If you're working on a novel, this is an amazing opportunity to have feedback on your opening 10,000 words from the brilliant @phoebeannmorgan.bsky.social. Subscribe to her blog anyway - always an informative read! #writers #WritingCommmunity #writingadvice open.substack.com/pub/honested...

Plotting vs pantsing: If you're a pantser, how do you make sure your story is holding together as you go along? There's a simple, effective tip in my post today, that you might find useful. (And if you're a pantser, what works for you?) helenafairfax.com/2025/09/20/o... #writers

Earlier this week I was at a brilliant event at Shipley Library with author Olivia Potts, about her book on grief and patisseries, A Half-Baked Idea. The event was free, with tea and mouthwatering buns provided by a local bakery. How lucky we are to have free local libraries! ♥️🥰📚

It's the last day of summer and last stop on my literary tour of Yorkshire. We're heading to South Yorks and one of the most magnificent stately homes in the country, plus eight fabulous reads set in this part of the world. Hope you enjoy! helenafairfax.com/2025/08/31/a...

I lived in York as a child, after arriving from Africa. Find out about the book that helped me settle in this amazing city, plus 11 novels set in York. (If you know of any other books that should be on the list, please let me know!) helenafairfax.com/2025/07/27/a... #books #yorkshire

Loved this excellent article on what a freelance editor can do for you. This interview shows just how invaluable real, thoughtful input from an actual human can be for your writing honesteditor.substack.com/p/an-intervi...

This month I'm looking at novels set in Yorkshire's magnificent ruined abbeys, from Wolf Hall to the Gothic, to the 21st century If you know of any others to add to the list, please do let me know! helenafairfax.com/2025/06/01/a...

Are you a fan of the Antiques Roadshow? Last week I was lucky enough to be at the filming. I took along a treasured (perhaps cursed?) item. Find out how I got on! Plus a selection of novels set in the antiques world helenafairfax.com/2025/06/24/f... #antiques #bradford #bradford 2025

Good news for romance lovers! Looking forward to visiting London's first ever romance bookshop www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #romancenovels #books #reading

This month's stop on my literary tour of Yorkshire is Bradford. Find out why author Saima Mir called it ‘a beautiful and misunderstood city', discover some brilliant Bradford-set fiction and why I love Bradford Lit Fest helenafairfax.com/2025/05/31/a... #bradford2025 #books #yorkshire

How do you create a page-turning romance when readers already know what the ending is going to be? Romance novels are often looked down, but I think they're the hardest novels to write. Here's some tips on creating romantic conflict helenafairfax.com/2025/05/17/w... #writers #romance

This summer I'm taking a literary tour of Yorkshire. First stop, the seaside! Come and join me in charming Saltburn-by-the-Sea, with pirates, Jane Austen, Edward VII...and lots of books! helenafairfax.com/2025/04/29/a... #books #reading

Some tips on setting the scene in our authors' Round Robin today. My post includes two of my favourite novel openings - each very different, both setting the scene in a compelling way helenafairfax.com/2025/03/15/m... #writers

Some beautiful and strangely moving lines in this short story about grief, written by AI. I love the ending: 'I’d step outside the frame one last time and wave at you from the edge of the page, a machine-shaped hand learning to mimic the emptiness of goodbye.' www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

Love this piece in praise of romance writers and the brilliant description of them as 'a quieter, more studious version of the A-Team.' At last, a 'serious' journalist who takes our novels seriously and finds value in them. #writers #respectromfic www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

Amazing to stand on the moors in bright sunshine this morning, looking down on the clouds over the town #moorland #spring #bradford #yorkshire

For Valentine's weekend, we're talking about why we love the romance genre. I mention the worst review of a romcom I ever read. If you love a 'fluffy' romance, this is for you! helenafairfax.com/2025/02/15/t...

Great selection! 📚 ❤️ Sharing the Love with Books for Valentine's Day! chicksroguesandscandals.wordpress.com/2025/02/14/s... @chicksroguesblog.bsky.social

Fed up with cold, wet, dark winter days? Grab some sunshine with the laugh-out-loud stories in Beach Hut Surprise. Free today! libertabooks.com/news/beach-h... via @LibertaBooks #books #reading

#Review: The Secrets of the Rose by Nicola Cornick @NicolaCornick @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources #blogtour #newrelease #BoldwoodBloggers #histfic #romance #RespectRomFic #TheSecretsoftheRose beinganne.com/2025/02/revi...

