73 Responses to “The Harlequin Presents Writing Competition 2009 is Now Open!”  

1. 1 Amy Jul 6th, 2009 at 9:57 am

   Woooohoooo!!!!!

   So, who’s thinking about entering? Come on, don’t be shy!
   ~Amy

2. 2 amylulu Jul 6th, 2009 at 10:36 am

   Count me in! Thanks to all the staff for another great opportunity. Also looking forward to all the tips from the editors/authors – always chock-full of great information!

   Amy Strnad

3. 3 Laura Jul 6th, 2009 at 11:35 am

   Is it okay to enter under a pen name? (if real name is given, too)

   I’d be able to write much steamier sex scenes if I knew I could hide behind a pen name if I won. (A long shot I know )

4. 4 Joanne Grant Jul 6th, 2009 at 12:07 pm

   Laura – feel free to write under a pen name. We wouldn’t want to miss out on those steamy love scenes

5. 5 Susanna Jul 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm

   Can I enter if a response hasn’t been received by a current work in progress sent in April of this year? I was invited to re-submit but haven’t heard back.

   Should I set that one aside to work on the contest? What if the editor asks for the complete manuscript of the work in progress? (I could only hope, however I wouldn’t want to appear undisciplined).

   Thank you HMB for another opportunity.

   Karen in California

6. 6 Jackie Ashenden Jul 6th, 2009 at 4:29 pm

   As a Modern Heat runner-up from last year, I can definitely recommend entering this contest! My entry wasn’t ultimately successful but gaining the ‘ear’ of an editor has been the best. I’ve learned so much!

   If you are wavering, then waver no more. You have nothing to lose. Read the new guidelines, read lots of Presents, then write the best chapter you can.

   Good luck everyone!

   Jackie

7. 7 mulberry Jul 6th, 2009 at 6:06 pm

   Woooeeee! Here we go again!

   I’m in this time for sure!

   Jane

8. 8 Tarnya Jul 6th, 2009 at 7:28 pm

   Hi,
   Does this mean a submission that has been sent to Sweet but has been changed considerably is not allowed to enter.

   Thanks,

   Tarnya.

9. 9 Madeline Jul 6th, 2009 at 9:14 pm

   Oh, this is very exciting! I was getting a bit disappointed because I can’t make it to the RWA conference this year, but this competition has given me something to look forward to

   Thank you for running another competition, and with plenty of time for us to prepare a submission. I’m eagerly awaiting the detailed rules.

   May the muses visit us all before November!
   Madeline

10. 10 Joanne29 Jul 7th, 2009 at 2:22 am

    Woo hoo!! How exciting!

    Thanks HMB for this fab opportunity and for giving us so much time to get an entry ready

11. 11 Joanne Grant Jul 7th, 2009 at 4:36 am

    Thank you for all your enthusiasm!

    More detailed rules will be posted soon, but to clarify: your entry must be a new submission, meaning it shouldn’t have been previously submitted to Harlequin, even if it has been revised since.

    Karen – you certainly can still enter the contest with a different story, but I would contact the editor to ask the status of your partial to help put your mind at rest. Email eEditors@hmb.co.uk with your submission reference number.

    Joanne

12. 12 Rachel Jul 7th, 2009 at 5:06 am

    Oh wow, here we go again!

    I’m just not going to be able to stop myself from entering this amazing competition again, but I just know this will mean I’m going to be a gibbering, obsessive wreck until December!

    How many times can you re read one chapter and a synopsis before it becomes unhealthy, folks? Not forgetting the times you do it AFTER submission!

    Good luck everyone!

    Rach (UK)

13. 13 Heidi Rice Jul 7th, 2009 at 7:41 am

    Cool, another writing comp. Actually I love these things too cos I always find it fascinating to hear what other authors (and of course editors) have to say about writing Modern and Modern Heat.

    Just to get us all in the mood. I thought I’d post the synopsis for my first ever published book Bedded by a Bad Boy on my blog (http://heidi-rice.blogspot.com) this morning – along with some notes about what changes my editor suggested before the book got published.

