Comments on: The Harlequin Presents Writing Competition 2009 is Now Open!

By: Cat

Cat — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:08:25 +0000

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…

By: Leanne

Leanne — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:33:31 +0000

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.

By: Leanne

Leanne — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:31:31 +0000

Yes, thanx v much Mulberry that is indeed it!

By: mulberry

mulberry — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:27:02 +0000

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

By: Leanne

Leanne — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:45:46 +0000

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!

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:07:59 +0000

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!

By: Leanne

Leanne — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:09:58 +0000

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.

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:59:47 +0000

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

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:49:06 +0000

@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

By: Leanne

Leanne — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:25:09 +0000

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.