MASTERCLASSES
Introducing our online masterclasses…
Our online masterclasses are designed specially for historical fiction writers and feature a wide range of distinguished speakers and useful topics. We run one masterclass every month, usually on or around the first week of the month, with each masterclass lasting three hours and including a mix of presentation and Q&A, with an optional writing burst, discussion session, or exercises at the end. All of our masterclasses take place live and online via Zoom, with recordings available afterwards. Masterclasses are exclusively available to members of The History Quill.
Our next masterclass:
How to write emotionally engaging historical fiction, with Annette Oppenlander
Thursday 8 January 2026, 5:30pm GMT / 12:30pm ET
(please note the earlier start time)
Your tutor
Annette Oppenlander
Annette Oppenlander is an award-winning writer, literary coach and educator. As a bestselling historical novelist, she is known for her authentic characters and stories based on true events, coming alive in well-researched settings.
Having lived in Germany the first half of her life and the second half in various parts of the U.S., Annette inspires readers by illuminating story questions as relevant today as they were in the past.
Her bestselling true WWII story, Surviving the Fatherland, received eight nominations/awards. Uniquely, she weaves actual historical figures and events into her plots, giving readers a flavour of true history while enjoying a captivating story.
Annette shares her knowledge through writing workshops at colleges, libraries, festivals and schools. She also offers vivid presentations and author visits. The mother of fraternal twins and a son, she now lives with her husband, and her Kromfohrländer Archie, in the beautiful Münsterland in Germany.
Key topics
Why emotional resonance matters
When readers don’t feel what your protagonist feels, even the most meticulously researched historical world can fall flat. We will explore why emotional engagement is essential to powerful storytelling, how it shapes reader connection, and what makes a character’s inner life unforgettable.
Tools for creating deep emotional impact
Learn how to craft scenes that immerse readers in your characters’ struggles, joys, and turning points. You’ll explore practical techniques for using body language, internal dialogue, and the five senses to convey emotion with authenticity and subtlety – without overdoing it or drifting into cliché.
Bringing history to life through character
Emotion doesn’t exist in a vacuum. You’ll discover how to anchor feelings within the historical world: through your protagonist’s background, relationships, worldview, and the pressures of their era. Annette will guide you in layering first- and third-person perspectives, surprising readers with deeper emotional levels, and building a consistent emotional arc that resonates.
Structure and schedule
The masterclass will take place on Thursday 8 January 2026. All times are given in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and US Eastern Time (ET).
5:30pm GMT / 12:30pm ET
The masterclass begins. The tutor will welcome all participants and deliver a talk covering the key topics. There will be opportunities for you to ask questions during the talk, allowing plenty of time for interaction. This is the main section of the masterclass and will last two hours.
7:30pm GMT / 2:30pm ET
The final hour will consist of a workshop, where you can have a go at practising and discussing the skills you’ve just learnt.
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Both parts of the event will be delivered live and online via Zoom. You must have access to a computer or smart device capable of supporting Zoom and a reliable internet connection in order to participate.
Join this masterclass!
$54.00 USD per month
Membership
As a member, you’ll be able to enjoy this masterclass, and subsequent masterclasses, all included in the price of your membership. You’ll get indefinite access to the recordings of masterclasses that take place while you’re a member, as long as your membership remains active. You can cancel at any time.
Future masterclasses
Wednesday 4th February 2026, 6:30pm GMT / 1:30pm ET
Coach your characters: a novel approach to character development, with Jackie Alcalde Marr
Friday 6th March 2026, 6:30pm GMT / 1:30pm ET
From legal briefs to literary breakthroughs: how detail-oriented professionals can write compelling historical fiction, with Jennifer Anderson
Wednesday 8th April 2026, 6:30pm BST / 1:30pm ET
Blood, dust and destiny: writing gripping historical adventure, with Matthew Harffy
Testimonials
See what previous participants have said about our masterclasses…
“Thank you to The History Quill for organising such an excellent masterclass; I really enjoyed it. I learned a lot but was also reassured that I’m moving in the right direction with my writing.”
“I was engaged from beginning to end. I really enjoyed the tutor’s presentation and the exercise afterwards. I’m usually too shy to participate, but I really wanted to join in. I am so pleased I found The History Quill!”
Frequently asked questions
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How can I participate in the masterclasses?
Masterclasses are exclusively available to members of The History Quill, so you’ll need to join us as a member. The masterclasses are included in the price of your membership – there is no additional fee.
We will email you a link the day before each masterclass, and you’ll use this to join the event on the day. We’ll also send you a reminder about an hour before the masterclass begins.
All our masterclasses take place live and online via Zoom. You must have access to a computer or a smart device capable of supporting Zoom, and you must have access to a reliable internet connection to take part.
Are the masterclasses recorded?
Yes, our masterclasses are recorded. The first two hours, consisting of the talk and Q&A sections, are always recorded. We sometimes record the optional hour-long session at the end as well, but it depends on the content and format.
You’ll get access to the recordings of masterclasses that take place while you’re a member indefinitely, as long as your membership remains active.
Which masterclass recordings will I have access to?
You will only have access to recordings of masterclasses that take place after you become a member, with one exception: we’ll give you access to the recording of a recent masterclass of our choice when you first join, ensuring there will always be a masterclass to watch when you sign up.
Which countries do you accept members from?
We welcome members who are resident in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and any EU country. If you are not resident in one of these countries, unfortunately we won’t be able to accept you as a member at this time.
Please note the stipulation about time zones below.
If I become a member, when will my membership fee be taken?
We take membership fees monthly. Your first payment will be taken when you join, and it will renew automatically every month on the same date.
I'm a member – where can I find the recordings?
You can find the webpage with all the masterclass recordings here. You can also find the link in your user portal.
Can I cancel my membership at any time?
Yes! You can cancel whenever you like. Members aren’t locked in for a minimum period, so you can join for as little as one month if you like.
You can cancel via your online account here. Go to the subscription section in order to cancel. Alternatively, you can email us at membership@thehistoryquill.com and we’ll cancel your membership for you.
How interactive are the masterclasses? Can I ask questions?
There is lots of scope for interaction during our masterclasses. You will be able to ask questions during the Q&A sections, and afterwards there is always an optional one hour session involving a group writing burst, exercises, or discussion.
Equally, if you’d prefer not to interact, you don’t have to. You can sit back, relax, and enjoy the talk. You don’t have to participate in the optional one hour session at the end if you don’t want to.
How does the optional one hour session at the end work?
At the end of the talk and Q&A, we will invite you to join an hour-long session at the end, which will normally consist of a writing burst, exercises, or discussion.
If you wish to watch the session but not directly participate, you’re very welcome to do so.
Do you accommodate different time zones?
Our masterclasses are live events, and we schedule them to align well with time zones in North America and Europe. If you are outside of these locations, you can still participate, but it may not align well with your local time zone. You also have the option of watching the recordings instead.
What accessibility options do you provide?
We use live AI captions for the masterclasses, and these are also included in the recordings. Please note, these captions won’t be 100% accurate and may be delivered with a short delay, but they should help people who are deaf or hard of hearing to participate.
How do I pay?
You can sign up for a membership subscription with a credit or debit card. Future payments will then be taken on the same day each month until you cancel your membership.
Which payment currencies do you accept?
We accept three payment currencies: USD, GBP, and EUR. The currency you pay in will depend on your country of residence. People resident in the UK will pay in GBP, people resident in the EU will pay in EUR, and people resident in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa will pay in USD.
What are the full terms and conditions?
You can view our full terms and conditions here.
More questions?
If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing us at events@thehistoryquill.com.