Writing Consultant
Helen's Areas of Expertise
As a Writing Consultant specializing in historical fiction and historical fantasy, Helen guides writers through accurate historical portrayal and research across a wide range of periods and settings.
Helen has years of in depth historical research practice, including ongoing collaboration with historians, universities, and museums.
Services
Historical Fiction Consulting:
Learn how to achieve historical and cultural accuracy.
Guidance support in research, narrative structuring, and crafting engaging historical narratives.
Learn how to create characters who are not you, and who have different ideas and mindsets than your own.
Helping you use AI as a tool without letting it write for you.
Approach is collaborative and adaptable, focused on historical authenticity and narrative depth, tailored to each project.
For more details: See "What to Expect" below for information on how each session is tailored and how Helen will support.
General Fiction Consulting:
The same rules apply to settings that are not historical, but instead of historical accuracy we'll shift our focus to World Building in general and how to create a consistent world that you have created.
You are already a writer. This is a collaboration to make you an even better one. All feedback is constructive and explained. #ClaimYourArt
Packages
One-on-One with Helen
Five 1.5-hour sessions (7.5 hrs) — $750
Extended
Eight 1.5-hour sessions (12 hrs) — $1,195
Extended Plus
Ten 1.5-hour sessions (15 hrs) — $1,395
Bring a Friend
Five 1.5-hour sessions (7.5 hrs) — $550 per person Two writers means shared insight, fresh perspective on your work, and a lower cost for both of you.
Compare to Gotham Writers Workshop: 12 hours for $1,295 (expires in 6 months), 16 hours for $1,595 (expires in 8 months). Helen's packages don't expire.
How to Pay
50% to book, 50% before Session 3. Pay in full upfront for a 10% discount.
What to prepare for your sessions
Lightly edited draft pages, but don't worry if we find typos or grammar issues. We're not looking at them here. Bring your questions. You can ask anything you want, remember, there is no such thing as a dumb question.
What to Expect
Session 1: Dialogue A conversation about your work and a quick look at your first three pages.
Session 2: Digging Deeper Helen reviews 7-10 pages, identifying common writing mistakes and subtle ways to improve flow, accuracy, and perspective.
Session 3: Understanding Perspective Learning to "be inside the horse carriage instead of above it." A small shift in approach that makes a big difference for readers. Three new pages reviewed and discussed. (May vary based on need)
Session 4: Research Understanding your time period: its social environment, culture, and technology.
Session 5: Tools and Perspective: How to use AI as an assistant, not as a replacement for your own writing. Plus: Learn how too avoid head-hopping and keeping each character firmly in their own point of view.
Extended
Session 6: History's Baggage A deeper look at one of the trickiest parts of historical writing: cultural norms and details that were accepted then but read as controversial today. How to handle them with accuracy and intention.
Session 7: Scene Surgery An in-depth discussion on the chapters you're least confident about. What's working, what isn't, and how to fix it.
Session 8: Double-Check A final review of historical context, period-accurate mindsets, and anything that needs a second look before you move forward.
Extended Plus
Sessions 9 & 10: Your Call Revisit anything you want to go deeper on. This time is yours.
Testimonials
"Working with Helen as my writing coach has been beyond amazing! The progress I have made since beginning my work with her is more than noticeable-the edits I have to make have steadily decreased while the quality of my work has increased as she patiently teaches me ways that I can improve my writing.
Beyond that, the writing that I do is personal and somewhat sensitive, and Helen has been so open and accepting that I have never felt anything but at ease discussing my work with her. She does an amazing job of pointing out sections of my writing that could potentially use adjustment, as well as facilitating conversation over whether or not I agree and, if I agree, how we can say what I was trying to say without losing immersion or flow. It makes the editing and learning process stress free and enjoyable.
Simply put, I went from wondering if I could ever be a "real" writer to feeling confident in my ability to write a publishable story. I cannot recommend Helen as a writing coach enough!" – Anonymous
"Helen taught me the difference between being in a character's head and watching them from outside. I finally understand that close third isn't just limited perspective - it's living inside someone else's observations, one concrete detail at a time." – Ayla