Liars make stories twist, characters clash, and readers question everything. But not all liars are created equal. If you're writing one, ask yourself: what kind of liar are they? Because there’s more than one way to deceive…
the one where you know they are lying
the one where you never know that they are lying
the one who lies about everything
the one who lies to themself
Every liar has a reason. Is it survival, manipulation, shame, love, power, or habit? Understanding their motive helps you shape their behavior and emotional responses.
Use subtext and contradictions
Liars rarely say "I'm lying." Instead, they contradict themselves, dodge questions, or over-explain. Let their words and actions subtly clash.
Let the lie shape the plot
A good lie should ripple through the story. It creates misunderstandings, false alliances, and dramatic irony. Use it to mislead characters and readers.
Sometimes the most powerful lie is omission. What a character doesn’t say can be just as revealing as what they do.
Use unreliable narrators or shifting POVs to blur the line between truth and fiction. This keeps readers guessing and deepens the mystery.
How are characters reacting to someone lying to them? What happens if people find out a character lied?
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