Writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon

Anglea

Hi all

Sloping bird - I also used to do book editing and the worst problem I encountered is that a lot of people won't hear a word said about their books or stories.

They expect to send them to you and be told how brilliant they are. Often I'd be reading explicit sex scenes or horror and they wanted to send it to The People's Friend magazine. You know it will all end in tears but they won't listen to advice.

How did you get on with finding a storyline?

LucyL - comparison is always a dangerous road to take in any aspect of life. For every classic book you read, there will be millions of people hating that style of writing and wanting something completely different.

And don't forget that there are male romantic writers, they obviously aren't women or had their exact experiences but have to write 'as if'.

Did you do any writing this weekend?

freeoffers

LuckyLucy11 wrote: »

I'm working on stories continually although I've yet to actually send one off.

How do you work? Do you work on multiple stories at one time or do you assign a week on one and a week on another?

LuckyLucy11 wrote: »

I'm looking at Shakespeare for poetic sentiments, Stephen King for clarity of description.

Personally, I think it's a great idea. Description is one of the hardest things for me to get right. I know what I wish to describe but it has to 'sound right', know what I mean?

On the subject of Stephen King, have you read his book 'On Writing'?

LuckyLucy11 wrote: »

It's a bit abstract and I'd be better doing more writing than reading really. I began by writing 'Chapter One' and writing it all out, refusing to be put off by the enormity of writing a novel whereas now I write a plot outline.

I started out by doing no reading whatsoever. Now I try and get through a book a week. Sometimes I read the same book. Thankfully, nothing is set in stone. What works for one may not work for someone else. I prefer to know in full detail the first 10 or so scenes, to get the book started. Once I have these the book can go wherever it likes. However, I always reserve the right to change everything or let the characters take over. I also usually know the end.

Seems like you're in touch with yourself though and know what you're doing. Good for you.

freeoffers

Anglea wrote: »

Hi all

I've found one of the worst problems with writing is getting hooked on the research or going off on tangents.

One of the best writing projects I really liked doing was an interactive book online.

LucyL - do you you have a fear of starting?

Excellent point, and one I was going to make in my last post. Research should come with a health warning, it is so addictive. Obviously, some novels need to be researched but there is fine line between letting the research distract you from the goal of writing.

Stephen King talks about this in his book.

freeoffers

Jei-jei wrote: »

I'm fairly pragmatic about the rates of rejection,

I wont lie. Rejection is tough to take. However, I like to see it as a test. Anyway, not every manuscript is rejected otherwise nothing would get published from new authors. Good luck with your work.

How are you finding writing a synopsis? Excruciating?

freeoffers

LuckyLucy11 wrote: »

It's not starting that's holding me back it's that I may finish the whole chapter then pick up a classic book and see examples of much better, clearer writing (I've since realised that's what editing is for). Or that someone will read my book in years to come and think 'she's obviously never been there then' or 'she's describing a -, it's called a -' (I'll describe something instead of naming it).

Sounds like you feel the same way as I did. The best antidote is action. I've read Jane Eyre a few times and I live F Scott Fitzgerald. However, I know I could never write like them and I feel somehow inferior at times. However, we are all unique and that, in my opinion, goes for our writing. I read somewhere that an author can sometimes read their work about 6-7 times before it actually goes to print.

As for describing something rather than naming it, i do that all the time. Better to have written the description than to write nothing, and like you said, it can be edited.

do you have any friends that can give you constructive feedback on your work?

freeoffers

SlopingBird wrote: »

My other half does new author reviews ... it's amazing how bad some of the submitted manuscripts are.

Over-writing is very common as you say, so is over-egging the pudding. Having too many voices, too much happening throughout the novel.

SlopingBird wrote: »

Interestingly, in my pursuit of info about the era, I've been reading a very popular author (someone who has written an awful lot of books) and she is guilty of many of the points above, specifically the over-writing!!

To be fair, authors do have deadlines once they become popular and this can lead to an awful lot of rubbish being published. Part of me does get annoyed that some authors continually churn out crud !!!!. On the other hand if they sell books it does help the industry and perhaps helps to prop up 'better' writers who for some reason are not as popular.

This may sound harsh, but in some respects a writer is a brand and customers can be slaves to a brand at times.

freeoffers

Anglea wrote: »

comparison is always a dangerous road to take in any aspect of life.

One thing I do is write the type of books I would read. If I'm happy with what I've written then at least I can explain (if that's the right word) it.

Even the most popular books/films/anything creative get criticised and compared to other things.

LilacPixie

I would love to join this.. I'm afraid its been a good while since i have written anything decent. About 10 years ago i fancied myself as a bit of a writer but alcohol and university got in the way.. I often look around my office and think it would be a great story with the weird eople who i have to work with Anyway I am trying out a few story structures in my head at the moment.

I am unsure if i should set myself a target for submission or a target for words per day or just go with the flow.

What does everyone find best? I would hate to be churning out tripe so i could hit my 500 words a day aim or submission by christmas or something.
Has anyone done the writing fiction short course from OU A174?? I am considering it but would like view if anyone has tried it

Jei-jei

freeoffers wrote: »

I wont lie. Rejection is tough to take. However, I like to see it as a test. Anyway, not every manuscript is rejected otherwise nothing would get published from new authors. Good luck with your work.

How are you finding writing a synopsis? Excruciating?

Writing a synopis? This is not excruciating. Dropping a heavy object half-way across your toenail is excruciating.

This is eye-ball digging, shin-crunching, hangnail-ripping all at the same time AGONY. Kill your darlings, Stephen? Meet Me-jei, my serial murderer alter ego...

Firstly I refuse to step even a centimetre away from the 2.54 margins all round:you can see the slightest mis-alignment in Preview.:mad:

But thank heavens, Times New Roman pt. 12 fits much more in than that bugly Courier New, excellent!

So guess what? Eureka! Yes, 2 page synopis with a space between each paragraph! I-beat-you!

Now to go over that 3 chapter submission. Just one more time.....:o

Jei-jei

LilacPixie wrote: »

I would love to join this.. I'm afraid its been a good while since i have written anything decent. About 10 years ago i fancied myself as a bit of a writer but alcohol and university got in the way.. I often look around my office and think it would be a great story with the weird eople who i have to work with Anyway I am trying out a few story structures in my head at the moment.

I am unsure if i should set myself a target for submission or a target for words per day or just go with the flow.

What does everyone find best? I would hate to be churning out tripe so i could hit my 500 words a day aim or submission by christmas or something.
Has anyone done the writing fiction short course from OU A174?? I am considering it but would like view if anyone has tried it

Hi LilacPixie

I guess if you get a spark that sets you buzzing you could easily go over 500 words as a target.

I just go with the flow. I carry a notebook everywhere (sometimes with a digital camera) for photos, ideas, plots, scraps of dialogue that occur to me, but which I might forget later on.

I tend to type my notes up exactly as they've emerged mentally. I can then get a feel for where they might fit best in the book and build from there.

I did a creative writing course years ago but it clashed with other priorities. Shortly after I had enrolled, a story came out of nowhere. I completed it before the class had even started. Should have followed the signs then...

Why do we procrastinate so much? Do it now.:)