Secrets and Lies

Writing should be a spontaneous activity—idea to page—but we dream too long and the idea is lost in the haze and never hits the page.

The Cure

Writers must outline their work.  We need to plan the major plot points, understand their characters in minute detail, and ...

When we decide to lie, we privilege some other value over honesty. The value is often compassion, as people lie more about their feelings than about anything else. 

Those who tell prosocial lies are often viewed as more trustworthy and more moral than are people who tell harsh truths...

Certain decisions are disguised as questions, and are usually some major plot points, or even details that require explanations and further detailing.

Example: Which characters point of view should I use in this scene?

The Masked Questions: some questions a...