    Personally, synopsises (see, I don’t even know how to spell the word!!) are my personal bug-bear and I avoid writing them at all costs. I sweated blood over this one before submitting it to the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme and I thought it might be interesting for anyone here planning to enter this comp to get an idea what worked plotwise and what didn’t.

    Big kudos and the best of luck to all of you who get up the guts to put your work out there.

14. 14 Lauren Malmsteen Jul 7th, 2009 at 11:08 am

    Thankyou so much for the competition.

    Just read the updated guidelines, and making a special note: “However, Modern is not the home of purple prose, cliché or melodrama; we want to see writing that offers unique perspectives and bursts with originality.”

    It’s about a year since I last submitted anything and I can see now why my big brown envelope came straight back to me. Nevertheless, I was given four pearls of wisdom: make the two characters central to the narrative, talk about inner (emotional) conflict, add secondary characters (but don’t swamp the story with them) and have a specific range in mind.

    I’ve now got two new stories which should be in the post very soon. I’m just trying to reign in some of the extranious detail so that it hangs together, and so that it doesn’t read like you’d want to hurl the book across the room in a fit of rage.

15. 15 Annjane Jul 7th, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    Wow! I was really kicking myself for not sticking with the
    First Modern Heat Contest last summer.
    Harlequin M&B thanks again for giving another chance at entering and
    maybe winning the contest.
    If I don’t I know that I had really finished a project and learn some
    good writing tips from authors and editors.

    Jane O’Connor.

16. 16 SweetDiSm22 Aug 4th, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    Wow, this sounds like an amazing opportunity! This is the first time I’ve ever worked up the courage to enter a contest and this is also my first blog!!

    Can anyone specify the differences between modern heat and modern romance? I’ve looked over the guidelines, but the definition seem a little fuzzy to me..

    good luck to all!!

    Joyce

17. 17 pattishenberger Aug 6th, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    Have I missed the information as to page count, synopsis and such? Thanks to any and all for help!

    Patti

18. 18 mulberry Aug 8th, 2009 at 11:25 am

    Joyce, the best way to understand the difference is to experience it!Read some books from each line and you’ll understand what the guidelines mean. It’s tougher in the US as the two lines are both mareketed under Presents, but compare books by the MH authors in the guidelines with traditional Presents writers, and it’s apparent early on. If you go on the UK Mills and Boon site it’s clear which are Modern Heat releases and which are Modern, then you can get a taste by using the “Read more” links there or the “Look inside the book” feature on eHarlequin.

    Patti, the full rules are published in another post. Click the writing contest category in the category list on the right hand column, and you’ll see it.

19. 19 Susan Roark Aug 19th, 2009 at 7:33 pm

    I am excited and have started on my chapter. One, question do I need to send in a chapter and a synopsis? Thanks!

20. 20 Amy Aug 20th, 2009 at 9:34 am

    Hi Susan,

    Yes, you must submit a first chapter and synopsis. More details on length, etc. can be found in the official rules:

    http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/07/official-rules-for-the-harlequin-presents-writing-competition-2009/

    Best of luck!
    ~Amy

21. 21 beena Aug 22nd, 2009 at 2:33 am

    plesae advise me how i send my manuscript for the competition??? thanks

22. 22 Marianne Morea Aug 22nd, 2009 at 11:08 am

    I would love submit a story for consideration in the I Heart Presents competition 2009! Do I need to register or is it an open competition based on a submittal on or before November 2nd?

    Marianne Morea

23. 23 Jennifer Aug 22nd, 2009 at 6:13 pm

    Does the story need to be sent as an attachement or in the body of the email?

24. 24 markh andrews Aug 28th, 2009 at 1:40 am

    hi,
    I am doing this. I am from vancouver!
    anyone from vancouver – I have just started writing – do you know about any sites / groups for writing and keeping up with motivation!

    markh

25. 25 Trenda Aug 28th, 2009 at 8:13 am

    Markh, there is a writing community on eHarlequin.com. It is wonderful!!!

