue, peeling back the layers of a character as the story progresses. It can also lead us to feel empathy for a villain, because we may only receive hints about their troubled past. And it can be a way to create suspense…like when someone appears to have a dark side, but it’s not fully disclosed.

Each character is like a puzzle with missing pieces. There will always be something about them that can’t be fully known or explained. In real life, this can be a little frustrating. But as an author, it’s something to celebrate.

About the photo: I took this photo years ago when my boys were little. I was laying on the couch, and this was a moment after I was cuddling all three of them. (By the way, when my boys were little ‘cuddling’ was code for ‘climbing all over me’). So, I was feeling extremely tired and wanted to see just how bad the circles were under my eyes. I zoomed in and took this photo. The beams of light that you see coming down must have been from the large sunroom window on the wall behind me. I love how they’re only shedding light on half my face.