Writing an unreliable narrator can be tricky—I mean, how do you fool your readers without annoying them or confusing them completely? You’re probably wondering how to hint they’re not trustworthy without giving everything away.
The good news is, crafting an unreliable narrator isn’t as tough as it sounds. Stick around, and I’ll show you simple tips for choosing the perfect point of view, subtle ways to reveal inconsistencies, and how to keep readers guessing till the very end.
Ready? Let’s break it down step by step.
Key Takeaways
- Clearly identify why your narrator isn’t trustworthy—lying, mental struggles, or bias—to maintain reader interest and avoid plot holes.
- Use subtle, early hints to spark doubt about your narrator’s honesty, keeping readers alert and invested in uncovering the truth.
- First-person works best for emotional or psychological unreliability, while third-person limited suits bias or manipulation.
- Show narrator bias naturally through how they describe people or events.
- Occasionally use other viewpoints to expose contradictions without overwhelming readers.
- Add clues and inconsistencies sparingly throughout to encourage active reading.
- Make your narrator’s motives understandable to boost believability, even if they’re unlikeable.
- Your narrator’s inaccuracies should affect the plot directly, fueling conflicts or events.
- Include relatable emotional traits to build reader empathy and connection.
- Deliver a satisfying twist connected directly to your narrator’s unreliability for maximum impact.
Step 1: Decide Why Your Narrator Is Unreliable
If you want a compelling unreliable narrator, first figure out exactly why they’re unreliable in the first place. Are they intentionally lying, mentally unstable, overly biased, or simply too naive to understand what’s happening? Knowing the root cause helps you stay consistent and believable.
For instance, think of Nick Dunne in Gone Girl. He presents himself as an innocent victim, but his unreliable perspective comes from hiding his affair, making him immediately suspicious. Similarly, psychological thrillers frequently rely on narrators dealing with delusions or memory gaps, just like the protagonist struggling with alcoholism in The Girl on the Train.
So decide early and clearly why your narrator’s storytelling isn’t entirely trustworthy. This helps guide reader expectations and shapes the narrative in a believable way—plus, it prevents plot holes that readers will definitely catch.
Step 2: Give Hints About the Narrator’s Unreliability Early
One effective way to hook readers is by signaling from the start that your narrator might be unreliable, even if it’s subtle. This keeps your readers actively engaged as they look for clues, inconsistencies, and hidden truths.
You can drop early hints using contradictions: perhaps your narrator’s retelling clashes with another character’s perspective or known facts. Maybe their emotional responses feel slightly off or exaggerated. Small slip-ups can also hint at a deeper unreliability—like suddenly forgetting important details they previously mentioned.
For example, if the narrator confidently tells one version of events but a minor character casually challenges their memory, readers instantly wonder who’s telling the truth. These early clues not only boost reader engagement but also set the stage for a satisfying twist as your readers slowly realize things aren’t what they seem.
Step 3: Choose the Best Point of View for Your Unreliable Narrator
Your narrator’s point of view can dramatically shape how the unreliability comes across. First-person is popular because it offers readers a limited, biased viewpoint directly from inside the narrator’s head. We see exactly what they think, feel, and believe—which makes the twists more surprising because readers are inclined to trust someone narrating their own story.
Third-person limited point of view is another useful option since readers still closely follow one character but can be subtly nudged toward questioning the character’s reliability. Another interesting style is the rarely-seen fourth-person point of view, though it requires a careful balance to avoid confusing readers or straining credibility.
Choose the perspective that best fits your narrator’s type of unreliability—first-person intimacy works great with emotional or mental instability, while third-person limited might nicely reveal bias or manipulation gradually through narrative inconsistencies.
Step 4: Use Language and Tone to Reflect the Narrator’s Bias
Your unreliable narrator’s bias should naturally show itself through their choice of words and the overall tone they use to describe situations or people.
If your narrator dislikes a certain character, have them use subtly negative descriptions—maybe they mention annoying behaviors or small physical flaws.
On the other hand, if they idealize someone, let them exaggerate positive traits, making that character sound almost too perfect to believe.
For example, Humbert Humbert in Vladimir Nabokov’s novel Lolita uses poetic, almost romanticized language to justify his deeply troubling thoughts and behaviors, highlighting his disturbing bias.
The key here is subtlety—use slight exaggerations, selective details, or vivid language, but don’t push it so hard that it becomes obvious right away.
Instead, leave just enough clues to make readers feel slightly uneasy, nudging them to question the narrator’s motivations.
Step 5: Use Multiple Perspectives to Show Inconsistencies
Showing different points of view can help highlight your unreliable narrator’s discrepancies without shouting them outright.
