Writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon

freeoffers

Well done Lucky Lucy. Writing isn't easy but having the courage to send a manuscript off is also right up there. If it's accepted great. If not then hopefully they'll have some valuable advice for you.

I like your approach. Some people use index cards too. I guess there is no such thing as a perfect way to write a novel, it just depends on the most effective way for the individual. Sounds like you have a very interesting project.

I haven't posted on here for a while so I'll give a truncated update.

Last year I got conversing with a member who posts on this thread. We decided to do some writing together. We also met up. I'm actually at her house now. We get on very well, but as this isn't a dating thread I'll keep it on topic!

A few months ago, fed up with rejection from agents, I decided to start my own website. I started, with her encouragement, to write my first ever set of short stories. I'm hoping to release a set of sci-fi stories (I write in other genres too) on a Kindle book by the end of June if they are any good.

I'm also thinking of joining a professional writing group, who have read part of one of my novels and say it isn't bad. Not sure I'm confident enough to read my work to them though.

Bottom line: there are always alternative avenues. Maybe an agent will see my work and wish to represent me. Maybe not. We can but try.

Anyway. Good luck LuckyLucy11!

LuckyLucy11

It's great to hear you're trying a new approach, if your writing for yourself you can indulge your creative muse but if you're writing for a market you have to follow strict writing rules.

I mean Stephanie Meyers' Twilight series was just 'Interview With A Vampire' spliced with 'Romeo & Juliet' (& other Shakepeare plays) for the lucrative teen market, it's success shows how audiences love the classic formulas as long as you give them an original twist.

I wish you every success with your Sci Fi books, I'd love to read them just out of curiosity from what you've mentioned so far.

Good luck x

SlopingBird

I mean Stephanie Meyers' Twilight series was just 'Interview With A Vampire' spliced with 'Romeo & Juliet' (& other Shakepeare plays) for the lucrative teen market.

I read the Twilight books out of curiosity (my teenage daughter was reading them). Having been a big Buffy fan (still am), I thought the Edward/Bella storyline was a big rip off of Buffy/Angel. And the last book, with its focus on Bella's pregnancy problems and Jacob's imprinting on Renesmee (which must be the worst name ever), was a pretty uncomfortable read and not at all suitable for a young audience.

There, I've had my rant!!

freeoffers

Cheers LuckyLucy. You're right about writing for a market. My problem is I just don't think about things like that. Maybe I need someone to set me straight!

That Twilight series that you mentioned (as did Sloping Bird) is a total Buffy rip-off. Having watched nearly every episode of that great series I can testify to that. The whole forbidden love angle though isn't new (Romeo and Juliet was mentioned by LuckyLucy).

However, i think its important for people to know that we aren't inventing the wheel. Taking a well-worn genre and tweaking it can be gold. My biggest problem when I started (other than not reading! Don't ask!) was trying to be too original.

As you suggest, classic formulas are classic for a reason: they work.

Likestowrite

This thread's gone very quiet. Anyone sent anything off to M&B. Any encouraging feedback?:)