Writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon

lanfear

Um.... I've been looking at the sites which were linked in the first few posts, and it looks like the Nocturne series is not actually submittable (haha making up words now!) in this country.
Is this true or am I just misreading it??

The Nocturne would be my best bet to write for as I already have a strong interest in supernatural things and enjoy the genre. I have no idea how submitting things to a publisher in another country would work (presuming I got that far!).

cazmanian_minx

Nocturne is handled by the New York office, but there's nothing stopping you sending them a submission other than slightly more expensive postage.

If you want to write a paranormal story with strong sexual, fantasy and danger elements, then please submit a query letter with a detailed synopsis and three chapters with a SASE large enough to hold the entirety of your work.
Tara Gavin
Harlequin Nocturne
233 Broadway, Suite 1001
New York, New York 10279

You'll need to get an International Reply Coupon from the Post Office for the SASE as well.

Otherwise have a look at the link for Nocturne Bites at #99 - you can submit by email for that

Anglea

How are you all getting on? Anything finished?

cazmanian_minx

Not finished, but I did enter the New Voices competition. Didn't make it to the final 10, but I've put my name into the hat to be one of 10 other entries who gets critiqued by the editors and they've also said there are a number of entries they want to follow up on after the competition, so not entirely out of hope yet!

If anyone's interested, this was my first chapter:
http://www.romanceisnotdead.com/Entries/369-Saving-Her-Sister/Chapter-One

Anglea

It's fantastic - really good pace and style. And such an explove opening. .

Well done, I hope you get picked for the professional critique as straight away I was drawn into the story and characters and want to know what happens next. Editors - please publish this so I can find out.

NellGwyn

Hi everyone, de-lurker here!

I'm interested in giving this a go myself, and just wondered how you were all getting on? Is anyone looking at writing for the new ebook short story programme, 'Historical Undone'? It looks more do-able than a full-length book for a first go, but still trying to come up with plot ideas!

Nell

Anglea

Welcome NellGwynn

Thanks for mentioning these books.

I've had a look at some of published ones from that series and noticed that some of the titles are rather :eek: in a sexy type of way LOL

Here is the info about writing and submitting for this genre

http://www.eharlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1363&chapter=0

Have you got any historical period in mind?

NellGwyn

Hi Anglea!

Thanks for your reply, and I'm sorry it's taken me a while to get back here!

I've been reading a few of the Historical Undone stories, and I see what you mean - they are quite racy! They seem to be about 40% story and 60% unadulterated bedroom (or otherwise!) action - I'm not sure I can write like that, to be honest. Sexy, erotic, sure, but two chapters full of explicit use of body parts - I think I'd just start laughing! I'm thinking of targeting the full-length historical series instead as, while they still often have some explicit scenes, I think the story/sex balance is better. I have a very vague idea for a plot - will think on it a bit longer, then ask you what you think!

Are you writing a novel? I would love to hear of other writers' experiences (although I don't think I can really call myself that yet, unless you count being the author of this post!).

Thanks,

Nell

Sammyantha

Just wanted to post really well done to all you guys. Your posts are motivational. Hope you all get where you want to go

Anglea

Hi all

Sammyantha - are you thinking of having a go too?

Nell, I'd be interested in hearing about your ideas. I'm not writing anything at the moment, I'm the sort of person that when I get into an interest it's 24/7 then I move onto something else.

However after I came across this thread, the old interest re-surfaced but I don't seem to have the time or patience to see it through anymore, probably because I'm too much into other interests. When I did write, I was getting bits and pieces published but you need to have self-discipline, which I no longer have.

Another tip - you need to have a thick skin for rejections or advice from editors and it could be a good idea not to tell people you know what you are doing. Sometimes family or friends are dismissive of your work because a lot of people believe that to be a published writer you have to be someone important.

A well known author gives advice to new writers to write at least 25 magazine length stories before you are good enough to get published. Of course lots of people get published on their first story or book.

But I can understand her point, because what often happens is that you get a brilliant idea and start writing, then after a while, something else occurs to you and you try adding that to the story, before long you end up with about 3 different plots all competing within the one story!!

You need to commit to one storyline and stick to it. Not always easy. So if you were to write the suggested 25 stories, hopefully you'll get all your ideas out of your system and your inner voice will emerge and you'll have authentic ideas.

I like the more innocent historical genre rather than the full-on ones that you need to take a cold shower afterwards