A Truth Universally Acknowledged with Harriet Minter Harriet Minter

All hail the queen, Marian Keyes.
Brace yourself it’s going full fan-girl in this week's episode as Harriet is joined by Author (and fellow Marian fan) Kate Leaver. 

Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes is one of Harriet’s all-time favourite books, it’s adored by many and could be considered the benchmark of women's commercial fiction, this year is the 25th anniversary of the release and Marian has graced her readers with a sequel; Again Rachel. Harriet and Kate are excited and want to dive into it, celebrating this gem of the genre but also exploring how its tough themes show exactly why women’s Comercial is not to be underestimated.

Kate and Harriet talk about Marian’s You-Tube series on her writing advice you can see the first video in the series here.

A Truth Universally Acknowledged is taking a series break as Harriet finds more authors to speak to and tackles that word count, subscribe to get notified when the next episode is released. 

~~~~~~~~~~

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a woman at the start of a midlife crisis needs a creative project.  So writer, journalist and broadcaster Harriet Minter is writing a book….. A “chick-lit” novel (don’t worry, we’ll be discussing that term). A genre that is both critiqued and loved in equal parts.
Join Harriet for the writing journey, as she navigates story arcs, character traits and plots.  In every episode, you’ll hear from authors who have been there and done it and friends who can help crack problems that Harriet has been dealing with in her novel each week. 


Connect with Harriet and help keep her accountable 

On Twitter
On Instagram
Via her website 
Sign up for her newsletter

Connect with Kate

On Twitter

Via her website

Buy The Friendship Cure

Buy Good Dog

This week the tables are turned, and Harriet gets her fair share of questioning! 
Joining Harriet this week is prolific author Dorothy Koomson. Dorothy has written an incredible 17 books and as you’ll hear - she does NOT write books she isn’t wholly passionate about. 

Dorothy gives Harriet some serious home truths about the writing and publishing process; what agents and publishers are looking for in a writer and why, even after many successful books, rejection can never be ruled out. 

In this week’s creative exercise you’ll be looking back over all that you’ve achieved in the past year, celebrating both the small and big wins in a very unique way. 


~~~~~~~~~~
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a woman at the start of a midlife crisis needs a creative project.  So writer, journalist and broadcaster Harriet Minter is writing a book….. A “chick-lit” novel (don’t worry, we’ll be discussing that term). A genre that is both critiqued and loved in equal parts.
Join Harriet for the writing journey, as she navigates story arcs, character traits and plots.  In every episode, you’ll hear from authors who have been there and done it and friends who can help crack problems that Harriet has been dealing with in her novel each week. 


Connect with Harriet and help keep her accountable 

On Twitter
On Instagram
Via her website 
Sign up for her newsletter

Connect with Dorothy 

On Twitter
On Instagram
Via her website 
Dorothy's books

“You take something good and make it really dark.”
A fellow Harriet is joining Harriet on this week’s A Truth Universally Acknowledged! Harriet Tyce writes crime fiction novels.  She wrote her first book “Blood Orange”, which was a big hit, as a result of her MA in crime writing. 

In this episode, you’ll hear how Harriet’s best-laid plans for her writing only ended up with her characters having different ideas for how the story was to end.  A mistake she made in her proof also ended up changing the final twist completely.

The pair discuss the voyeuristic way that crime fiction is consumed and why readers actually find reading tales of chilling actions and poor decisions oddly comforting.

And to end this week’s episode - the creative exercise is taking inspiration from that very mistake in the proof of Harriet Tyce’s book.  It challenges you to change the outcome of something you once created, be it a half knitted jumper or painting that could be spiced up a little, so go on, mix it up!


~~~~~~~~~~
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a woman at the start of a midlife crisis needs a creative project.  So writer, journalist and broadcaster Harriet Minter is writing a book….. A “chick-lit” novel (don’t worry, we’ll be discussing that term). A genre that is both critiqued and loved in equal parts.
Join Harriet for the writing journey, as she navigates story arcs, character traits and plots.  In every episode, you’ll hear from authors who have been there and done it and friends who can help crack problems that Harriet has been dealing with in her novel each week. 


Connect with Harriet and help keep her accountable 

On Twitter
On Instagram
Via her website 
Sign up for her newsletter

Connect with Harriet Tyce
On Twitter 
Via her website 
Pre-Order It Ends At Midnight

From blog to book, how “Yinka” came into being.
Lizzie Demilola Blackburn is a first-time author with her debut novel “Yinka Where is Your Husband?” out on 31st of March. Lizzie first created her main character on her blog and tells Harriet about the benefits of entering writing competitions. 

Harriet and Lizzie discuss the reality of getting rid of some of your characters to help the narrative, why she wanted to portray a female character with a strong faith in women’s commercial fiction novel and give the black men in her book fair representation.

And hear why it’s important to remind yourself of the basics of writing when you’re deep into it and aren’t sure which way is up.  Lizzie shares her trick to allow the magic to return to her writing process or as Lizzie calls it the “hum” 

Bring a buddy for this week's creative exercise, Harriet is encouraging you to get social and try being creative in a group setting or with one other person and see what impact it has on your creativity, hopefully, it brings refreshing energy. 

