Strong characters carry histories, wounds, and hidden motivations that shape their every decision. One of the most powerful tools a writer can use to deepen a character’s arc is the ghost.
What Is a Character’s Ghost?
In storytelling terms, a ghost is an unresolved event from a character’s past that still haunts them in the present. It’s not necessarily a literal spirit (though it can be in supernatural genres), it’s a psychological or emotional wound that influences their choices, fears, and worldview. It's their tragic backstory.
A ghost can be:
- A traumatic loss
- A personal failure
- A betrayal
- A wrong the character committed
- An injustice they suffered
- A mystery that remains unsolved
The ghost often exists before the story begins and is gradually revealed to the reader. It can drive the internal conflict and help define the character’s growth.
Why the Ghost Matters
Without a ghost, a character’s journey can feel flat. Here’s why it’s so important:
Motivation
The ghost explains why your character acts the way they do. A soldier who refuses to lead another mission might be haunted by losing men under their command.
Conflict
The ghost often fuels both inner and outer conflict. It can cause the character to make mistakes, misjudge others, or resist opportunities.
Arc Progression
Resolving or confronting the ghost is often a key part of the character’s transformation.
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In a positive arc, the ghost is faced and overcome.
- In a negative arc, the ghost may consume the character instead.
Emotional Connection
Readers respond to characters who feel human. A ghost gives depth, inviting empathy even for flawed characters.
Tips for Creating a Strong Ghost
1. Link It to the Theme
Your ghost should connect to the broader themes of your story. If your novel is about trust, perhaps the ghost is a past betrayal.
2. Make It Specific
Instead of “He had a bad childhood,” create a defining moment, e.g., When he was 12, his best friend disappeared after he dared her to sneak into an abandoned house.
3. Reveal It Strategically
Don’t dump the ghost in chapter one unless it’s essential. Let hints surface through dialogue, behavior, and small reveals until the full truth emerges.
4. Let It Shape Behavior
The ghost should influence the character’s choices even before it’s revealed. Show the effects first, then explain the cause.
5. Decide How It Resolves
Will the character conquer the ghost, accept it, or be destroyed by it? Plan this in line with your character’s arc.
Examples from Literature
"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë – Jane’s ghost is her traumatic childhood in the Reed household and Lowood School. Her experiences with cruelty and neglect shape her fierce independence and moral integrity.
"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald – Gatsby’s ghost is his lost romance with Daisy, intertwined with his shame about his poor beginnings. Every extravagant gesture is an attempt to rewrite that past.
"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens – Ebenezer Scrooge’s ghost is both literal and figurative: his lost love and years of greed, compounded by regret over the life he could have had.
"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini – Amir’s ghost is his childhood betrayal of Hassan, a wound that drives the entire narrative and must be confronted for redemption.
How the Ghost Drives the Arc
The ghost typically affects the three-act structure in a few key ways:
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Act One: The ghost’s effects are present in the character’s flaws and fears. The full details might be hinted at but not explained.
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Midpoint: The ghost’s influence becomes unavoidable, often through a triggering event or revelation.
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Act Three: The character confronts the ghost directly, either breaking free from it or succumbing to it (especially in a corruption arc).
Character Ghost Prompts
Loss in Youth – What’s the most painful thing your character lost before the story began, and how did it shape their beliefs about safety, love, or stability?
A Choice Gone Wrong – When did your character make a decision that ended badly, and what do they wish they had done differently?
The Betrayal – Who was the first person to betray your character’s trust, and how does that betrayal color their relationships now?
Unfinished Words – Who did they never get the chance to say something to, and what would they have said?
The One They Couldn’t Save – Who did they fail to protect, and what blame do they still carry?
The Mistaken Belief – What truth about themselves or the world did they learn “too late,” and how does it still haunt them?
A Secret Kept – What secret from the past would destroy them if it came to light?
A Promise Broken – What vow did they make but fail to keep, and who paid the price?
The Wrong Side – When did they fight for, support, or protect the wrong cause/person?
The Chance They Missed – What opportunity could have changed their life, but they didn’t take it, and why?
The Defining Accident – Was there a single event (accident, disaster, mistake) that changed the course of their life forever?
The Person They Became – What part of themselves are they ashamed of, and how is it tied to a past moment?
The Moment They Were Powerless – When did they feel completely helpless, and what did it teach them about control?
Inherited Ghost – What wound or burden was passed to them by family, culture, or community?
The Thing They Can’t Forgive – Who do they refuse to forgive, and how does that unforgiveness define their actions?
PLOT STRUCTURE WORKBOOK
