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:
Weaving compelling and unforgettable love stories into historical fiction, with Luisa A Jones
Tuesday 4 November 2025, 6:30pm GMT / 1:30pm ET
Your tutor
Luisa A Jones
Luisa A Jones lives in South Wales. She writes captivating and emotional fiction with characters you’ll root for from the first page. She is currently writing a series for Storm Publishing, set during WWII. Her fifth novel, What We Left Behind, was released in May 2025.
Luisa’s first historical novel, The Gilded Cage, was released on 22nd June 2023 and within a week was an Amazon Victorian Historical Romance bestseller in the UK and the USA. Luisa is a member of the Society of Authors, the Historical Writers’ Association, and the Romantic Novelists’ Association. She was shortlisted for the RNA’s Elizabeth Goudge Trophy in 2024.
Before qualifying as a teacher, Luisa studied Classical Studies at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London. Her jobs have included tour guide in an historic house; teacher in both primary and secondary schools; careers adviser; and corporate trainer/assessor/coach. Luisa loves using her creativity for crafting and baking, as well as writing historical and contemporary fiction with romantic elements.
Key topics
Why love matters in historical fiction
Love stories have shaped human history – sparking wars, inspiring revolutions, and changing individual lives. Explore why weaving romance into your fiction can add emotional depth, reveal character motivations, and illuminate the social customs and constraints of the past.
Crafting authentic and powerful love stories
From first sparks to lasting connection, this masterclass will show you how to structure a compelling romantic arc within your wider story. You’ll learn how to research historical courtship rituals, create chemistry that feels true to your era, and strike the right balance between authenticity and modern reader expectations.
Making it unforgettable
A love story doesn’t have to follow the traditional ‘happily ever after’. You’ll explore fresh ways to play with tropes, subvert expectations, and give your characters satisfying, resonant endings that fit the themes of your novel – leaving readers moved and invested long after they’ve turned the last page.
Structure and schedule
The masterclass will take place on Tuesday 4 November 2025. All times are given in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and US Eastern Time (ET).
6:30pm GMT / 1:30pm 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.
8:30pm BST / 3:30pm ET
The final hour will consist of a writing burst, 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 3 December 2025, 6:30pm GMT / 1:30pm ET
Writing is rewriting: strategies for a stronger second draft, with David Bishop
Thursday 8 January 2026, 5:30pm GMT / 12:30pm ET
How to write emotionally engaging historical fiction, with Annette Oppenlander
Wednesday 4th February 2026, 6:30pm GMT / 1:30pm ET
Coach your characters: a novel approach to character development, with Jackie Alcalde Marr
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.