Little Fires, Big Secrets: Writing Fictional Characters with Hidden Agendas Like In Little Fires Everywhere

Wanna write drama, secrets and lies like in Little Fires Everywhere? Here are some tips…

What makes a hidden agenda so compelling?

In Little Fires Everywhere, every character carries a secret, a hidden desire, or an unspoken goal that drives the story forward.

Whether it’s Mia’s mysterious past, Elena’s need to maintain perfection (despite her own imperfection), or the tangled motives surrounding the custody battle, these agendas create a web of tension and intrigue.

This guide will explore what Little Fires Everywhere teaches us about writing characters with layered intentions that keep readers hooked.

“Secrets Define Us”

Example: Mia Warren
Mia’s entire identity is built on layers of secrecy, from her background as a single mother to her choice to keep running.

Her hidden agenda — to protect her daughter, Pearl, at all costs from knowing the truth — drives her every action.

Tips:

• Give your character a past they’re desperate to hide. Make it something relatable yet deeply personal.
• Allow the agenda to manifest in their choices and relationships. For example, Mia’s refusal to settle down contrasts sharply with Elena’s rigidity.
• Drop breadcrumbs. Show small moments where the truth peeks through — an emotional reaction or a slip in dialogue.

Writing Prompt: What secret could cause your character to uproot their entire life? How would they justify it?

“The Facade of Perfection”

Example: Elena Richardson
Elena’s life revolves around projecting perfection — perfect home, perfect family, perfect control.

Her hidden agenda isn’t overtly sinister but still manipulative: to maintain a veneer of superiority over Mia and anyone who disrupts her world.

Tips:

• Create contrasts between a character’s external persona and internal desires. Elena’s polished exterior masks her need for control.
• Use dialogue to reveal cracks. Elena’s interactions with Mia show passive-aggression and insecurity.
• Let readers discover the agenda slowly, building tension as the facade begins to crumble.

Writing Prompt: What’s the one thing your character can’t let anyone know about them, and why?

“Collateral Damage”

Example: Pearl Warren and the Richardson Kids
While Pearl and the Richardson children aren’t actively hiding agendas, they’re pulled into the adults’ hidden motives.

Pearl unknowingly becomes a pawn in her mother’s struggle, while Lexie uses Mia as a shield for her own secrets.

Tips:

• Show how hidden agendas ripple outward, affecting innocent characters.
• Use secondary characters to mirror or challenge the protagonist’s goals.
• Create moments where hidden agendas clash, forcing characters to choose between loyalty and truth.

Writing Prompt: How would your secondary character react to realizing they’ve been used?

“The Catalyst”

Example: The Custody Battle
The fight for May Ling/Mirabelle becomes the perfect storm of hidden agendas colliding.

Mia’s hidden agenda to help Bebe is rooted in her empathy for another single mother, while Elena’s involvement stems from her need to assert moral superiority and protect her best friend.

Tips:

• Give your story a central conflict that exposes hidden agendas.
• Make the stakes personal for every character involved.
• Use this conflict as a lens to explore themes like morality, privilege, or sacrifice.

Writing Prompt: What’s a situation that forces your characters to reveal their true motives?

“Reveals that Burn”

Example: The Ending
When secrets come to light, everything changes.

The climactic reveal of Mia’s past and the Richardson family’s implosion show how hidden agendas can escalate until they explode.

Tips:

• Time the reveal for maximum impact. Build tension until the truth can’t stay hidden any longer.
• Let the fallout feel authentic. Not every character should forgive or recover easily.
• Use the reveal to deepen the story’s emotional core, as Little Fires Everywhere does with Mia and Pearl.

Writing Prompt: How would your character’s secret destroy the relationships they value most?

“Let the Fires Burn”

Characters with hidden agendas are the sparks that ignite unforgettable stories. Whether they’re protecting a loved one, clinging to control, or fighting for justice, their secrets create the friction that keeps readers turning the page.

Remember, the best hidden agendas are the ones that feel inevitable once they’re revealed.

So, give your characters the fuel they need — and let their fires burn.

Happy writing!

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