Writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon

freeoffers

Hi there Anglea,

My column is an opinion piece that I write once a week for an Australian paper. This week's edition is more or less about how the riots affected football. The great thing about the Aussies is that they seem to have no problem putting some of my more controversial views them in print.

Interesting stuff about using a manual typewriter. I might try this because I continually change things and am never happy with the way I write things. I think that if you have word processing it can sometimes be a fallback position to write whatever, because you know it'll be edited later. If I knew that everything I typed was going to be printed I might think more about my style on the first draft, rather than just the story and characters.

Just seen manual typewriters for sale £35. Trouble is it's a good idea to have back-up copies of your writing and some publishers like to have the book in the form of a word document. Damn! Seemed a good idea at the time.

Anglea

Hi all

Freeoffers, I had been wondering about the newspaper since you mentioned it, but never guessed it would have been for an overseas publication. It sounds very interesting, well done on having your own column.

Manual typewriter - you could scan the finished pages?

On this subject of keeping focus, last night I spent about 2 hours trying to write a post on another site, then deleted it because I couldn't get it right

I was trying to describe my day and all the weird and wonderful things that happened but felt a bit uneasy in case anyone I was talking about could have recognised themselves if they had accidentally ended up on the site. That's how I found that group in the first place about 6 years ago, by a google search on a word totally unconnected to the main focus.

As a member of a US writing group years ago, I didn't realise for quite a while that some of the people whose writing I used to read and comment on, not only lived nearby but I had connections to some of them. So it's a small world online.

Hope you are all keeping those ideas flowing this weekend.

freeoffers

Thanks for your kind words Anglea. Might just try getting a manual typewriter. I looked online and found out the £35 manual typewriter was actually no more than a poster of typewriter! Duh!

You spent 2 hours writing a post? Wow, how many words? Can I ask why you felt uneasy? Was that because the people you were writing about were quite close to you? As you say, it’s a small world online. I never thought about joining a US writing group and I don't really know why not.

Don't know about others, but my problem is I get too many ideas, not all of them good. Sometimes the writer needs to switch off and thankfully I’ve done that this weekend. Hopefully I’ll be fully recharged for the week ahead. Would be great to hear how others are getting on with their writing and how they fit it in with their everyday lives.

Happy writing all.

Sassers

Morning peeps - I couldn't wait to come on here and share. Mills and Boon are holding writing workshops for aspiring writers. I spotted it yesterday and signed up for a workshop near Swansea for the end of this month. It's being badged as their `New Voices 2011' events - I know there's one in Scotland as well. The thing is I couldn't find the link on their website - perhaps have a trawl on Facebook? Hope that helps someone who may want to attend. whooo..

Anglea

Hi all

Sassers, hope you enjoy the workshop, if you look back over the pages on this thread, I'm pretty sure I wrote about a MB workshop or writing holiday, something like that. It was an article I'd read in a magazine by a woman that attended.

The only workshop I ever attended turned out to be something completely different than I imagined. Originally my friend and I wanted to do writing for Radio but it was booked. Only other possibility was Christian writing so we signed up.

We had presumed it would be about writing articles, inspirational pieces etc.

It turned out to be about running a specific Christian newspaper and mostly about the marketing side. I enjoyed it because I knew quite a bit about that subject, but my friend was out of her depth because it involved role playing about getting more customers.

SlopingBird

Sassers wrote: »

Morning peeps - I couldn't wait to come on here and share. Mills and Boon are holding writing workshops for aspiring writers. I spotted it yesterday and signed up for a workshop near Swansea for the end of this month. It's being badged as their `New Voices 2011' events - I know there's one in Scotland as well. The thing is I couldn't find the link on their website - perhaps have a trawl on Facebook? Hope that helps someone who may want to attend. whooo..

Sassers, thanks for this. You're right, it's not easy to track down the details but enthused by your post, I've finally managed to find it.:T

M & B author Liz Fielding's website has the following info:

'My talk will be at Pontardawe Library on the 31 August between 2 and 3.30. Call the library to book places on 01792 862261. I can't wait.'

Need to check if I can make it, but it definitely sounds good and might inspire me to get going again. I was okay last week but have lost impetus again and seem to be spending more time writing job applications than anything creative (don't they take hours?). It's a Catch 22 situation - I need a job before I can relax about my writing, but finding (and keeping) one takes up all my energy. Wish my otherwise delectable OH had the typical M&B hero's level of income!

Thanks again Sassers.

Sassers

Hi again peeps :wave: for anyone interested in the M&B workshops I've found the full list:
it's on FB but I'm pasted it below for you.
Hope this helps! - I'm sneeking in from work to post but will have a chat with you all when I get home later tonight.
XX
New Voices Writing Workshops
To celebrate the launch of New Voices 2011, Mills & Boon are hosting a series of writing workshops in UK libraries in partnership with the Reading Agency, for aspiring authors to learn the secrets of writing a successful Mills & Boon story.

These writing workshops will be led by a Mills & Boon author or a Mills & Boon editor and held at libraries across the UK. Places are limited so booking is essential.

