Author | Lightnews

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · 9d

For Q1: It depends on how long it's been since you told them 1 agent requested a full. If it's been more than a few weeks, then it's okay to nudge.
For Q2: If you're genuinely interested in them repping you, yes. Give them the same chance as the others.
Good luck!

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Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · 10d

Another recharge weekend well spent. My husband bought this for our anniversary last week, and we built it yesterday. Love a bit of '80s nostalgia, and Gizmo in particular!

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Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · 14d

Once more for the evening folks... ⬇️

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · 15d

The path to publication can be long, winding and highly variable. But what do you do when you get a publishing offer? And how do you assess whether it's right for you?

Read my latest substack to find out what I did, why, and whether it worked!

arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/assessing-...

Assessing Publishing Offers

How to decide which editor and publisher is right for you

arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · 15d

The path to publication can be long, winding and highly variable. But what do you do when you get a publishing offer? And how do you assess whether it's right for you?

Read my latest substack to find out what I did, why, and whether it worked!

arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com/p/assessing-...

Assessing Publishing Offers

How to decide which editor and publisher is right for you

arsenicandcoldcase.substack.com

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · 21d

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Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · 28d

Once more for the evening crowd...

'A Lens Unclouded' is changing. For a sneak peek of what's coming next, take a look at my latest blog ⬇️

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · 29d

This is the last edition of A Lens Unclouded... before I rebrand my blog, and everything else in my writing life.

But what is rebranding, why am I doing it, and is it really going to make a difference?

alensunclouded.substack.com/p/rebranding

#blogpost #substack #rebranding

Rebranding

Creating my brand, changing my handles and updating my blog

alensunclouded.substack.com

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · 29d

This is the last edition of A Lens Unclouded... before I rebrand my blog, and everything else in my writing life.

But what is rebranding, why am I doing it, and is it really going to make a difference?

alensunclouded.substack.com/p/rebranding

#blogpost #substack #rebranding

Rebranding

Creating my brand, changing my handles and updating my blog

alensunclouded.substack.com

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · 29d

Here's my September reads!

My favourite was "The Killer Question" by Janice Hallett - which narrowly beat out the latest offerings from Osman and Herron by having just a few extra twists that kept me guessing right until the end.

#amreading #septemberreads

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Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Sep 15

Once more for the evening crowd... If you'd like to have your say on what I write about in 2026, take a look at my latest blog ⬇️

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Sep 15

It’s my fiftieth substack today, so please join me for a little retrospective over the last two years: what I’ve learned, what I (still) haven’t, and what is coming next…

alensunclouded.substack.com/p/twoish-yea...

#amwri̇ti̇ng #substack #blogpost

Two(ish) years of Substack

Or, what I should have learned by now (but probably haven't)

alensunclouded.substack.com

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Sep 15

It’s my fiftieth substack today, so please join me for a little retrospective over the last two years: what I’ve learned, what I (still) haven’t, and what is coming next…

alensunclouded.substack.com/p/twoish-yea...

#amwri̇ti̇ng #substack #blogpost

Two(ish) years of Substack

Or, what I should have learned by now (but probably haven't)

alensunclouded.substack.com

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Sep 4

Doing the final readthrough before I return my MS to my editor. It's really easy to see which bits I wrote while hungry... Anyone for a cinnamon roll? 🤣

#amediting #hungrywriter

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Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Sep 2

Once more for the evening crowd...

Going on Submission was a wild ride! ⬇️

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Sep 1

In my latest blog...

What it's really like to go on submission, how what actually happens compares to your plan, and how to stay sane when everything is outside of your control.

alensunclouded.substack.com/p/going-on-s...

#pathtopublication #submission

Going on Submission

How to keep your head when publishers are reading your book

alensunclouded.substack.com

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Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Sep 1

In my latest blog...

What it's really like to go on submission, how what actually happens compares to your plan, and how to stay sane when everything is outside of your control.

alensunclouded.substack.com/p/going-on-s...

