Writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon

SlopingBird

Hello everyone and good luck to those who are entering New Voices 2011. One thing is certain, writing a M & B is much, much harder than it first appears. I can't believe how many entries have already been posted on the site and just how good most of them are. So much competition out there!
I was determined to enter this year but I'm really struggling to get my Chapter One right even though I know where the plot was going. When I was out running this morning (rare thinking time), I realised that yesterday evening I'd cut a paragraph which contained essential information to set up the external conflict. Oops! Must find a way of getting that info back in. I'm also finding it really hard to get all that sexual tension oozing out of the hero/heroine while they are talking/doing pretty normal things. Anyway, time is fast running out and so it's back to the writing for me now. Would love to know how everything else is getting on. x

Erosgirl

Jei-jei wrote: »

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.

I would be interested in your PDF document if you wouldn't mind. I can send you my email address through a private mesage. Thanks for reading.

mithras

I would be interested in the pdf too if that's okay jei jei, have been lurking on here although only posted once. Can pm you my email addy .

Jei-jei

Erosgirl and Mithras,

PM me your details and I'll forward it, with the other one kindly sent to me by Sassers which has all the official MB notes as well.

(The same applies to anyone else who's interested.):beer:

Jei-jei

Anglea,

I hear what you are saying. This short shelf life thing means you really need to have a love of writing. I'm not surprised about the Regency thing though; I think Barbara Cartland-God rest her soul- had a big part to play in that. (Wait, she has passed on, hasn't she?)

SlopingBird, it is sooo difficult getting that sexual tension across unless they jump into the sack straight away, which is just plain horniness. I guess the tension could come when they try to restrain from doing it again...:D

I have one chapter that I like but I'm getting worried about my male protagonist who's not your average Joe type of hero. He's a bit resistant to change though.

Yes there are some very good entries there already;my favourite is Still Got It (dunno who it was by;saw it some time back) and another one about a secret baby with a housekeeper/Italian gabilionaire or summat.

But I also like the ones that help highlight your own mistakes. There's definitely a point where a sparkling story begins to sag in the middle. As you say it's very difficult getting excitement into mundane things.

Hey - I just realised I don't even have a title for my entry!! Must stop chatting on this addictive forum and jump to it.:rotfl:

LuckyLucy11

I'm writing one now about a police officer in the welsh valleys who gets promoted to sargeant, as the hero he meets the heroine through her husband who is revealed as a stooge for a criminal gang and she's asked to testify against him in court.

Her loyalties are divided between her husband who she is now expecting a baby with (she's always turned a blind eye to his misdemeanors anyway) and the sargeant who she has always secretly loved. My partner is a police officer so he can help me with some details. I thought the Welsh Valleys would be an idyllic place and I'm basing some of the crooks traits on people I've known in the past who broke the law by simply being too guillable.

I'm working on loads of stories, my weak points are research which I have no trouble doing but I worry it's not convincing enough or there's some glaring omission or fault but I suppose it will be corrected down the line either by me or their team.

Other stories are set in the 60's and 70's, some Victorian or Robin Hood era (whenever that was) I'm useless at history but I'm in this for the long haul even if it takes travel, interviews or living museum research to be confident about accurate info.

There's other stories some character driven like a music teacher and some situational set in Africa or Greece, even though it's commercial writing I still like it to be as good as I can possibly make it.

Likestowrite

I've just found my way back to this forum after about a year! So jumping in with a few thoughts.

The print books have a short shelf life but I've a feeling that all the titles are now publishedas e-books too--which would maybe mean they'd always be available?

That sexual tension comes from not jumping in the sack. (Even though physically they want to) You have to take your characters through Desmond Morris' 12 stages of intimacy and show the inner conflict at every stage-- and if it's a gentle romance they won't go through all the stages.

Jei-jei

Mithras and LikestoWrite,

Check your email for the workshop notes.

All right people, I've done my first chapter for New Voices.

Going in!

Or maybe I'd better check it...just one more time.

mithras

Thank you!! Work shop notes received safely :j

Likestowrite

Got the workshop notes, too. Thank you!