Writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon

Likestowrite

Anglea wrote: »

I've had a lot of problems where I get this really good idea, do all the research etc, start writing then get a better idea and go off the first one. Before I know it, I've begun another book and another.........

Any one else do this?

I do but only with story outlines--I don't actually start writing them. each time I get an idea I strat to plan the characters, write an outline, then decide it won't work and start another.

Likestowrite

cazmanian_minx wrote: »

I'm targeting Intrigue and I'm registered as CarolineJ on the Harlequin and Mills & Boon forums, but don't post there that often.

Is Intrigue edited at the London offices? I've seen them on sale here in England alongside the usual M&B lines but am never quite sure where you'd send a story. I've seen Desire here too, but I think they are edited in New York or Canada? Is Nocturne part of the Intrigue line?

cazmanian_minx

Likestowrite wrote: »

Is Intrigue edited at the London offices? I've seen them on sale here in England alongside the usual M&B lines but am never quite sure where you'd send a story. I've seen Desire here too, but I think they are edited in New York or Canada? Is Nocturne part of the Intrigue line?

No, Intrigue is in New York. The UK's Intrigue line, confusingly, is made up of a combination of Harlequin Intrigue and Silhouette Romantic Suspense titles. Nocturne, from what I remember, started as a subset of Intrigue and is now its own line in America, but still comes out with an Intrigue cover in the UK.

The eHarlequin site has a comprehensive list of lines and their submission offices here:
http://www.eharlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=538&chapter=0

cazmanian_minx

Anglea wrote: »

I've had a lot of problems where I get this really good idea, do all the research etc, start writing then get a better idea and go off the first one. Before I know it, I've begun another book and another.........

Any one else do this?

Yes, all the time!!!

Likestowrite

Does anyone know if you need to to come up with a really original story idea to get published by M&B. I know the published authors use the popular themes over and over (secret babies/marriage of convenience/fake fiance etc) but is it different when you're trying to break in?

one_bill_at_a_time

oooo I'm feeling all inspired and am going to join in! Not sure if I can do the M&B thing (research to commence following trip to the library this afternoon) but certainly having other people writing will help motivation.

Been doing plot notes as I've been reading this thread...

cazmanian_minx

Hooray, I'm writing again :j:j:j:j (It's been a while....:o) Seems I needed a break from the keyboard - I'm self-employed and if I'm sitting at my computer not working I feel guilty about slacking off, but if I'm stretched out on the sofa with a dog curled up next to me writing in a notebook then there are no 'I-should-be-doing-X-Y-and-Z' feelings at all

Given I know I'm terrible at finishing anything longer than a 3000-word short story, I'm using Karen S. Wiesner's First Draft in 30 Days to help me to get a full draft completed. I bought it about a year ago and didn't rate it too highly when I read it, but I've dug it out again and am actually working through the days now rather than just reading it and I have to say it's really, really helping.

I've written 12 pages of notes tonight and my hand hurts

Anglea

Hi all, good luck this week!

On the subject of books, I've got The Writer's Idea Book by Jack Heffron which is full of writing prompts, excellent for novels, stories, non-fiction as well as journalling excercises.

Likestowrite

I've got first draft in 30 days too. Maybe I should dig it out again.

!2 pages of notes is good going! Do you still write for magazines?

Kate Walker's 12 point guide to Writing a Romance Novel is well worth buying. Kate writes for the Presents/Modern line and has written over 50 books for them. And Leigh Michaels On Writing Romance is good too. (Leigh used to write for Harlequin Romance )

cazmanian_minx

Haven't written any short stories for a while, but yes, I do still submit stuff occasionally. I've got Kate Walker's 12 point guide, thank you for reminding me - I shall dig it out.

Now on day 9 of First Draft in 30 days and still going well...