    Trenda

26. 26 Trenda Aug 28th, 2009 at 8:21 am

    Beena, Marianne, and Jennifer–Instructions for submitting your entry are included in the official rules, which you can find here:

    http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/07/official-rules-for-the-harlequin-presents-writing-competition-2009/

    Good luck to everyone entering! Have a fantastic day!

    Trenda

27. 27 Rachel Sep 2nd, 2009 at 1:15 pm

    Hi I have never really wrote Modern Heat, but I believe that I could do it well. So I am going to try in hopes of learning and hopefully winning right.

28. 28 Fiyi T.R Sep 20th, 2009 at 12:53 pm

    R authors from other country welcome? I’m from Indonesia.

29. 29 Trenda Sep 20th, 2009 at 2:57 pm

    Fiyi, the competition is open to everyone. Your entry must be written in English.

    You can find the official rules at:

    http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/07/official-rules-for-the-harlequin-presents-writing-competition-2009/

    Happy writing!

    Trenda

30. 30 Write NB Style Oct 3rd, 2009 at 1:31 am

    Sounds like a great Contest! Don’t know how I missed it before.

31. 31 Write NB Style Oct 3rd, 2009 at 1:33 am

    I’ve been all over this site and couldn’t find where to enter. Thanks Jax.
    Lorraine

32. 32 Trenda Oct 3rd, 2009 at 11:05 am

    Lorraine,

    You can find the official rules here: http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/07/official-rules-for-the-harlequin-presents-writing-competition-2009/

    You will email you entry (following the guidelines given in the rules) to:
    writingcompetition[at]hmb.co.uk

    Happy writing!

    Trenda

33. 33 Vijay Oct 5th, 2009 at 8:13 am

    Hi Amy,

    I was just wondering – is the competition only open to women?

    Best regards,
    Vijay

34. 34 Amy Oct 8th, 2009 at 9:31 am

    Hi Vijay,

    No the contest isn’t just for women — men are welcome to enter submissions as well!
    ~Amy

35. 35 Cat Oct 13th, 2009 at 1:36 am

    Hi everyone. Has anyone heard of the Gotcha! contest on RWA? Is it ok to submit for both Gotcha and this Harlequin Presents writing competition?
    Thanks!

36. 36 Cheryl Oct 13th, 2009 at 8:42 pm

    I’ve got my submission for the I heart Presents contest – it says 5K but my first chapter is 6K. Can I forward 6K just so they can see what I can do to fully develop the chapter? Or is that a no-no?

37. 37 Amy Oct 14th, 2009 at 11:31 am

    @Cat — I believe the general rule about Harlequin submissions is they discourage simultaneous submissions or entries in other contests. The official rules say your entry for the Presents contest can’t have won any awards before.

    @Cheryl — I think 1,000k words over is pushing it a bit. Editor Joanne was asked how strict the word limit is in the Community chat and this was her response:

    Question: Is the 5000 word count very ’strict’? (i.e. would an entry be disqualified if it was 5020 words?)

    JG: No, it wouldn’t be disqualified for being a little over, but it is good discipline to try and write to the specified word count. After all, in series books we do have a limit on overall word count.

38. 38 Cheryl Oct 14th, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    Amy, thanks for the advice. Yes, it is a discipline to write as tight as possible and adhere to the word count.

39. 39 Cat Torres V Oct 14th, 2009 at 11:08 pm

    Thanks for the reply, Amy! Will then choose the Harlequin Presents writing competition over the RVA Gotcha one (as if it was a tough choice to make lol).

    This is my first romance novel contest (and only my second writing contest), so I’m really hyped… will try to send my entry today or tomorrow…

    Good luck to everyone! The important thing is: Have Fun!!!

40. 40 deb Oct 17th, 2009 at 9:09 am

    O.K. I am a little late on finding this competition. How long do I have to wait for your next one to begin?

