Writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon

LilacPixie

well i'm doing a bit rubbish to be honest. i keep adding bits in as i go but then it ends up in the bin as just not being 'right'. My plots and character development seems to naturally take a more risque line than i think mainstream publishers would like.

Jei-jei

LilacPixie,

I doubt that very much indeed. When I was doing my research for setting up Ivanovella I thought my eyes were going to sizzle right out of my head! You'd be surprised what's out there.:D

Bramleyapple

Anyone else have notebooks all over the place? Must get them sorted out As for sizzling think I'll have to let my romantic encounters end in three dots... :rotfl:

freeoffers

Bramleyapple wrote: »

Just found this great thread and checked out some of the links. I seem to have ideas to start stories but then get bogged down in the detail..... and end up with lots of beginnings:rotfl:

I'll keep an eye on what you're all doing and maybe, just maybe, get something finished. That's my first step!

As has been suggested, this is fairly common. I do it all the time. The process of writing a novel differs with the writer but for me I usually have n idea that includes a beginning and an end. If I was you I'd try and get into the habit of developing the story with a beginning and end.
That doesn't mean you'll use it, but you may put it aside and use it some time down the line.

freeoffers

Jei-jei wrote: »

Bramleyapple, I do the same, or get ideas when I'm out and about and have to scribble them on an old receipt so I don't forget them all. Luckily I'm just finishing off something. Now to just get it in order!

Hope to see you over on Ivanovella in the near future. Don't forget you can sign up freely as a reader:beer:

Great idea, to have a notepad. Has come in very handy in the past when i think of better plot twists or else find that on the bus I have an idea for another book. What's Ivanovella?

freeoffers

LilacPixie wrote: »

well i'm doing a bit rubbish to be honest. i keep adding bits in as i go but then it ends up in the bin as just not being 'right'. My plots and character development seems to naturally take a more risque line than i think mainstream publishers would like.

Would be interesting to know how you start. Some people do in-depth plotting and characterization and others just write a synopsis and do basic character bios. I like to have a synopsis so that I at least know where the story is going while I'm writing it.

As for thinking that you're doing a bit rubbish, I often think the same. Just keep at it LilacPixie. Personally, I'm a little fed up with trying to get an agent so I'm delving into the Kindle/self publishing angle. I love marketing so I'll be quite happy to promote my own stuff once I think it's ready.

freeoffers

Bramleyapple wrote: »

Anyone else have notebooks all over the place? Must get them sorted out As for sizzling think I'll have to let my romantic encounters end in three dots... :rotfl:

I have notes for books I've written and notes for books I haven't.
Do you mean your ow romantic encounters...or the ones you write about...

freeoffers

Jei-jei wrote: »

LilacPixie,

I doubt that very much indeed. When I was doing my research for setting up Ivanovella I thought my eyes were going to sizzle right out of my head! You'd be surprised what's out there.:D

OK, just seen your site. I like the idea. I've just bought a domain for my epublishing. Will put my novellas on Amazon to be published on Kindle. Having read a few novellas I do think they are perfect for this format. Like the quotes too. I would be very interested to know about your research for the site and maybe, once I have my site up and running, we can swap marketing stories. My site wont be a publishing site though, just an author site with my stories. Are any of the novellas on your site your own? Also, did you research the price of novellas on Amazon What did you find?

Jei-jei

freeoffers wrote: »

OK, just seen your site. I like the idea. I've just bought a domain for my epublishing. Will put my novellas on Amazon to be published on Kindle. Having read a few novellas I do think they are perfect for this format. Like the quotes too. I would be very interested to know about your research for the site and maybe, once I have my site up and running, we can swap marketing stories. My site wont be a publishing site though, just an author site with my stories. Are any of the novellas on your site your own? Also, did you research the price of novellas on Amazon What did you find?

Hi freeoffers, sorry just got back on mse. It was a lot of work, to be honest and a hell of a lot of research. But not a solo effort. (Impossible for the market we're targetting!) Yes some of the short stories are my own but it's really just to encourage new members to say: 'Cripes I could do better than that with me eyes closed!'

As for just researching the prices on Amazon, there are a lot of varying prices everywhere. I'm starting to understand the pyschology of different writers according to how they price their work (not so much the content). We don't set prices; we let members do that themselves but with some info in the faqs about market competition, experience etc

You can also list your work with Iva. Its a small niche but it gives you another spot on google for your work, and help put your name out there as the website grows. Which can also be useful for speeding up hits when your own website is set up.

In fact everyone is welcome and membership is free. If you need any more info feel free to PM me and I'll be happy to share. :beer:

https://www.ivanovella.com/competition.php

Jei-jei

Sorry everyone -almost forgot! Just letting you know about the IvaNovella competition to celebrate both Valentine's Day and the Leap Year.

Below are some brief details:

Closing date:29th February 2012.
Open to: Anyone aged 18 or over
Theme: Love and romance but can be applied to any genre.
Entry fee: FREE
Short stories 1000- 6000 words, or
A collection of poems minimum (10).
Single poems are excluded

We have some interesting extras for all participants. Please find time to take a look. We love reading so don't be shy!

If you're interested in taking part please use the link below (or cut and paste directly into your browser) for more details.

http://www.ivanovella.com/competition.php

Regards, Jei-jei