Reflecting back on previous exercises in which we talked about our characters’ relationship with the truth, take some time today to consider why your protagonist or other characters lie, shade, obfuscate, or otherwise withhold information.

Consider that they might not be afraid of the truth itself, but merely don’t want to deal with the repercussions when the truth comes out.

Is your character afraid of telling his family about his divorce or is he just avoiding the lecture he knows is coming?

Is your protagonist shading the truth to be kind, or because telling the truth would lessen her power over someone?

Look for places in your story where your character isn’t truthful – either with him or herself or with others – and keep asking why until you dig below the easy surface answers.