Annie Elliot, author of 'Mr & Mrs Charles Dickens: Her Story' - Knowing when you need to get words written, mining your own past, and was Charles Dickens a narcissist?

In this episode of Writer's Routine, host Dan Simpson speaks with Annie Elliott, author of 'Mr & Mrs Charles Dickens: Her Story,' a novel that reclaims the voice of Catherine Dickens, Charles Dickens' neglected wife. Annie shares her journey from a late start in writing—after a career in journalism and raising a family—to completing her debut novel, which she describes as deeply personal and informed by her own life experiences, including postnatal depression and emotional trauma. The conversation explores her disciplined writing routine, her research process involving extensive archival work and mind maps, and her decision to write a historical novel that blends fact with imaginative reconstruction. Annie reflects on the parallels between her life and Catherine's, especially around themes of abandonment, motherhood, and resilience. She also discusses the challenges of publishing, including rejections and the decision to self-publish, ultimately finding a publisher who prioritized her timeline. The episode concludes with Annie’s excitement about her next project: a novel centered on the children of Charles and Catherine Dickens, inspired by the emotional weight of their lives. Key takeaways include the importance of lived experience in authentic storytelling, the value of structured research and planning in historical fiction, the power of writing as a form of personal and historical healing, and the necessity of discipline over waiting for inspiration. Annie’s story underscores that it’s never too late to pursue creative dreams, especially when life’s hardships become fuel for art. Her approach—writing with urgency, embracing imperfection, and trusting the process—offers a compelling blueprint for aspiring writers.