The lies we tell ourselves (are your plot’s secret weapon) 

We all tell ourselves lies. And sometimes we don't even realize we're doing it. Our self-lies often present as low self-esteem, and they're almost always grounded in a fear. 

And as writers of character-driven fiction, we can flip this negative habit from our human lives into an inspiring experience for our readers.

In today's article, I'm sharing a lesson from my course Liar, Liar, Plot on Fire to show you how the Lie your hero tells themself can help you uncover the very heart of their story. 

What is the Lie?

If you're familiar with manifestation, the Lie core value in your hero's story is a negative manifestation.

Positive manifestations can motivate you to stay on track toward challenging goals or bolster your courage to take on a scary task. 

But negative manifestations are where we really sabotage our own happiness.

As humans, we're hardwired to weigh negative thoughts over positive ones. This negativity bias is so powerful that we need something like 5 positive experiences to balance out what we perceive to be a negative one. 

If you tell yourself you're not good enough, you'll begin to believe it. Even if you only said it in jest the first time, that statement is essentially a self-harming affirmation that gains power every time you repeat it.

This is why the Lie is such an important part of your hero's transformation journey.   

The Lie is a Character Core Value

Core Values are the most important character elements in a story that define why that story is worth telling, how the character will react at various points in their growth journey, and where key scenes of the plot anchor the hero's transformation arc.

Here's the full chart of all 7 Core Values and how they loosely relate to one another.

Any character-driven fiction story that ends in positive growth for the protagonist must begin the story with a relatable, believable flaw for the hero. The reader connects to the story through their sympathy with, understanding of, or personal experience with the Lie our hero tells themself.

That Lie is powerful because the hero honestly believes it is true and makes major decisions in their life based on that belief. 

The LIE is a false truth the hero convinces themself is true.

But because the Lie is based in emotion, not on a measurable fact, the hero just needs a nudge (or two... or ten) to start doubting their own belief. You, as the writer, need to set up scenes that allow your protagonist to experience proof that they've bought into a lie.

So this is what your story must do:

Believing the Lie gives the hero permission to avoid the possibility of facing their deepest fear. 

#3 above usually happens in the middle part of your story's plot, where you begin setting up scenarios and experiences that disprove the Lie in ways the hero cannot ignore. This, along with the story beats of your specific fiction genre (or subgenre) is what defines Phase 3 of the transformation journey, Considering Change.   

So when you're considering what Lie your hero believes that shapes the way they make important decisions in your story's plot, keep these points in mind...

Want to learn more about the 5-Question Plot Diagnosis Flowchart? Check out my self-paced online course Liar, Liar, Plot on Fire.