Harlequin Presents Writing Contest!
19 Comments November 1st, 2007 in writing contest Posted by Malleby Tessa Shapcott, Executive Editor
CALLING ALL UNPUBLISHED WRITERS!
Have you always dreamed of writing for Presents?
The INSTANT SEDUCTION writing competition for original first chapters is coming!
The old saying goes that first impressions are lasting impressions – and when it comes to a book, that certainly holds true. If the first chapter doesn’t immediately grip the reader, then they just won’t bother to go on any further.
Regular readers of Presents will know that the hallmarks of all our stories are pace, passion and intensity – and that they expect to see them stamped on our novels from the very first page.
So, do you harbor a burning ambition to become a writer for Harlequin Presents? Do you think that you can grab readers’ attention and instantly seduce them with your characters, dialogue, emotional conflict and sizzling sensual tension from the moment they begin turning the pages?
Then we want to hear from you!
The INSTANT SEDUCTION Writing Competition
* The WINNER receives an editor for a year!
*TWO RUNNERS-UP will be given critiques of their first chapter entries and an editorial telephone consultation!
*Pre-competition writer tutorials on writing for Presents for all available on the iheartpresents.com site from November 1st! Look out for advice on:
• Living with and loving the Alpha Male
• Developing a Global Writing Voice
• Generating Emotional Conflict
• How to Write a Synopsis
• How to be a professional writer
When can you enter? Competition runs from 1st January to 14th February 2008. Look out for the competition guidelines – coming very soon!
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19 Responses to “Harlequin Presents Writing Contest!”
- 1 Pingback on Nov 7th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
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Oh this is exciting. Can’t wait to get more details.
Claudia.
This is very exciting. Especially the helpful advice to come.
Thank you so much for offering the contest and the how to write for Presents. I can’t wait for the classes to begin. Yay!!
Wow, Tessa. What fantastic prizes. They’re worth their weight in gold!
Annie
Tessa, what a wonderful contest! Good luck to everyone!
Jennie
Wow, what a fantastic opportunity. Good luck, writers!
Kate H.
Hi All,
I think it’s a great opportunity. I’ll certainly be hanging around.
Good Luck everyone
Suz
This is an odd question, but is this contest only open to unpubbed authors? I have four books out (or pending) with a small press, but I’ve always wanted to write for Presents. Am I disqualified?
Hi Patrice,
You can be published by or have submission with other publishers and enter this contest. However, you should never have been published by Harlequin Presents (Modern Romance/Modern Extra in the UK and M&B Sey in Australia). Also, your entry for this contest should be totally new and original – i.e. never before to submitted to anywhere (including HP). Hope this helps.
Tessa
Thanks, Tessa. I currently have a query proposal in with HP for which I received a confirmation on 9 August. I have not yet heard back on whether HP is interested in seeing the full MS, so until I hear back I’ll plan on entering the contest.
Looking forward to the neat kind of story I can put together!
Patrice
Can anyone tell me if HP would be open to an East Indian hero, and to have a story take place in India?
Thanks,
Patrice
I just started working on a book a few days ago… I’m very new to this community though, so I’m kind of too nervous to even presume anything will come of my writing right now.
I’ll definately stay tuned though and chug away on my story. It would be amazing for me just to hit 50 000 words and have a polished draft under my belt. (I’m at about 9 000 words now)
How will we be asked to submit our entries. E-mail? Snail mail?
This is so exciting! I’m wondering though about chapter length. Is there a suggested range?
Wow, what a fantastic prize.
I have two questions.
Does it matter that an author is published with a small press? Does unpublished mean the work rather than the author?
Many thanks
Jean