Learn to use misbelief and subtle character “blind spots” to create tension and depth in historical fiction.

Every habitual choice a character makes—word choice, syntax, or routine behaviors—can reveal what they misunderstand about their world. In this session, historical fiction writer Lara Lehman introduces the concept of misbelief, showing how these “blind spots” can both stall a character’s progress and drive narrative tension.

Participants will explore how to embed misbeliefs within mechanical mistakes—those small, repeated errors that conceal and reveal key truths—using examples from Lehman’s own writing alongside mentor texts. Through this guided exploration, writers will learn how to craft subtle, compelling storytelling that engages readers on multiple levels.

Session Goals:
• Understand how a character’s misbelief shapes their narrative arc
• Learn how habitual language choices signal internal conflict or misunderstanding
• Explore techniques for hiding information in mechanical mistakes
• Engage with examples and readings to inspire participants’ own writing

Presenter:
Lara Lehman

This Prologue Day presentation is available as a standalone Eventbrite ticket or included with virtual conference registration, which provides access to all Prologue Day events and recorded conference sessions.