41. 41 Amy Oct 19th, 2009 at 10:36 am

    Hi Deb,

    I don’t know when/if the Presents editors will have another writing contest — but you still have two weeks until the deadline if you want to pull together an entry
    ~Amy

42. 42 Cindie Oct 20th, 2009 at 12:42 am

    I have never done something like this before. I worked on my book for over a year, but I’ve been nervous about doing anything with it. My family has been pushing me to do something with it, so when I found this contest, I thought this is a chance for me to at least try. Best of luck to all who enter. I just want to say thanks for the oppertunity regardless of if I win or not.

43. 43 Rhyanna Oct 27th, 2009 at 6:18 pm

    I just found this, so my understanding is does it have to be an actual chapter from either a Harlequin Presents or Heat… or do we write one similar but different from an actual chapter?

    Call me confused at this late date and how many words, does the manuscript have to be complete by entry date or complete when winners are announced?

    thanks
    Rhyanna

44. 44 Amy Oct 27th, 2009 at 9:35 pm

    Hi Rhyanna,

    Not sure what you mean by “actual chapter”…but imagine you were submitting a novel to Harlequin Presents/Modern Romance/Modern Heat. Your entry would be the first chapter from that novel, plus the synopsis.

    Technically I guess you only need the first chapter written, but if you were to win I’m sure the editors would want to look at more before too long
    ~Amy

45. 45 Mimi Oct 29th, 2009 at 9:06 pm

    I’m feeling a bit sheepish asking this question, but I just finished editing my 8 pages of synopsis down to the 2 required for the contest and it really helped when I put the font at Times Roman size 10. Is that allowed or must it be size 12?

46. 46 Clara Oct 30th, 2009 at 6:16 am

    Just a question about author names. Do you need the real name when submitting for the competition or would a pen name be acceptable.
    If the real name is submitted and is not suitable, would you recommend changing it to a pen name afterwards?

47. 47 Amy Oct 30th, 2009 at 12:40 pm

    Hi Mimi — I really don’t know about the font size. It may be a bit small. Do you think the editors can read it comfortably when they print it out?

    Hi Clara — you can use a pen name if you wish but make sure the editors will have the correct contact info for you as well. If you have a pseudonym picked out, you could do what many do and put “Mary Smith writing as May Smythe” somewhere with your entry.

48. 48 Clara Oct 30th, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    Thanks Amy for clarifying the pen name query.

    May I just check something else? I thought that I had read an instruction about the submission and that it said not to email with an attachment, because it wouldn’t be read.

    However, in the rules, it seems to be saying attach a word document to the email.

    Hope you can understand what I am asking. Is it alright to attach the document to the email in the attachment box and should there be two word documents, one for the synopsis and one for the chapter? Plus an explanation in the body of the email?

49. 49 Amy Oct 30th, 2009 at 6:02 pm

    Hi Clara,

    Entries for the writing competition must be sent as an attachment (official rules are here: http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/07/official-rules-for-the-harlequin-presents-writing-competition-2009/) — maybe you were thinking of a different submission process. Make sure you have the right email address (above) when sending it in.

    You can either put the synopsis and chapter 1 in separate documents, or the same one with the synopsis first.
    ~Amy

50. 50 Cheryl Oct 31st, 2009 at 4:14 pm

    Amy, I clicked on your link (in the post immediately preceding this one) and it reads “Error”. No info appeared on screen.

    Thank you so much for reminding us that we must send our ms. as a Microsoft Word File attachment to the email.

51. 51 Cheryl Oct 31st, 2009 at 4:17 pm

    I’d like to wish good luck to everyone who entered this contest. (smiles)

52. 52 Clara Nov 1st, 2009 at 6:20 am

    Thanks Amy and thanks Cheryl.
    I would also like to wish everyone who entered the competition good luck.

