Helen Walmsley-Johnson
@helenw-j.bsky.social
Author, Invisible Woman, ex-Guardian, country-dweller.
Rep: https://blakefriedmann.co.uk/juliet-pickering
Rep: https://blakefriedmann.co.uk/juliet-pickering
Reposted by Helen Walmsley-Johnson
Yup. But I think if I'd been told that years ago, I'd still do it.
Almost 1/4 a century of hammering away at this now. 15 published books. First few weren't great, tbh. Most recent 7 I'm hugely proud of and I'm aware a lot of people love them.
Still not enough to give me a living wage, on its own.
Almost 1/4 a century of hammering away at this now. 15 published books. First few weren't great, tbh. Most recent 7 I'm hugely proud of and I'm aware a lot of people love them.
Still not enough to give me a living wage, on its own.
The majority of books published lose money and the majority of authors do not earn out their advances if they were lucky enough to get one. If you do the math on an hourly wage, writing is frankly bonkers as any kind of career.
November 26, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Yup. But I think if I'd been told that years ago, I'd still do it.
Almost 1/4 a century of hammering away at this now. 15 published books. First few weren't great, tbh. Most recent 7 I'm hugely proud of and I'm aware a lot of people love them.
Still not enough to give me a living wage, on its own.
Almost 1/4 a century of hammering away at this now. 15 published books. First few weren't great, tbh. Most recent 7 I'm hugely proud of and I'm aware a lot of people love them.
Still not enough to give me a living wage, on its own.
Reposted by Helen Walmsley-Johnson
Well, this is pretty terrifying. The Daily Mail is buying the Telegraph.
One massive consolidated right-wing media empire controlled by off-shore interests at a critical moment in global politics.
What could go wrong?
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
One massive consolidated right-wing media empire controlled by off-shore interests at a critical moment in global politics.
What could go wrong?
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Daily Mail owner strikes £500m deal to buy Telegraph titles
Acquisition likely to trigger in-depth investigation by regulator after agreement between DMGT and Redbird IMI
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Well, this is pretty terrifying. The Daily Mail is buying the Telegraph.
One massive consolidated right-wing media empire controlled by off-shore interests at a critical moment in global politics.
What could go wrong?
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
One massive consolidated right-wing media empire controlled by off-shore interests at a critical moment in global politics.
What could go wrong?
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by Helen Walmsley-Johnson
Note from my notebook (2018). Still relevant.
November 9, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Note from my notebook (2018). Still relevant.
Half cat, half Wolverine.
The Sodoffskaya says: Happy Caturday!
The Sodoffskaya says: Happy Caturday!
October 11, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Half cat, half Wolverine.
The Sodoffskaya says: Happy Caturday!
The Sodoffskaya says: Happy Caturday!
Reposted by Helen Walmsley-Johnson
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
September 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
Reposted by Helen Walmsley-Johnson
£2000 - £12,000 available from the Arts Council to Develop Your Creative Practice.
Online application in link below.
Please share :)
Online application in link below.
Please share :)
Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP)
Find out more about Developing your Creative Practice
www.artscouncil.org.uk
August 17, 2025 at 10:50 AM
£2000 - £12,000 available from the Arts Council to Develop Your Creative Practice.
Online application in link below.
Please share :)
Online application in link below.
Please share :)
Reposted by Helen Walmsley-Johnson
Submit 5,000 words of your manuscript and a synopsis with the aim of jumping the publication slush pile and meeting agents and publishers face-to-face for the Debut Novel Competition at the Irish Writers Centre. Closes 14th September.
Details in link.
Please share :)
Details in link.
Please share :)
International Debut Novel Competition - Irish Writers Centre
Each year, the Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair competition gives up-and-coming writers the opportunity to pitch their novel to top publishers and agents.
irishwriterscentre.ie
August 17, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Submit 5,000 words of your manuscript and a synopsis with the aim of jumping the publication slush pile and meeting agents and publishers face-to-face for the Debut Novel Competition at the Irish Writers Centre. Closes 14th September.
Details in link.
Please share :)
Details in link.
Please share :)
Reposted by Helen Walmsley-Johnson
The struggle is real
August 14, 2025 at 10:31 AM
The struggle is real
Sorry... what?
August 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Sorry... what?
Sunday morning and all is peacful UNTIL the fecking neighbour [they of the massive 18 months to build extension and attendant mental torture] brings out the industrial strimmer. This is a regular occurrence and I may cry.
August 10, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Sunday morning and all is peacful UNTIL the fecking neighbour [they of the massive 18 months to build extension and attendant mental torture] brings out the industrial strimmer. This is a regular occurrence and I may cry.
August 3, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Reposted by Helen Walmsley-Johnson
We're investigating reports of a large number of mice missing in this area. You match the description of someone we'd like to talk to.
July 20, 2025 at 8:56 AM
We're investigating reports of a large number of mice missing in this area. You match the description of someone we'd like to talk to.
Reposted by Helen Walmsley-Johnson
No one.
July 12, 2025 at 12:34 AM
No one.
Reposted by Helen Walmsley-Johnson
An amazing opportunity for 10 writers to spend up to a month for free at seaside cottage to write.
All details in the link below.
Please share :)
All details in the link below.