#pathtopublication #submission

Going on Submission

How to keep your head when publishers are reading your book

alensunclouded.substack.com

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Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Aug 31

Here's my August reads!

My favourite was "The Half Burnt House" by Alex North. Deliciously twisty, I lost sleep when I stayed up to finish it. Totally worth feeling knackered the following day.

I also did some beta reading, which is always a joy.

#amreading #augustreads

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Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Aug 26

Am I editing my book like I should be? No
Am I writing 'white papers' in the voices of my characters about funny topics because I thought it was a good idea? Absolutely yes.
Good lord, this is fun 😂

#amwriting #crimefiction #sidequest

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Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Aug 15

Once more for the evening crowd... if you're unsure about whether to read, there are many pictures of puppies included!

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Aug 15

In this week's substack I'm talking about characterisation hacks, specifically the 'Two Beers and a Puppy' questions.
Take a look to see how this premise may help with your writing (and your friends!)...

alensunclouded.substack.com/p/two-beers-...

#amwri̇ti̇ng #characterisation #twobeersandapuppy

Two Beers and a Puppy

How to think about people differently, in life and in fiction

alensunclouded.substack.com

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Aug 15

In this week's substack I'm talking about characterisation hacks, specifically the 'Two Beers and a Puppy' questions.
Take a look to see how this premise may help with your writing (and your friends!)...

alensunclouded.substack.com/p/two-beers-...

#amwri̇ti̇ng #characterisation #twobeersandapuppy

Two Beers and a Puppy

How to think about people differently, in life and in fiction

alensunclouded.substack.com

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Aug 1

Once more for the evening crowd...

You send more than just your manuscript and it pays to get your timing right. Here's what I learned when submitting my novel to publishers ⬇️

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Aug 1

In the next instalment of my path to publication...

What really happens when you go on submission to publishers and why it’s more complicated than you might think.

alensunclouded.substack.com/p/preparatio...

#pathtopublication #submission

Preparation is the key to success

Or, what you need to do before submitting your novel to publishers

alensunclouded.substack.com

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Aug 1

In the next instalment of my path to publication...

What really happens when you go on submission to publishers and why it’s more complicated than you might think.

alensunclouded.substack.com/p/preparatio...

#pathtopublication #submission

Preparation is the key to success

Or, what you need to do before submitting your novel to publishers

alensunclouded.substack.com

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Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Jul 31

Fabulous, thank you! x

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Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Jul 31

Hi Sarah, will the online sessions be made available after the event? Unfortunately I have a clash that weekend so happy to buy an online ticket if I can watch them later. Thanks x

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Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Jul 31

Here's my July reads! My favourite was "The Ministry of Time" by Kaliane Bradley. It's a brilliant book and I loved every minute. Also really enjoyed Ruth Ware's short stories.

Looking forward to August which will be TBR reads only...

#amreading #julyreads

Background is mint green with a navy blue border and a navy hardbook book in the bottom right corner. Title is 'July Reads'. Six book covers are in the middle of the page: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, Into the Uncanny by Danny Robins (read as an audiobook), Sepulchre Street by Martin Edwards, Belsay by LJ Ross, Babelicious by Heide Goody and Iain Grant, and The Devil's Peak by Greig Beck.

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Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Jul 22

Thank you :)

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Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Jul 18

Hi Claire, could you please add me to your ADCI starter pack? Many thanks 😄

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Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Jul 15

An encore for the evening crowd... if you're unsure about audiobooks, or have never tried them, have a read of my blog ⬇️

#amreading #audiobooks

Helen Jones @helenjauthor.bsky.social · Jul 15

Most people predominantly read paperbacks or ebooks over hardbacks or audiobooks.
So what happens if you just listen to audiobooks for a few months instead?
That's what I did, and what I found was genuinely surprising...

alensunclouded.substack.com/p/its-still-...

#amreading #audiobooks

It's still reading if it's listening

Learning to love audiobooks in a world of printed prose

alensunclouded.substack.com

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