Writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon

Jei-jei

freeoffers wrote: »

I'd sure like to think that they can overlook the odd mistake and focus on the characters, story and writing. Let us know how it goes. Like you mentioned before, there are times when you read and re-read a submission and you see what you want to see. Did you read it out loud? That's what I'm doing with my work. I find it really helps.

Thanks freeoffers, that's encouraging. I enlarged the font and read it in places but scanned in others. As you say after a while the eye sees what it wants to. I sent an amended version as an option since it doesn't hurt to try.

I just got back from a workshop with Fiona Harper whose latest book -Swept off her Stillettos - was, interestingly, written in the 1st person. She gave us some excellent advice and lots of lovely freebies, and was a very warm friendly person to boot. Learnt so much.

I'll be writing up my notes including the FAQs for that particular meeting and will PDF for anyone who would like them.

Anglea

Thanks for the offer Jei-Jei could you send it to me please.

I'm glad you had a good time and it is unusual to see a book in that genre written from that perspective.

On that same subject of seeing what you want, I used to get told off all the time by my piano teacher for improvising, yet I was convinced I was reading the music as it was.

Jei-jei

Will do Anglea. Just give me a couple of days to get the higgledy-piggledy bits into a readable attractive PDF format and I'll forward it to you.

magiciansgirl

glowgirl wrote: »

I heard back from M&B a couple of days ago and they rejected my work:( despite the email giving me some pointers on what to improve I think its a generic thanks but no thanks, I do feel disappointed but I'm ok and I'm going to move on and give myself a break from writing, its still in my heart but I hate rejection, how is everyone else?

Hi, just found this thread. I'm a literary agent and I can assure you that a rejection with some pointers on how to improve your work is not a generic thanks but no thanks. Editors are simply so busy that they only bother with advice if they feel the author is worth encouraging.

It is also absolutely true that the only writers who succeed are those who take rejection on the chin and try again.

Also, and for everyone hoping to get an M & B contract - it's really difficult to achieve - they are very prescriptive and less likely to take a risk on an unknown. Avon (HarperCollins) or Little Black Dress (Hodder)
are broader in their requirements for romance. HarperCollins have an author site called Authonomy and they sometimes take new authors from there and publish them. Hodder agented authors only I'm afraid. Hope this is helpful.

Kind regards, MG

Jei-jei

Magiciansgirl.

Thanks for the advice and info. Will definitely check out Authonomy.

It sounds like you're saying that even though its difficult to get a contract with M&B, a rejection with some pointers could be resubmitted again to them for consideration.

I recently came back from a workshop with Fiona Harper and the impression was that it would be a rare creature that had their manuscript accepted first time :shocked: - and certainly not without various revisions. Apparently even the contracted authors have to re-write all the time.

I agree with you that you have to go in with a fairly tough skin and a deep love of writing. I certainly doubt they could be more critical of my first submission than I've been. In fact I'm already writing the second one in the hope that it will bring me some favourable indication of my chances as a romance writer.

Jei-jei

Anglea,

I've just sent you the info on Fiona Harper's workshop. Check your junk mail as it will probably go straight there.

shytown

Hi jei-jei, could you send me the info from the Fiona Harper talk also? Thanks.

Anglea

Jei-jei wrote: »

Anglea,

I've just sent you the info on Fiona Harper's workshop. Check your junk mail as it will probably go straight there.

Thanks, glad you mentioned the spam folder because apart from your email I found some others that shouldn't be there either. I never think to look and check.

Hi magiciansgirl thanks very much for your valuable advice.

Jei-jei

Anyone else going in for the New Voices 2011?

At the workshop I went to most of those that were going to submit said they'd do it nearer the deadline.

But I'd have thought more people would get a chance to read your work - I know they're not the judges- and give you better feedback from potential readers.

Any one else tried it before? I've completed a first chapter that-not being too X-Factorish, I hope-I really like.

But it's London based and I wonder if there isn't a little bias towards that setting.

Anglea

Hi all

Jei Jei something I have NEVER CONSIDERED at all is the fact that MB books have a very short shelf life as mentioned in the notes you forwarded.

Also interesting to read that the most popular historical period is Regency. I hardly know anything about it unlike Victorian times onward.

Contest - I had a look at it. I can't seem to dream up characters that really move me enough to write about them and want to carry on with their stories.

Have you submitted your entry yet?