We all have our own idea of a horror story, but what makes one truly effective?

Empathy is an invaluable skill for any writer. If you only ever tell the tales of people like yourself who have similar values and matching motivation, you run the risk of becoming one-note and typecast. While there are some writers out there who specialise in writing roman à clef (plots based on real life events... Continue Reading →

Happy World Book Day 2023! It is vital for writers to be constantly reading other books. After all, these can offer unique insights, inspire new creativity and offer much-needed solace. In case you need some reading material, here are a few book recommendations kindly shared by some of the current members of Huddersfield Authors' Circle…... Continue Reading →

By Owen Townend It starts with a gut wrench. There’s usually some muttering of ‘no, no, no’ which gradually raises in volume and pitch. There may even be a touch of computer screen thumping. Your Work in Progress is lost.             But how? You forgot to save. You saved over it with something else. You... Continue Reading →

Due to our current lockdown-life my head sometimes feels too full of everything that's happening out there, instead of what's going on in my fictional worlds.  Here at HAC, we've put together a series of tips and experiences of being a writer in lockdown to help all of us during these challenging times.  Structure your... Continue Reading →

I’ve been writing for many years – not counting the bits I did during my childhood nor the stories I made up in my head but never wrote down. I’ve had ups and downs; times when I would write prolifically, times when I sit and look at a blank screen and wonder, ‘what now?’ But... Continue Reading →

by Sara Burgess. One of the reasons I love writing is trying to recreate that idea in my head so that any readers can become immersed in it. Authenticity is really important to me, and so is description. Without those you just have a series of actions. So people have to be placed in a... Continue Reading →

PLANNING, LOSING AND PERSEVERANCE By Owen Townend. When I feel guilty about mindless typing and unfettered creation, I go looking for competitions. After all, short stories that remain in computer folders all their life are not really serving much purpose outside of the writer’s own amusement and vindication. So I embark on my routine. The... Continue Reading →