Writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon

Mrs_Money

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver wrote: »

Maybe buy some Barbara Castle? famous Pink Meringue of a woman who died in last two years to add to my knowledge plus gets some books in on 70 books a year Reading List on Goodreads.

I think you mean Barbara Cartland? Sorry, but I've just had a bit of a grin to myself at the thought of Barbara Castle (Northern Labour MP and ex Minister for errmm Transport, I think) dressed up in pink fluffy stuff :rotfl:

glowgirl_2

Hello everyone:) I just sent off my first 3 chapters, synopsis and covering letter to the London office :eek: - I'm trying to be philosophical but I'm actually terrified :rotfl:

How is everyone else?

Anglea

That's brilliant glowgirl :)

I've had computer problems all week, first it broke down completely and I lost everything. I did have a copy on a disc, put that in and it got corrupted too :mad:

Now I've got a different system and heaven knows what is happening with the fonts MSE pages are all over the place and the smilies are the size of pin heads

Sometimes I wonder if it would be easier just to buy an old fashioned manual typewriter, so even if there was a power cut it could be used. I've read that some older well known authors are still using them, I'm not surprised.

Glowgirl, do you have any indication how long before you hear back?

glowgirl_2

Thanks Angela:) So sorry to hear about your comp problems:( its surprising how stressed we can get over something we've come to really rely on, and you lost your work! :wall:not sure if you've tried but the techie board on here is very good with patient helpful people:)

On the site it says 8-12 weeks before you get a reply, I sent it by email with attachments, I did think to send it direct to the modern editor but then changed my mind and sent it to the submissions address they give on the site, tomorrow I'll do the posting copies to myself as you suggested - hope you get sorted comp wise:)

Anglea

Glowgirl,

Are you going to be working on something else in the meantime?

gingerandrubarb

stsarina wrote: »

Thank you glowgirl! Yes, with Smashwords you upload your Microsoft Word file, they convert into the different file formats for ebooks and then host it. You set the retail price, then if anyone purchases you receive (IIRC) 80% of the price paid. The rest they keep as commission, but I'm still seeing about £20 a month profit without doing any promotion at all

Hi, I wondered how long it took for you to start seeing commission from Smashwords? And also how they paid you?
Sorry for the 101 questions but can i ask what genre of ebook you write? x:smileyhea

glowgirl_2

Anglea wrote: »

Glowgirl,

Are you going to be working on something else in the meantime?

I have a plan;) I'm going to carry on with the rest of this book as its nearly finished, my plan is to send it to other publishers(I have one in mind, Avon, but other suggestions would be welcome) if M&B say no and then if they say no too I'm giving up writing all together and moving on to other stuff the main one being a skincare website (I am currently a beauty writer and involved in R&D for various companies) which would sell products only available in the US but at reasonable UK prices but I'm not giving up the romance writing until I'm 100% sure its not going to work.

Anglea

Glowgirl,

A lot of succesful writers send out dozens of manuscripts before anything is accepted, just think about JKR. There was someone else that had rejections in the hundreds, can't remember their name but the book is a best seller now. (They must have had a lot of patience)

I think it helps if you adopt a an attitude that if you get accepted it's a bonus, rather than pinning all your hopes on it. Some people start getting really stressed out which affects their writing for the next book.

If there is a rejection, it's possible they would have incuded reasons, and it might just need some changes. Alternatively, I'd send it to one of those fee paying readers like I mentioned before and get their verdicts, perhaps some constructive advice as well as getting names for other prospective publishers could make all the difference.

This website idea - is this something you are going to do alone?

glowgirl_2

Anglea wrote: »

Glowgirl,

A lot of succesful writers send out dozens of manuscripts before anything is accepted, just think about JKR. There was someone else that had rejections in the hundreds, can't remember their name but the book is a best seller now. (They must have had a lot of patience)

I think it helps if you adopt a an attitude that if you get accepted it's a bonus, rather than pinning all your hopes on it. Some people start getting really stressed out which affects their writing for the next book.

If there is a rejection, it's possible they would have incuded reasons, and it might just need some changes. Alternatively, I'd send it to one of those fee paying readers like I mentioned before and get their verdicts, perhaps some constructive advice as well as getting names for other prospective publishers could make all the difference.

This website idea - is this something you are going to do alone?

I'm certainly open to suggestion, they know what works and if they think I have promise I would take their guidance, the website idea will be on my own, I might need some techie help but we'll see, I have chosen the products and have a supplier in place, I don't want to commit to anything until I know for sure where my writing is going to take me but I wont be sending out loads of manuscripts, I'm far too thin skinned for that and simply cant afford to waste time, what ever happens now is what happens:)

How are things with you Angela?

Anglea

Good luck with the website. Only advice I would have is in reference to a friend that had special licences (as she was a doctor) to sell expensive medical products.

However, she didn't realise that online customers seemed to be acting differently to real life customers, and the stock she was supplying was bought seasonally by them and not all year round so she couldn't sell it. She'd paid a great deal in stock, and a website, also an Ebay store. She decided against changing her focus and gave up which was a shame.

I suppose until any of us starts the business we won't know about these kinds of things.

I've moreless got my computer sorted, the font is still small but I daren't make any changes in case something else goes wrong as yesterday was a nightmare with it.

Writing - there is too much going on at home at the moment to think straight but I have had a strong feeling for a while there is something I need to be writing, although not sure what. It's like that song that you get in your head but can't quite catch the name.