Writing Characters Who Hide Behind Their Fears

By J.E. Nickerson | Wise Thinkers Help Desk

One of the most powerful ways to bring depth to your characters is to show not just what they say, but what they hide. People rarely walk around broadcasting their deepest insecurities. Instead, they cover them up—with excuses, jokes, distractions, or even silence.

When you capture this in your writing, you move your characters beyond surface dialogue and into the raw space where readers connect most: the tension between what they feel and what they allow others to see.

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Why Characters Hide

In real life, people often don’t speak their fears outright. They hide because:

• They’re afraid of being judged.

• They think their fears are “silly” or “too much.”

• They don’t want to make themselves vulnerable.

• They don’t even know how to put it into words yet.

Your characters should be no different. Instead of declaring their deepest anxieties, they might:

• Shrug something off with a joke.

• Lash out at someone else instead of admitting they’re scared.

• Change the subject.

• Stay quiet when they most want to speak.

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The Power of Gradual Revelation

When your character hides behind fear, you give the reader a gift: the chance to discover the truth slowly. This creates tension, intimacy, and payoff when the hidden truth finally comes out.

Think about how this works:

• First layer: The character says something safe (“I don’t care about that job.”).

• Second layer: Their actions contradict their words (they stay up all night worrying about the interview).

• Final reveal: When they can no longer hold back, the truth slips out (“I was terrified I’d fail.”).

This process mirrors life. Readers will recognize themselves in the struggle to admit fears.

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Writing Tip: Use Subtext

One of the strongest tools you have here is subtext—what’s being felt beneath the surface of what’s being said. For example:

• Dialogue: “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

• Subtext: “I’m crumbling, but I don’t know if I can trust you with that.”

If you layer your dialogue and description this way, your scenes will carry emotional weight that simple “on the nose” statements can never achieve.

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A Movie Example: A Beautiful Mind (2001)

In A Beautiful Mind, John Nash, the brilliant mathematician, spends much of the story hiding his fears—not just from others, but from himself. His mind creates elaborate delusions, and instead of confronting the truth of his illness, he masks his vulnerability with confidence, intellectual pride, and denial.

One striking moment comes when Nash is confronted with the reality that his closest “friends” aren’t real. Rather than admit his terror, he deflects, insisting he can manage on his own. His fear isn’t spoken outright—it’s buried under silence, avoidance, and stubbornness.

The audience feels his inner collapse not through what he says, but through what he refuses to say. This illustrates exactly how hidden fears work in fiction: the tension builds in the gap between appearance and reality, between the face a character shows the world and the truth they can’t yet speak.

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Why It Matters

Stories resonate most when readers can see themselves in the characters. Everyone has fears they keep tucked away. Everyone knows the feeling of not wanting to be seen too clearly. By writing characters who hide behind their fears, you tap into something universal—making your characters more human, more relatable, and more unforgettable.

The next time you write characters who struggle with fear, think about your audience. Think about how their fears can be explored by your characters. This will make your audience connect with your characters and care about their choices.

For more character development guidance, read the following articles. 

➡️ The Quiet Warnings: How Side Characters Reflect the Hero’s Path

➡️ The Power of Vulnerable Characters in Fiction

🎙️ Want more writing inspiration? Listen to the trailer for my podcast Heart of Writing where I expand on these ideas.

📚 If you’re new here, I’m J.E. Nickerson — faith based author and inspirational storyteller. You can check out my books here or follow me on YouTube for more inspiration and encouragement on this writing life.

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Practice Worksheet: Writing Characters Who Hide Behind Their Fears

Characters rarely say what they mean—especially when fear is involved. Use this worksheet to practice writing fear-driven subtext into your stories.

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Part 1: Name the Fear

1. What is your character secretly afraid of?

• Example: They’re afraid they’re not good enough to be loved.

2. Why do they hide this fear?

• Example: They don’t want to look weak.

Write it here:

• Fear: _________________________

• Reason for hiding it: _________________________

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Part 2: The Mask They Wear

People cover fear with something else—humor, anger, indifference, control.

Circle one or add your own:

• Humor/joking

• Silence

• Anger/defensiveness

• Perfectionism

• Distraction

• Overconfidence

How does your character cover their fear?

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Part 3: Dialogue Practice – Subtext vs. Surface

Write one line of dialogue your character would say to hide their fear. Then rewrite it to show what they really feel underneath.

• Surface line (what they say): _________________________

• Subtext (what they mean): _________________________

Example:

• Surface: “It doesn’t matter, I didn’t even want that promotion.”

• Subtext: “I’m crushed because it proved my fear—that I’m not good enough.”

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Part 4: Gradual Revelation

Write a mini-scene (3–5 sentences) where your character hides their fear at first, but gradually lets pieces slip until the truth comes out.

Prompt: Your character is asked a simple question, “Are you okay?” Show how they hide, dodge, and finally reveal something deeper.

• Draft your scene here:

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Part 5: Reflection

When you finished writing, ask:

• Did the fear feel relatable?

• Did the “mask” make the character more complex?

• Did the reveal feel earned, not rushed?