Every person has secrets that only he or she knows, secrets that are not shared with anyone, not even the most intimate friends, partners, even soul mates. These secrets may be righteous or sinister, yet for reasons, often unknown, they are never revealed to any other person. These, the writer should explore in his or her writing.

These secrets can be an important part of any writer's self-examination and can be revealing, even therapeutic, because they can be used in poetry to add depth and passion to verse composition; they can be used in novels to develop memorable characters; they can be used in articles to add life and interest to the topic; they can be used in any writing to make it unique and engaging, without endangering the writer's privacy.

Make secrets part of characters in short stories and novels; give fantasies a role in the characters created, and they will come to life with an energy and nuance never believed possible. Thus, they will become unforgettable and intriguing to readers.

So, what are these secrets?

They are the writer's deepest desires, fears, pleasures, and joys. They become the roots of poetry or prose.

They enrich writing and fill it with fascination. Use them!

Charles O. Goulet has a BA in history and a BEd in English literature. He has written several historical novels that are available at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Barnes and Noble, and many other bookstores.

Charles O. Goulet
RR 1
Evansburg, AB
T0E 0T0
go1c@telusplanet.net