Please share :)
RSL Scriptorium Awards - Royal Society of Literature
Ten writer residencies presented to professionally active writers in need of a place to write.The 2025 Prize This year marks the inaugural presentation of the RSL Scriptorium Awards, inviting applicat...
rsliterature.org
July 3, 2025 at 2:09 PM
An amazing opportunity for 10 writers to spend up to a month for free at seaside cottage to write.
All details in the link below.
Please share :)
All details in the link below.
Please share :)
Reposted by Helen Walmsley-Johnson
Remembering when Matt Hancock showed his contrition and deep reflection on all those lost to covid on his watch by going on "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here".
#CovidInquiry #MattHancock
#CovidInquiry #MattHancock
July 2, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Remembering when Matt Hancock showed his contrition and deep reflection on all those lost to covid on his watch by going on "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here".
#CovidInquiry #MattHancock
#CovidInquiry #MattHancock
Remade bread, yesterday's being massively over-proved by reason of a 12 hour power cut. Such fun.
But I did listen to Ed Reardon's Week, which I missed on account of 12 hour power cut, along with 1st day of Wimbledon, electric light, working on book synopsis etc etc.
Did I mention the power cut?
But I did listen to Ed Reardon's Week, which I missed on account of 12 hour power cut, along with 1st day of Wimbledon, electric light, working on book synopsis etc etc.
Did I mention the power cut?
July 1, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Remade bread, yesterday's being massively over-proved by reason of a 12 hour power cut. Such fun.
But I did listen to Ed Reardon's Week, which I missed on account of 12 hour power cut, along with 1st day of Wimbledon, electric light, working on book synopsis etc etc.
Did I mention the power cut?
But I did listen to Ed Reardon's Week, which I missed on account of 12 hour power cut, along with 1st day of Wimbledon, electric light, working on book synopsis etc etc.
Did I mention the power cut?
Reposted by Helen Walmsley-Johnson
Are there any recent-ish books studying the phenomenon of women with auto-immune illnesses, specifically the link between being in a toxic relationship (work, family, marriage) and getting/being ill?
June 26, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Are there any recent-ish books studying the phenomenon of women with auto-immune illnesses, specifically the link between being in a toxic relationship (work, family, marriage) and getting/being ill?
"Analysis finds domestic abuse training for staff in England and Wales ‘sporadic and inconsistent’"
Every time I think we're making progress... #coercivecontrol #domesticabuse
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Every time I think we're making progress... #coercivecontrol #domesticabuse
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Domestic abuse is ‘public health emergency’, experts say after critical NHS report
Exclusive: Analysis finds domestic abuse training for staff in England and Wales ‘sporadic and inconsistent’
www.theguardian.com
June 23, 2025 at 10:21 AM
"Analysis finds domestic abuse training for staff in England and Wales ‘sporadic and inconsistent’"
Every time I think we're making progress... #coercivecontrol #domesticabuse
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Every time I think we're making progress... #coercivecontrol #domesticabuse
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Helen Walmsley-Johnson
‘Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don't they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers.’ ~ Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine. 🐝
🖼️ Naturalist's library, Jardine, 1840.
🖼️ Naturalist's library, Jardine, 1840.
June 12, 2025 at 8:42 AM
‘Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don't they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers.’ ~ Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine. 🐝
🖼️ Naturalist's library, Jardine, 1840.
🖼️ Naturalist's library, Jardine, 1840.
[insert caption here]
June 5, 2025 at 10:45 AM
[insert caption here]
Yay! Shout out for Rutland - a small county packed with large and wonderful things.
The Hawthorn Horse, Oakham, Rutland, 1932. Situated at the corner of Cemetery Road and Station Road, this topiary horse was a local attraction. It was in the paddock of Mr J Littler, a veterinary surgeon. The Old Barn, now Oakham School shop, can be seen to the right.
May 24, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Yay! Shout out for Rutland - a small county packed with large and wonderful things.
Can't help but notice how very *perpendicular* everything is at the moment.
May 19, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Can't help but notice how very *perpendicular* everything is at the moment.
Millions more counted as domestic abuse victims as definition widens. #coercivecontrol #domesticabuse
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Millions more affected by domestic abuse - new survey
One-in-four adults in England and Wales have experienced abusive behaviours, official data suggests.
www.bbc.co.uk
May 16, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Millions more counted as domestic abuse victims as definition widens. #coercivecontrol #domesticabuse
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
My current gardening bestie is this handsome chap. Whilst his vocabulary is perhaps lacking, what he does say makes perfect sense, especially his remarks about slugs.
May 16, 2025 at 10:38 AM
My current gardening bestie is this handsome chap. Whilst his vocabulary is perhaps lacking, what he does say makes perfect sense, especially his remarks about slugs.
Reposted by Helen Walmsley-Johnson
Flying duck caught in Swiss speed trap believed to be repeat offender
Flying duck caught in Swiss speed trap believed to be repeat offender
Image shows mallard snapped at 52km/h in same 30km/h zone as a duck on the same day seven years ago
A radar image of a speed offender caught in central Switzerland last month has revealed that the culprit was not only a duck but probably a repeat offender, local authorities have said.
Police in the town of Köniz, near the capital, Bern, were astounded when they went through radar images snapped on 13 April to discover that a mallard was among those caught in the speed trap, the municipality said on its Facebook page at the weekend. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
May 13, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Flying duck caught in Swiss speed trap believed to be repeat offender