~~~~~~~~~~
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a woman at the start of a midlife crisis needs a creative project.  So writer, journalist and broadcaster Harriet Minter is writing a book….. A “chick-lit” novel (don’t worry, we’ll be discussing that term). A genre that is both critiqued and loved in equal parts.
Join Harriet for the writing journey, as she navigates story arcs, character traits and plots.  In every episode, you’ll hear from authors who have been there and done it and friends who can help crack problems that Harriet has been dealing with in her novel each week. 


Connect with Harriet and help keep her accountable 

On Twitter
On Instagram
Via her website 
Sign up for her newsletter
Connect With Lizzie

On Twitter

On Instagram

Pre-Order “Yinka Where is Your Husband?”

“It’s fucking rude not to give the reader a happy ending”
In this episode of A Truth Universally Acknowledged Harriet talks to Author Sarra Manning.

The pair discuss the need for a good romance novel in the world today and why people aren’t as damning towards men, who are at the end of the day, also just writing romance.

After years of writing for both magazines and women’s commercial fiction novels, Sarra has gotten her writing process down to a fine-tuned “don’t mess with this” art, she gives you the recipe for maintaining a solid writing practice.

And Your creative exercise this week is focused on the place you call home, taking inspiration from Sarra’s new book London with Love Harriet is tasking you with writing your own love letter to the place you live.


~~~~~~~~~~
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a woman at the start of a midlife crisis needs a creative project.  So writer, journalist and broadcaster Harriet Minter is writing a book….. A “chick-lit” novel (don’t worry, we’ll be discussing that term). A genre that is both critiqued and loved in equal parts.
Join Harriet for the writing journey, as she navigates story arcs, character traits and plots.  In every episode, you’ll hear from authors who have been there and done it and friends who can help crack problems that Harriet has been dealing with in her novel each week. 


Connect with Harriet and help keep her accountable 

On Twitter
On Instagram
Via her website 
Sign up for her newsletter

Connect with Ayisha 
On Twitter 
On Instagram
Pre-order London with Love 

“Comedy is the glue that holds the pain together”
Joining Harriet in this episode is Ayisha Malik, described as “one of the most exciting authors writing today”.
Harriet and Ayisha discuss how they have both felt the need to write a wonderfully  “literary” novel and why this pressure exists over being celebrated simply for writing a good old rom-com, a situation Ayisha found herself in when writing her first book which was later described as “the Muslim Bridget jones”
In her new book “This green and pleasant land” Ayisha Malik wants you to open yourself up to prejudices you may have and look at how certain possible realities make you feel, just like her characters did. 
And to get your creative juices flowing Harriet’s creative exercise this week looks at how you can transform your space so that it inspires you to keep on making, painting, writing and doing.
~~~~~~~~~~
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a woman at the start of a midlife crisis needs a creative project.  So writer, journalist and broadcaster Harriet Minter is writing a book….. A “chick-lit” novel (don’t worry, we’ll be discussing that term). A genre that is both critiqued and loved in equal parts.
Join Harriet for the writing journey, as she navigates story arcs, character traits and plots.  In every episode, you’ll hear from authors who have been there and done it and friends who can help crack problems that Harriet has been dealing with in her novel each week. 
Connect with Harriet and help keep her accountable 

On Twitter
On Instagram
Via her website 
Sign up for her newsletter

Connect with Ayisha 
On Twitter 
On Instagram
Via her website
Buy This Green and Pleasant Land