Writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon

vanpiggy

Thanks Caz. I've just written a short story for Scarlet, but since they take so long and say you can submit elsewhere I think I'll send it there too. How's the writing going?

heretolearn_2

OP - I know what you mean about thinking your writing is crap and stopping. But I've been introduced to '!!!!!! first draft' - the fact that the first draft by even highly professional writers is usually pretty rubbish. What turns that into a good book is the amount of revision and editing they do on it. So keep going!

I've never tried writing anything like this (but I've never read a M&B either) but part of me is tempted to do a bit of research and try, as they are pretty rewarding financially compared to the majority of book publishing. On the other hand, unless you are a fan of this type of thing, I think it's probably impossible to write a good one. What do you think?

Nice to know there's some other writers out here though. I'm currently finishing off a uni creative writing course (prose and poetry this year) and signed up to do the advanced course next year (playwriting) and having a lot of fun with it. Not tried to get published yet...but entered a couple of competitions. Just wanted to work hard on the course this year, improve as much as possible, and get cracking after that.

heretolearn_2

Oh and on the query regarding how much to submit when they ask for synopsis and three chapters. You MUST have the completed book ready. It's just that they know they are not going to wade through 1000s of unsolicited books. They want a small sample of what you can do to pick out the few they might be interested in, and then they need to see the complete book as soon as they get back to you. If you haven't got a book to back up your submission to them, you've wasted everybody's time and they won't look upon you with much favour in future.

vanpiggy

Well, I bashed out an extended version of my Scarlett short story for Xcite, and the feedback was pretty fair, I need to develop my main character further. I'm thinking of going back through and developing the character's backstory in order to help the reader connect more. I've been talking to a few other would be writer's on my blog (link in my CP if you're interested) and the general consensus does seem to be a crap draft is a good starting point. Has anyone considered the Nano novel in a month thing? Can't remember the exact name for it right now.

Anglea

Hi everyone, good luck with your books!

I used to be very much into writing and having a lot of stuff published but found those shorter novels (or People's Friend type serials) very hard as you have to be very strict with the amount of words but also have a good story. Probably once you've done a few it will seem easier as you will understand what the publishers are looking for.

It's been years since I looked on the websites but they used to have weekly competitions for writers and it was interesting to read about the authors and how they got started, and their tips.

Did any of you watch the tv documentary about the start of Mills and Boon?

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heretolearn_2

http://www.harrybowlingprize.net/

Link to a competition for best romantic novel by an unpublished writer

wilf55

can i join, never written before except school essays but would love to have a go

need to read up though first

cazmanian_minx

I'm embarrassed to say that I've spent so much time on my business lately that I've hardly written a word However, I've now got a timetable (really! Little squares and everything, just like school!) which seems to work and it has an hour a day on it for either writing or photography, so I'm hoping to get back into it.

The eHarlequin website has a book in 3 months challenge coming up, starting 31st May:

http://community.eharlequin.com/forums/write-stuff

For the next three months, we'll post articles posted by your favorite authors on the various aspects of writing a complete novel. Each week, we discuss and challenge each other to write a novel of your own. More importantly, to write one at what is an average professional speed--two months to write, one month to edit and submit. Are you in?

- so I'm thinking that allocating my hour a day plus some time in the evening to that will be just the kick up the behind I need

VanPiggy - I think you're thinking of NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, which is November. Nothing to stop you picking any other month and going for it though.

Caz

Kepp

I'd like to join too, I considered this a year or so ago but like most things I never got round to it!

I went to the bootfair on Saturday and picked up 22 books for £3, so let the 'research' commence!

Hope it's going well for everyone else.

Likestowrite

I've just spotted this thread and I'd like to join everyone who's busy writing a romance novel. It'd be great to get published by M&B. Do we post our progress here or is there a separate group been set up?