Thursday 25th August, 2.00-3.30pm
Event Leader: SARAH MALLORY
ILKLEY LIBRARY, Station Road, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, LS29 8HA
Please call 01943 436225 to book your place.
Find out more here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=247283041960004

Wednesday 31st August, 11.00am-1.00pm
Event Leader: KATE WALKER
ASHBY LIBRARY AND LOCAL LINK, Ashby High Street, S!!!!horpe, North Lincolnshire, DN16 2RY
Tickets cost £5, including refreshments. For more information please call Emma Prideaux on 01724 860161 or email library.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk.
Find out more here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159039720839370

Wednesday 31st August, 2.00pm-3.30pm
Event Leader: LIZ FIELDING
PONTARDAWE LIBRARY, Holly Street, Pontardawe, Swansea, SA8 4ET
Please call 01792 862261 to book your place.
Find out more here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=260418393970514

Friday 2nd September, 2.30pm-4.00pm
Event Leader: MILLS & BOON EDITORS - Megan Haslam and Carly Corcoran
CHIPPING BARNET LIBRARY, 3 Stapylton Road, Barnet, Herts. EN5 4QT
To book your FREE place on this writing workshop, please call 020 8359 4040.
Find out more here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=192838680780338

Thursday 8th September 6.30-8.00pm
Event Leader: LOUISE ALLEN
BECCLES LIBRARY, Blybur Gate, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 9TB
To book your FREE place on this writing workshop, please call 01502 714073 to book your place.
Find out more here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140542346033752

Saturday 10th September, 10.00am-12.30pm
Event Leader: JOANNA FULFORD
ALFRETON LIBRARY, Severn Square, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7BQ
Tickets are £5 and include refreshments. TO BOOK YOUR PLACE, please email Alison.betteridge@derbyshire.gov.uk or call 01773 831359.
Find out more here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=174658895940921

Tuesday 13th September 10.30am-12.00noon
Event Leader: KATE HARDY
ATTLEBOROUGH LIBRARY, 31 Connaught Road, Attleborough, Norfolk, NR17 2BW
To book your FREE place on the writing workshop, please call 01953 452319 or e-mail attleborough.lib@norfolk.gov.uk or myra.browne@norfolk.gov.uk.
Find out more here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=244201858944822

Wednesday 14th September 6.30-8.00pm
Event Leader: FIONA HARPER
BRIXTON LIBRARY, Brixton Oval, London, SW2 1JQ
Tickets from: Caroline Mackie at cmackie@lambeth.gov.uk
Find out more here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=252657918088708

Saturday 17th September 2.30-4.00pm
Event Leader: ANNE FRASER
SHETTLESTON LIBRARY, 154 Wellshot Road, Glasgow G32 7AX
To book your FREE place on the writing workshop, please call 0141 276 1643.
Find out more here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=252657918088708

Monday 19th September 2.00-3.30pm
Event Leader: SHARON KENDRICK
BASINGSTOKE DISCOVERY CENTRE, 19/20 Westminster House, Festival Place, Basingstoke, RG21 7LS
Tickets are £5 and can be purchased from Basingstoke Discovery Centre information desk or over the phone on 01256 478670.
Find out more here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=226431050737018

Tuesday 20th September 6.00-7.30pm
Event Leader: MARGUERITE KAYE
WHITEINCH LIBRARY, 14 Victoria Park Drive South, Glasgow G14 9RL
Places are limited so booking is essential. To book your FREE place on the writing workshop, please call 0141 276 0695.
Find out more here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=206575036066753

Tuesday 20th September 6.30-8.00pm
Event Leader: HEIDI RICE
MAYFAIR LIBRARY, 25 South Audley Street, London W1K 2PB
Places are limited so booking is essential. Tickets are £3. To book your place on the writing workshop, please call 020 7641 4905 / 4916 or email mayfairlibrary@westminster.gov.uk.
Find out more here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180642678673158

Wednesday 21st September 5.00-6.30pm
Event Leader: MILLS & BOON EDITORS - Megan Haslam and Carly Corcoran
BARKING LIBRARY, Barking Learning Centre, 2 Town Square, Barking, London IG11 7NB
Places are limited so booking is essential. To book your FREE place on the writing workshop, please call 020 8724 8719 or email denise.lovelace@lbbd.gov.uk.
Find out more here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134315476661651

Monday 26th September 6.00-7.30pm
Event Leader: HEIDI RICE
FULHAM LIBRARY, 598 Fulham Road, Fulham, London, SW6 5NX
Places are limited so booking is essential. To book your FREE place on the writing workshop, please call 020 7753 3877 or email clare.edgson@lbhf.gov.uk or rob.symmons@lbhf.gov.uk.
Find out more here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=207874099271308
We have the last few workshops to add so watch this space... NV x

Anglea

Sassers, thanks very much for taking the trouble to list all those details, nothing near me I'm afraid.

I hope that anyone from this thread that can attend will do a write up for us, what sort of people turned up, any good info. to pass on.

How is your book coming on - did you overcome that problem you mentioned before, something about the male character?

freeoffers

That's a great list Sassers. Thanks for putting in such a great effort.

@SlopingBird. job applications take hours don't they? I end up using employment websites and just sending my CV. Although I'm starting a degree in October so no more job applications for now.

If anyone goes to he MB events please post your experiences. Thanks.

SlopingBird

Freeoffers, definitely and I'd prefer to be concentrating on my writing instead. Good luck with your degree. My middle daughter dropped out of uni several years ago, has a good job but has now decided to go back and study with the OU. I didn't graduate until I was 35 but going back to uni is one decision I've never regretted.