53. 53 Amy Nov 2nd, 2009 at 10:31 am

    Hi Cheryl,

    That’s because there is a parenthesis at the end of the URL — try this link:

    http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/07/official-rules-for-the-harlequin-presents-writing-competition-2009

    ~Amy

54. 54 Catch Nov 2nd, 2009 at 5:25 pm

    Thanks Amy

    That makes lots of sense. I ended up sending both formats so i’m sure they’ll take the one they want.

    This was such fun

    When is the next contest?

    Do you have them for other lines?

    Thanks again

    Catch

55. 55 Cathie Nov 3rd, 2009 at 11:11 am

    I sent my entry in with a copy that would go to me so I could see how it looked. I followed all the rules from the contest in writing in word. When I got my copy it looked nothing like the word document I wrote. The page numbers weren’t there. The paragraphs where stretched wide and it looked terrible. I bet they don’t even read it. Does anyone have an Idea why my entry would do this when I sent it. Good luck to everyone. Thanks for any help you can give me.

56. 56 Nicky Nov 4th, 2009 at 11:58 am

    I heard about this contest a bit too late, but I will be checking on more frequently to see whenever there are new writing contests.Good luck to all who submitted their works to this contest.

57. 57 Trenda Nov 4th, 2009 at 1:58 pm

    Cathie,

    Did you send your synopsis and chapter as attachments, or did you copy the text into the body of the email?

    Also, if you open an attachment as HTML rather than opening it in Word, you won’t see some of the formatting.

    Fingers crossed for you that it went through just fine!

    Tren

58. 58 Bridget Payton Nov 4th, 2009 at 6:14 pm

    Just wondering whether it’s true that all first chapters/synopsis submitted for the Harlequin Presents/Modern Heat competition will be read? I submitted last year and didn’t hear a single word back. I was expecting a ‘thanks but no thanks’, or something – anything!
    Made me think it might just be a marketing ploy?

59. 59 Cheryl Nov 4th, 2009 at 8:03 pm

    Thanks Amy for the advice. Now that the contest is closed, I’ll be looking forward to seeing the results. I remember last year not seeing the results until several months after the fact. I always go the the Homepage and click on ‘Write’ and then scroll down to the contest info. Will they be posting it there?

60. 60 Cathie Nov 4th, 2009 at 10:29 pm

    Trenda,
    I simply used the e-mail button on the word page and sent it as the body of the e-mail. I have to be honest I don’t know how Microsoft Outlook opens it in what format. I usually ask my computer wiz husband but I just wanted to see if this contest would lead anywhere. He would be supportive but I wanted to try this myself first. Maybe they open it in word and it will be O.K. Thanks for writing back. I’ll have to figure it out if I ever enter another contest.

    Bridget,
    I think they all get read if they are in the form the contest rules requested. In the official rules it says they will notify winners and post the results on the website. They don’t contact the people that didn’t win. You can also write them for the list of winners.

    A month seems like a long time to wait. It’s been fun though.

61. 61 Leanne Nov 5th, 2009 at 9:25 am

    OK, I submitted my entry before midnight on the 2nd… as I understand it results will be published on this site on December 1. Could someone from HMB please confirm this.
    There was a great page I came across the other day in which an editor (sorry, I have forgotten her name) posted an update of the competition – 60 entries to date etc. but I have not been able to find that page since through this labyrinthine site so if anyone knows where that page is, please do let me know the URL/post a link. I would imagine that this would be a good page to keep a track of for any further updates.
    Finally I too would love to know about any forthcoming competitions because on the submission day of this competition I was already thinking about how I could have changed things and had some other new ideas. Thanks.

62. 62 Amy Nov 5th, 2009 at 10:49 am

    @Bridget — Yes, the editors do read every single entry (there is a photo of them getting down to business from the last writing contest here: http://www.iheartpresents.com/2008/09/feel-the-heat-writing-competition-progress-report/). I believe they only contacted the winners and certain entrants they wanted to hear more from.

