Writing Flash Fiction – Hints and Tips
I’ve been writing flash fiction for seven years now, and find it a great way to hone skills. I don’t worry about publishing it, I just use it as a Continue Reading →
Creative writing exercise: crafting an antagonist who readers will REALLY hate
Bigging up the Bad Guy– or Gal When I googled the question: how to make readers really hate my Bad Guy/Gal, antagonist, or villain, I got a range of suggestions, Continue Reading →
New Year, New Research
New year, a fresh start, and, one of my favourite parts of starting a new historical novel: the research. My latest story features an Anglo-Scandinavian woman healer living in 11th Continue Reading →
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 →