Every month my group of writer friends from around the world write an article on the same topic. This is my most popular. I thought a post on novels set in our own part of the world might be interesting - but if you're a #booklover or a #writer, is there a topic you'd like to read more about?

#Review: The Many Futures of Maddy Hart by Laura Pearson @LauraPAuthor @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources #blogtour #newrelease #BoldwoodBloggers #womensfiction #romance #RespectRomFic #TheManyFuturesofMaddyHart beinganne.com/2025/02/revi...

#Review: The One Before the One by Emma Cooper @ItsEmmacooper @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources #BoldwoodBloggers #newrelease #romance #bookclubfiction #RespectRomFic #TheOneBeforeTheOne beinganne.com/2025/02/revi...

#Review: Have I Told You Lately by Beth Moran @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources #BoldwoodBloggers #newrelease #blogtour #romance #womensfiction #RespectRomFic #HaveIToldYouLately beinganne.com/2025/01/revi...

Erudite post from Ms Fairfax. ChatGPT tells me, "Helena Fairfax is worth recommending if you enjoy uplifting romantic fiction and well-researched historical works. Her novels are praised for their engaging characters, vivid settings, and heartwarming stories."

#Review: A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft by Jessica Redland @JessicaRedland @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources #BoldwoodBloggers #newrelease #romance #BumblebeeBarn #RespectRomFic #AForeverHomeAtHoneyBeeCroft beinganne.com/2025/01/revi...

This month our authors' round robin is all about using AI as a writer. Is it an exciting new tool for creatives? Or will it end up crushing new voices? helenafairfax.com/2025/01/25/u... #ai #writers #WritingCommunity

"historical accuracy" ... "a wonderful array of characters" - woohoo, a great review from @jaffareadstoo.bsky.social for my latest #Regency #Romance!

Saltaire is still frozen over this morning ❄️ I hope the wildlife is surviving... #bradford #yorkshire #winter

Another beautiful winter's dawn this morning. One more sunrise left of the year... ☀️ #bradford #yorkshire #sunrisesky

This weekend I have a FREE #romcom short story to share: Two teenage friends/rivals meet again as grown-ups on Christmas Eve. He's now a doctor, and she runs a hotel - but just how grown up are they? Hope you enjoy! helenafairfax.com/2024/12/21/t...

My Christmas reading! #Review: The Earl's Marriage Dilemma by Sarah Mallory @SarahMRomance @MillsandBoon @HarlequinBooks #RegencyRomance #RespectRomFic beinganne.com/2024/12/review… via @Williams13Anne

Fascinating research around Regency Bristol in this post, one of my favourites cities. Congrats on release of The Earl's Marriage Dilemma, Sarah Mallory! libertabooks.com/sarahs-books... via @LibertaBooks

Nothing matches the joy of a client telling you they're extending the deadline for their urgent edit until after Christmas. As my author said: 'Hooray! Hooray!' #editors #freelancers #writers

Santa Max 🎅 (It took a few treats to get him to pose like this 😅) #germanshepherd #rescuedog

Lovely to see the stories of three friends in the @peoplesfriendmagazine Christmas special! 🌲⭐ Looking forward to reading @kateblackadder.bsky.social, Jacqui Cooper and Rosemary Gemmell after I've put my tree up. The perfect start to Christmas!

Today Max met up with his bossy older brother Angus, of the cute eyebrows. (Max is telling me 'Don't let him get my football...') #rescuedog #rescuedogsrule

My husband to Alexa: Alexa, am I a great person? Alexa: You have a nice voice. Good to see AI being trained in the human skills of sarcasm and faint praise.

Max playing ball in the sunrise. It's never too early to start running... #germanshepherd #rescuedog #rescuedogsofig

Beautiful rainbow after #stormbert 🌈 The ground is sodden and muddy, but at least the sun's out...for now!

Over 60? Writer? This is for you

🗞️ NEWSFLASH 🗞️ Our competition is officially open! All need-to-knows at bridportprize.org.uk

#Review: Sisters Making Mischief by Maddie Please @MaddiePlease1 @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources #blogtour #BoldwoodBloggers #romcom #RespectRomFic beinganne.com/2024/11/revi...

Woke up to snow in Yorkshire. Making the most of it before it melts away #snowday #dogwalking #bradford

Please share

The ice on my car windscreen this morning ❄️ Worth scraping off to see the gorgeous pink-and-blue dawn #yorkshiremoors #moorland #bradford #sunrise

For #indieauthors and #authors: How to Market a Book, by Ricardo Fayet, is currently free on Amazon www.amazon.co.uk/How-Market-B...

#snowday in Yorkshire