    @Cheryl and @Leanne — The editors have said they will announce the winners on I Heart Presents in December, but sorry I don’t know the exact date. We do spread out posting the winning entries a bit so it doesn’t flood the blog — we have lots of posts from our current authors as well, after all

    I’ll try to get a better update and more details for everyone.
    ~Amy

63. 63 Amy Nov 5th, 2009 at 10:59 am

    Missed a couple…

    @Catch — I don’t think the editors have any more Presents contests planned just yet (been busy with this one, LOL), but if they keep being successful, well…

    For other lines, check places like the “Write” section on eHarlequin http://www.eharlequin.com/store.html?cid=535 (scroll down for the contests & challenges part) and the “Competitions” page at Mills & Boon http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/competitions.asp (part of the “Offers” section). The Writing boards on the eHarlequin Community also have some special events like online pitch sessions with editors.

    @Cheryl — I’m not sure if they’ll be updating the Contest part of eHarlequin (they seem not to have for the Feel the Heat contest…). Definitely the best place for updates is this blog. I will try to add any updates/news on the Writing Contest tab at the top so it’s easy to find.
    ~Amy

64. 64 Leanne Nov 5th, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    Thanks for your response Amy.
    NB. The writing competition progress report link you posted didn’t work – got an error msg – ?

    Should that link have contained the section I was looking for in my post above? If, so – maybe it has moved i.e. URL changed. If not, do you know where I can find that section?

    Also too, I know Harlequin and M&B are brand names for the US and UK respectively but I have to admit to a bit of confusion on my part say when researching guidelines to follow. For instance I live in the UK therefore assume I should be following M&B directives because Modern Heat is the line I would like to write for. So the confusion arises because the Harlequin site talks about writing tips etc for the Harlequin lines. Hope that makes sense and you that you can clear this up for me.

    Thanx again.

65. 65 Amy Nov 5th, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    Hi Leanne,

    I really have to learn to put a space after my URLs — that’s what was causing the error: http://www.iheartpresents.com/2008/09/feel-the-heat-writing-competition-progress-report/

    Presents in North America publishes books that are released in the UK under two slightly different lines: M&B Modern Romance and Modern Heat. That is why eHarlequin has broken down the Presents writing guidelines into two: Modern Romance ( http://www.eharlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=547&chapter=0 ) and Modern Heat ( http://www.eharlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1294&chapter=0 ). They are the same guidelines on both eHarlequin and Mills and Boon’s site — but you may have more specific information about Modern Heat from M&B since they make greater distinction between the two due to how they publish them under a separate line (All Presents are edited out of the UK office as well, so they all end up in M&B’s hands ).

    Hope that made some sense and I haven’t confused you even more…

    And for everyone out there, editor Joanne who runs the writing competition will have an update post for us Tuesday!

66. 66 Leanne Nov 5th, 2009 at 4:45 pm

    Thanks again Amy…I very much look forward to learning the results and thanks also for reposting the link which did work! I do hate to bang on but the section I was looking for was regarding this current competition – the one that closed on Monday – and the post regarding updates on this competition. The copy that I last read said that 60 entries had been received to date and I saw that about a week ago. I know, I know I should have saved the URL as favourite but I didn’t think it would be so hard to find again – sorry!

67. 67 mulberry Nov 5th, 2009 at 5:27 pm

    Leanne, is this the page you wanted?
    http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/10/harlequin-presents-writing-competition-2009-nearly-time/

68. 68 Leanne Nov 5th, 2009 at 5:31 pm

    Yes, thanx v much Mulberry that is indeed it!

69. 69 Leanne Nov 5th, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    PS… but the reason I wanted to see it was because I thought it would have been updated with how many entries received but it hasn’t – LOL! I will keep an eye on it though just in case… thanks again.

70. 70 Cat Nov 27th, 2009 at 5:08 am

    Thanks for the tip, Mulberry. For some reason (maybe because I’m a newbie at writing), I find it more psychologically daunting to submit a partial than to join a contest I guess ‘rejection’ either way is a learning experience but losing a competition just seems less painful, somehow…

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