Dr Helen Murray Taylor
@drhelenmtaylor.bsky.social
Memoir writer and novelist. Doctor and research scientist in a former life. My mental health memoir, love lay down beside me and we wept, published April 2025 with Unbound.
And thanks @valeriavescina.bsky.social for hosting. Fantastic job.
October 23, 2025 at 6:10 PM
And thanks @valeriavescina.bsky.social for hosting. Fantastic job.
Titles are so tricky but it is great when you find the one that really sings.
October 23, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Titles are so tricky but it is great when you find the one that really sings.
You said earlier that you do a lot of research and reading to begin with, and then put it aside. That sounds like a good way of not being distracted by having to find out specific details as you go along and letting the writing flow.
October 23, 2025 at 5:56 PM
You said earlier that you do a lot of research and reading to begin with, and then put it aside. That sounds like a good way of not being distracted by having to find out specific details as you go along and letting the writing flow.
Reposted by Dr Helen Murray Taylor
Wow – you’re juggling a lot. And then, there’s the #publishing venture you’ve set up and run, @breakthroughbook.bsky.social. Can you tell us a little about it, @brethertonwords.bsky.social? #WomenWritersNet #AuthorInterview #booksky
October 23, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Wow – you’re juggling a lot. And then, there’s the #publishing venture you’ve set up and run, @breakthroughbook.bsky.social. Can you tell us a little about it, @brethertonwords.bsky.social? #WomenWritersNet #AuthorInterview #booksky
It's tricky to keep up and I'm only following. Lots of good discussion going on for Q2
October 23, 2025 at 5:43 PM
It's tricky to keep up and I'm only following. Lots of good discussion going on for Q2
Good tips. It is a fine balance, isn't it, for any story to provide that sort of info in a natural way rather than just as reams of exposition or like you say, expecting your readers to be mind readers
October 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Good tips. It is a fine balance, isn't it, for any story to provide that sort of info in a natural way rather than just as reams of exposition or like you say, expecting your readers to be mind readers
What were your main research resources?
October 23, 2025 at 5:34 PM
What were your main research resources?
to separate it I should have said.
October 23, 2025 at 5:32 PM
to separate it I should have said.
How easy/difficult was it to write a stand-alone sequel? (I'm hoping for tips because I'm currently thinking about doing a similar thing and I'm finding hard not to separate it from the previous novel so it can stand alone).
October 23, 2025 at 5:32 PM
How easy/difficult was it to write a stand-alone sequel? (I'm hoping for tips because I'm currently thinking about doing a similar thing and I'm finding hard not to separate it from the previous novel so it can stand alone).
Crumbs, that's a lot. Fantastic.
October 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Crumbs, that's a lot. Fantastic.
I totally do the same!
October 23, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I totally do the same!
I think readers don't always realise that a book might be from a debut author but that doesn't mean that they are brand new to writing. We have probably been writing, training, perfecting our craft for years before we get published.
October 23, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I think readers don't always realise that a book might be from a debut author but that doesn't mean that they are brand new to writing. We have probably been writing, training, perfecting our craft for years before we get published.
It must have been a great learning experience to have completed a novel, even if in the end it didn't get published. I don't think any of this type of work is wasted, although it must have been tough to get good feedback but not find a home for it.
October 23, 2025 at 5:17 PM
It must have been a great learning experience to have completed a novel, even if in the end it didn't get published. I don't think any of this type of work is wasted, although it must have been tough to get good feedback but not find a home for it.
After all the drama with my first publisher (who shall remain nameless) going into administration, and then the phoenix-ed version of the same going bankrupt, I really thought that would be it for my wee book. So happy that it has a bit more time to make its mark. #lovelaydown
October 23, 2025 at 1:21 PM
After all the drama with my first publisher (who shall remain nameless) going into administration, and then the phoenix-ed version of the same going bankrupt, I really thought that would be it for my wee book. So happy that it has a bit more time to make its mark. #lovelaydown
Gosh, that was quick. Thank you @womenwritersnet.bsky.social and everyone who came. Lovely to connect with you all. #WomenWritersNet
October 16, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Gosh, that was quick. Thank you @womenwritersnet.bsky.social and everyone who came. Lovely to connect with you all. #WomenWritersNet
A6 #WomenWritersNet I'm not so terrified of showing my work to people anymore. I'm learning to live with the idea that not everyone will like every word I write. It's quite liberating 😆
October 16, 2025 at 6:02 PM
A6 #WomenWritersNet I'm not so terrified of showing my work to people anymore. I'm learning to live with the idea that not everyone will like every word I write. It's quite liberating 😆
A5 #WomenWritersNet I really love this attitude. I wish I was able to cultivate that approach a bit more. I'm too hung up on ideas about success (not commercial but certainly critical) stemming from school days and exams and getting a good mark. Which I absolutely know is ridiculous.
October 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM
A5 #WomenWritersNet I really love this attitude. I wish I was able to cultivate that approach a bit more. I'm too hung up on ideas about success (not commercial but certainly critical) stemming from school days and exams and getting a good mark. Which I absolutely know is ridiculous.
A5 #WomenWritersNet What a genius idea!
October 16, 2025 at 5:56 PM
A5 #WomenWritersNet What a genius idea!
A4 #WomenWritersNet Actually, I think that is probably true for me too. I just have to accept that I'm a slow writer. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Ideas change, discoveries are made, characters are more deeply understood in the time that it takes me. Thank you for pointing that out.
October 16, 2025 at 5:55 PM
A4 #WomenWritersNet Actually, I think that is probably true for me too. I just have to accept that I'm a slow writer. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Ideas change, discoveries are made, characters are more deeply understood in the time that it takes me. Thank you for pointing that out.