This doesn’t mean you have to switch narrators every few pages—that could quickly get messy—but occasionally letting another character voice their view can be very effective.
For instance, if your narrator claims they were calm during an argument, another character’s recap later on could casually mention the narrator shouting or slamming doors.
Another great trick is using letters, diary entries, or even overheard conversations between other characters that contradict your narrator’s telling.
Use these alternate glimpses sparingly to build reader suspicion little by little, creating that awesome “aha!” moment down the line.
Step 6: Place Subtle Clues Without Giving Too Much Away
The fun of an unreliable narrator is letting readers piece things together themselves, so don’t spell everything out outright.
Instead, sprinkle subtle clues that don’t fully add up until later.
Maybe a character mentions a crucial incident your narrator conveniently skips over, or perhaps the timeline they talk about just doesn’t match up upon reflection.
You might also include tiny inconsistencies—one moment your narrator complains that it’s unbearably hot, and a few pages later describes feeling cold in the same exact setting.
This creates reader curiosity and encourages them to pay close attention, resulting in deeper engagement with your story.
If you need ideas for creating mysterious clues or twists, you might explore some horror plot ideas for inspiration.
Step 7: Create Clear Motivations for Your Narrator’s Behavior
Readers may forgive an unreliable narrator for misleading them if the character has understandable motivations driving their flawed perspective.
If your narrator is lying, hiding something, or misremembering events, make it clear to readers why they’re doing it.
Is it due to guilt, fear, self-preservation, trauma, ambition, or jealousy?
The clearer their motivations, the more believable—and human—they become.
For example, Amy Dunne in Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl lies because she wants complete control and revenge over her husband.
Your narrator doesn’t have to be likable, but their reasoning should feel realistic and relatable enough to justify their telling of events.
Step 8: Use Your Narrator’s Unreliability to Drive the Story
A narrator’s unreliability should do more than just surprise readers—it should actively shape the direction the story takes.
Their inability or unwillingness to share truthful details can trigger important actions, conflicts, or misunderstandings between characters.
Take advantage of your narrator’s perspective by letting their misleading storytelling cause genuine trouble or consequences in the characters’ lives.
Imagine a desperate character who hides facts from the detective investigating a murder; these omissions could drive the detective to the wrong suspect or cause complications that lead to dramatic escalations.
When built correctly, your unreliable narrator’s viewpoint isn’t just a neat storytelling gimmick—it becomes the driving force behind the entire plot.
Step 9: Create Emotional Connections to Keep Readers Interested
Even if your narrator is untrustworthy or morally questionable, readers still need reasons to care about their story.
You can foster empathy through small relatable experiences, vulnerabilities, or personal struggles that resonate emotionally.
Maybe your unreliable narrator genuinely loves their family, tries hard at their job, or has faced past trauma—these deeply human traits can create strong emotional ties, drawing readers back to the story even when they’re unsure whether to trust your character.
If you’re not sure how to introduce relatable emotional depth, browsing these realistic fiction writing prompts might spark engaging character details to hook your audience emotionally.
Step 10: End with a Meaningful Twist Related to the Narrator’s Unreliability
The best unreliable narrator stories deliver final twists rooted in the very deception readers have been piecing together all along.
Think carefully about how to reveal the narrator’s true colors or motivations in a surprising, satisfying, and believable way that fits your narrative.
For instance, the shocking twist in “Shutter Island” by Dennis Lehane confirms the narrator’s delusional mental state, completely reshaping reader understanding of previous story events.
Make sure your twist is grounded in details you’ve been subtly planting throughout, so when the truth finally surfaces, readers feel rewarded for noticing clues and paying close attention.
Your twist shouldn’t just surprise—it should deepen your story, answering lingering questions and prompting readers to look back and appreciate your clever storytelling.
FAQs
An unreliable narrator presents misleading or biased information due to personal agendas, flawed perceptions, emotional instability, or hidden motives. This narrative technique intentionally misguides readers to add complexity, suspense, or depth to the story.
Authors can insert subtle contradictions, distorted details, or unusual reactions early to suggest unreliability. Small discrepancies, exaggerated claims, and unexpected omissions encourage readers to question the narrator’s honesty without immediately revealing the truth.
Typically, first-person narration works best, as it provides readers direct access to the narrator’s thoughts and perceptions, amplifying bias and flawed understanding. Third-person limited perspective also works effectively by carefully sharing selective information from the character’s viewpoint.
Clear motivations justify the narrator’s questionable behavior and help readers empathize with their contradictions and biases. Established motives make the narrator believable, authentic, and ensure readers remain emotionally involved and invested in the story.
