Writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon

InDenial

Hi, I'd love to write a Mills & Boon novel.
I've been told many times I ought to write a book, and have written fanfiction before, but never tried anything grander.
I'm being made redundant in 5 weeks time and I'm wondering if this is something I could look into when I'm not looking for work.
I've read some of the thread, but it's quite long.
Just want to wish everyone good luck.

SlopingBird

InDenial, sorry to hear about the redundancy but it could give you the push you're looking for. It's still not too late to enter the New Voices competition - the deadline is October 10. I found that I struggled to find my 'voice' at first but once I got going the words really started to flow. I wrote the last 1,500 words in a mad rush (unlike the first 2,000 which were hard slog).
Go for it! And don't worry if your first draft isn't great. As the BBC Writers Room quotes 'writing is all about rewriting' (Paul Abbott?).
Good luck.

SlopingBird

I've just pressed the submit button and sent my first chapter off to New Voices - a very scary moment but I can't keep tweaking and editing forever!

LuckyLucy11, you sound like you have enough ideas for a whole library. I know what you mean about research though - it's knowing when to draw the line. I did have to do some research for my M & B but the first chapter wasn't too bad. I'm currently doing some historical research (Second WW) for a screenplay I plan to write and it's so easy to get drawn into all sorts of interesting stuff, most of which you'll never need to use. I remember going to listen to Iris Gower talking once (and what a warm and lovely person she was) and she told the audience that she'd thought bulls and bullocks were one and the same thing so had printed a glaring mistake in one of her novels, which was rapidly seized upon by readers with farming knowledge. It happens to the best of them!

Anyway, good luck everyone. I'm all fired up now, it's a shame I have a busy day ahead doing mostly non-writing tasks - oh, and I'm back to work full-time next week (a double-edged sword as I really need the money but I've thoroughly enjoyed my time at home).

Lucie_J_2

Sorry, this is the first time I've ever posted but I'm a regular 'lurker' on MSE. Just wanted to say a huge thanks for this inspiring thread, I've just submitted my entry to the New Voices competition!! I've always wanted to do this and now finally took the plunge, to be honest I don't even care if it does well - I'm just so proud that I actually wrote something and submitted it!

SlopingBird

Well done on getting your entry in, LucyJ - it's a great competition, just wish there were more like it. Good luck.

skylight

I'll add myself to the competition. Have read some of Mums M&B books over the last few weeks and got a bit big-headed and thought "Pft. I can do that. Piece of cake". Then spot this thread!

I don't honestly think for one minute that my stuff would be any good - M&B only take on around 10 new authors year according to their website and I guess they must get hundreds if not thousands of books from newbies and I'm not sure my version of stuff is going in the right direction.

But I have written a first chapter. And I like it, surprisingly. Need to add more description to parts but in all I seem to be happy enough with it so have decided that I will enter it into the competition (will be the very first writing competition that I will have ever entered) and I will also finish it too, regardless of the outcome, for my own gratification.

Jei-jei

:rotfl:

SlopingBird wrote: »

I've just pressed the submit button and sent my first chapter off to New Voices - a very scary moment but I can't keep tweaking and editing forever!

Slopingbird, tell me about it!

How long ago did I say I would submit? Only did it last night (had to stop tweaking and checking when me eyes fell out...)

Does anyone know how long it takes for them to approve?

I'm such a worry wort (wart?) that I'm now thinking there might be something in there that will make them refuse to print it. Even though I must have checked everything right down to improper copyright use of a semi-colon :rotfl:

Aren't some of those entries fantastic?

My absolutely favourite line so far has got to be: 'nom nom nom' :D

Sorry - has to be read in context! So funny. Or maybe it's just my sense of humour...

Jei-jei

Typical. As soon as I post here M&B send me the approval email for Chapter One.

Yee-har!

:beer:

gingerandrubarb

Jei-jei wrote: »

:rotfl:


Slopingbird, tell me about it!

How long ago did I say I would submit? Only did it last night (had to stop tweaking and checking when me eyes fell out...)

Does anyone know how long it takes for them to approve?

I'm such a worry wort (wart?) that I'm now thinking there might be something in there that will make them refuse to print it. Even though I must have checked everything right down to improper copyright use of a semi-colon :rotfl:

Aren't some of those entries fantastic?

My absolutely favourite line so far has got to be: 'nom nom nom' :D

Sorry - has to be read in context! So funny. Or maybe it's just my sense of humour...

:T:TWow well done hunny,
So what have they said to do next, do you need to send them another chapter for approval ? x

SlopingBird

Well done Jei-jei. Now I guess we just keep our fingers crossed and wait. I'm quite fired up by all this romantic writing - my OH is enjoying all the attention.