Writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon

cazmanian_minx

I think falling by the wayside a bit while you're moving is totally understandable - good luck with it, Beccie!

Welcome, Spender - the more the merrier :T

I'm still working through First Draft in 30 Days and have several thousand words of outline now. For the first time ever I'm confident I'm going to finish a manuscript

Anglea

Hello Spender,

Have you got any ideas for a book already?

Aspiring_Writer

Hello Everyone!

Well, I don't think Mills & Boon is quite my bag! I am a freelance copywriter so don't really write any fiction to be honest. However I do read a lot, and I mean a lot! about writing in general aswell as fiction for my own enjoyment.

I would recommend Stephen King's only non-fiction book called 'On Writing - A Memoir Of The Craft'. It is half autobiography and the other half is his view on writing. I have read it 3 times so far in the space of a few years. It isnt a 'how-to' book, merely King's experience and opinion on how you should go about your writing, the need to read as much as you write, across all genres and a lot more besides.

There are quite a few websites to inspire you, this one I found quite interesting, mainly because theres an interview with Ian Rankin! one of my favourite Authors. Among the interviews you will find useful tips and advice from published Authors, good stuff...

http://www.writersandartists.co.uk/inside-publishing/the-writers/

One thing I did when I first got started was to write whole adverts by the very top guys in the USA, ads that sold and sold and sold, proven winners. This theory works across all genres though, and Art aswell. Many artists have copied the great Masters, it is a proven technique!

Anyway, I am off for dinner, Good Luck to you all! crack on, and make sure you get those 1000 words a day before you emerge from your den...

AW

cazmanian_minx

Spender - that's exactly the state I've been in for the past few years. I got given some really good advice recently which boils down to "You can polish up a page full of rubbish writing but you can't edit a blank piece of paper." Keep going even if you think you're waffling; you can always cut text afterwards.

Mills and Boon has announced a BIG new writing competition this morning - full details are here:

http://www.romanceisnotdead.com

Anglea

Hi all

I just took a look at that competition and the different genres. I think if I planned to enter I'd try a paranormal genre.

I've come across this very interesting blog full of info and lovely photos written by the authors of shapeshifting romances and how they get inspiration and give a voice to their male characters.


http://shapeshifterromance.wordpress.com/

Anglea

How are you all getting on?

monkeymummy_2

Hi

I'd love to join in please! I noticed this thread a while a go and thought about having a go at writing a Mills & Boon. The thing is I thought I'd have a go at Harlequin Nocturne. I've done 5000 words (65000 to go :eek:) but now I think what I've written is drivel. I'm wondering whether to start again! Has anyone else gone through this?

cazmanian_minx

monkeymummy wrote: »

Hi

I'd love to join in please! I noticed this thread a while a go and thought about having a go at writing a Mills & Boon. The thing is I thought I'd have a go at Harlequin Nocturne. I've done 5000 words (65000 to go :eek:) but now I think what I've written is drivel. I'm wondering whether to start again! Has anyone else gone through this?

Yes, all the time I wouldn't skip it, I'd keep ploughing on and then come back to it when you're editing. It's much easier to improve something that's already there than it is to start again.

Have you seen the Nocturne Bites line? It's 10-15,000 words instead of the full 70k, you get to send the whole manuscript in rather than having to query, then send a synopsis and chapters and it's a great way for new writers to get noticed by Harlequin.

http://www.eharlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1336&chapter=0

monkeymummy_2

Thanks for the link! I think the book I'm attempting at the mo is too far gone to face cutting it down into a nocturne bites (I followed the snowflake method so the structure is pretty much sorted), but I'll definitely give it a go for my next attempt.

Part of my problem with writing a paranormal story is I'm not sure if it's really believable - but I'll keep plodding away for now.;)

lanfear

I would love to join this! I have always written in my spare time and have several items published on fanfiction.net (obviously fanfic!) but I do write originals.

I would definitely be leaning towards the Nocturne series of supernatural/paranormal since I don't suppose Harlequin or M&B do a comic fantasy line!!