A creative writing exercise on subtext in dialogue – because real people don’t say what they mean.
Helen Johnson gives tips and tricks for writing subtext in dialogue. Continue Reading →
Historical Novels Review August 2021 issue
Historical Novels Review is out in print and online. Continue Reading →
Exercising creative writing technique: surprise
Helen Johnson shares an exercise in creative writing technique, for suprise. Continue Reading →
Genres in Genres
I’ve always enjoyed reading widely, never sticking to one genre, as you can see from this snapshot of one of my bookcases. And now, as a reviewer for the Historical Continue Reading →
My Debut as a reviewer for Historical Novels Reviews
I am delighted to announce my debut as a reviewer for the Historical Novels Society, a community of historical fiction lovers. The task proved not as easy as I’d imagined Continue Reading →
Why we need Christmas more than ever – and how to save it from Covid-19
I’ve spent years writing about Yorkshire’s Christmas traditions. But this Christmas will be one like no other – because we have Covid-19 – and it’s easy to feel that Christmas Continue Reading →
Women against Votes for Women
Astounded During my researches for my story set at the outbreak of the Great War, I was astounded to come across the Women’s Anti-Suffrage League. Yes – an organisation of Continue Reading →
Finish writing one novel, begin another.
Bladesmith After two years living with an 11th century teenager, I finished writing my novel of the Harrying of the North. Bladesmith tells of Gudrid, an 11th century Yorkshire blacksmith’s Continue Reading →
The Harrying of the North and the Danes
Who were the Danes? When the Danish fleet arrived in the River Humber in September 1069, they were greeted with rejoicing. English resistance fighters flocked to them. The combined armies Continue Reading →
The Harrying – Unimaginable
Helen Johnson considers the unimaginable horror of the Harrying of the North – then writes a historical novel about it. Continue Reading →