Helena Fairfax

It's that time of year again! The @childreninread.bsky.social auction for Children in Need. I'm offering a full developmental edit to one lucky bidder. Put in a bid at this link, or else check out the fab lots in the rest of the auction. Good luck! www.jumblebee.co.uk/auction/deta...
#writers

A chance for me to read your writing... A competition, and a run-through of what you may have missed...

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...

One simple, effective tip for structuring a novel, that even works for pantsers After a summer break it’s time for another authors’ Round Robin. This month the topic has been set by author Skye Taylor Are you a plotter or a pantser? As an editor I’ve read many, many manuscript…

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! ♥️🥰📚

A Literary Tour of Yorkshire: Books Set in Sheffield and the ‘South Riding’ It’s the very last day of summer, and the last stop on my literary tour of Yorkshire before the bad weather sets in – and we’ll all have an excuse to read more! (If you’d like to visit …

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...

A Literary Tour of Yorkshire: Books Set in York This summer I’m running a literary tour featuring books set Yorkshire. We started with the quaint town of Saltburn-by-the Sea, moved on to books set in Bradford, followed by a historical tour of bo…

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

An interview with an industry 'book doctor'... What a freelance editor can do for you, and how to know when to use one...plus some excellent writing tips for when you feel stuck!

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...

A Literary Tour of Yorkshire: Books Set in Yorkshire’s Magnificent Ruined Abbeys If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know this summer I’m running a series of posts on books set in Yorkshire, showcasing the county’s vast cultural heritage and variety. Last month I chose nov…

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...

Filming the Antiques Roadshow, a ‘cursed’ Chinese embroidery, and 6 brilliant novels set in the world of antiques A few days ago I was at the filming of the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow in the beautiful gardens at Cartwright Hall in Bradford. Cartwright Hall looking lovely in the sunshine I love the Antiques Roadsh…

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

Romantasy: Why it's happily ever after for romance books Despite being mocked by book critics for years, the romantasy genre is booming - and that means big business for publishers and bookshops.

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

#romancenovels #books #reading

A Literary Tour of Yorkshire: Books Set in Bradford Last month I began a series on books set in Yorkshire, starting off in the quaint Yorkshire town of Saltburn-by-the-Sea. This month’s literary location couldn’t be more different, but reflects the …

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

What is romantic conflict? How to create page-turning, believable tension in your writing Another month, and another authors’ Round Robin. This month the topic has been set by author Skye Taylor How do you create compelling conflict without using clichés? I write and edit romance novels…

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

Thanks for sharing, James. Happy weekend!

A Literary Tour of Yorkshire, starting with Saltburn-by-the-Sea This summer I’m planning a series of posts on books set in Yorkshire, in a sort of literary tour of the county. It’s coming up to the time for going on holiday, and the county of Yorkshire is…

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

Making Real Settings Feel Real to Your Readers: 7 Tips for Writers Another month, and another authors’ Round Robin. This month the topic has been set by author Skye Taylor How do you make real settings, either present-day or historical, feel authentic for readers?…

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

‘A machine-shaped hand’: Read a story from OpenAI’s new creative writing model Posting the piece online, OpenAI’s Sam Altman said this is the first time he has been “really struck” by AI writing

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...

‘Books picked me up on bad days’: how reading romance helped Lucy Mangan through grief After the death of her father, the writer took refuge in the kinds of stories she had once written off – discovering a comforting world of funny heroines and happy endings

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...

Thanks, Sophie! It feels like spring's on the way at last. Can't wait!

Amazing to stand on the moors in bright sunshine this morning, looking down on the clouds over the town

#moorland #spring #bradford #yorkshire

The powerful messages of romance novels Another month, and another authors’ Round Robin. For the month of Valentine’s, our topic has been set by author Skye Taylor What do you love about the romance genre? Romance is the bestsellin…

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...

Thank you so much, Frankie. Love your choices. I've read a few, and can't wait to start on some of the others. Have a lovely weekend!

Sharing the Love with Books for Valentine’s Day! Photo by rovenimages.com on Pexels.com Happy Valentine’s Day! I have always believed that Valentine’s Day shouldn’t just be for couples, why can’t we happy singletons celebr…

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

Beach Hut Surprise is free today! - Liberta Books Beach Hut Surprise is free for 5 days over Valentine's Day. Why not treat yourself to something special? With inbuilt sunshine and laughter?

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 I’m delighted today to be joining the blog tour for The Secrets of the Rose by Nicola Cornick, and sharing my review. Published on 7th February by Boldwood Books, this lovely book is now avai…

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

The art of seamless backstory: avoiding the dreaded info dump in your writing Another month, and another authors’ Round Robin. This month the topic has been set by author Skye Taylor… How do you avoid the ‘info dump’ and drop in backstory in a seamless way? As a writer…

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 #TheManyFuturesofMad... It’s an absolute pleasure today to be joining the blog tour and sharing my review of The Many Futures of Maddy Hart, the latest book from Laura Pearson: published on 4th February by Boldwood Books,…

#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 It’s a real pleasure today to be joining the blog tour for the latest book from Emma Cooper, The One Before the One, and sharing my review. Published by Boldwood Books on 31st January it’s now avai…

#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 On the closing day of the blog tour, it’s a delight today to be sharing my review of the latest book from Beth Moran, Have I Told You Lately: published by Boldwood Books on 24th January, it’s…

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

Isn't ChatGPT brilliant? 😅