Comments on: Writing Competition Tips: Great Beginnings, Great Expectations… http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competition-tips-great-beginnings-great-expectations%e2%80%a6/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:28:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Trenda http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competition-tips-great-beginnings-great-expectations%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-51163 Trenda Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:25:35 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1042#comment-51163 Thank you, Joanne! I have begun a new manuscript, which I had thought to enter into this competition if it were permissible to do so...I recall having read once on eHarlequin.com that the Richmond office prefers to have one manuscript submission at a time per person. I didn't want to break any rules by entering a new story in this competition whilst my other manuscript was on an editor's desk. I don't have the editor's direct e-mail address, but I will certainly use the email address you were so gracious to provide and ask her (Mimi Berchie) whether or not she would approve of my entering the new competition. Thank you for taking time out of your very busy schedule to answer my question. I appreciate it so much! Have a gorgeous day. Trenda Plunkett Thank you, Joanne!

I have begun a new manuscript, which I had thought to enter into this competition if it were permissible to do so…I recall having read once on eHarlequin.com that the Richmond office prefers to have one manuscript submission at a time per person. I didn’t want to break any rules by entering a new story in this competition whilst my other manuscript was on an editor’s desk.

I don’t have the editor’s direct e-mail address, but I will certainly use the email address you were so gracious to provide and ask her (Mimi Berchie) whether or not she would approve of my entering the new competition.

Thank you for taking time out of your very busy schedule to answer my question. I appreciate it so much!

Have a gorgeous day.

Trenda Plunkett

]]> By: Joanne Grant http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competition-tips-great-beginnings-great-expectations%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-51107 Joanne Grant Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:03:26 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1042#comment-51107 Hi Trenda, As you have already caught the eye of an editor (why else would she have requested your full?!), and this submission is already under consideration, we would look for a new submission for the competition. I do however suggest that you get in touch with the editor via eEditors@hmb.co.uk (or you may have her direct email address) asking for a status update and explain that you are interested in entering the competition. With best wishes Joanne Hi Trenda,

As you have already caught the eye of an editor (why else would she have requested your full?!), and this submission is already under consideration, we would look for a new submission for the competition. I do however suggest that you get in touch with the editor via eEditors@hmb.co.uk (or you may have her direct email address) asking for a status update and explain that you are interested in entering the competition.

With best wishes

Joanne

]]> By: Trenda http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competition-tips-great-beginnings-great-expectations%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-51089 Trenda Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:09:40 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1042#comment-51089 Joanne, I submitted a requested full manuscript to Richmond in January of this year. It is targeted to Modern/Presents. Would it be permissible for me to enter this new competition, or should I wait and see what the outcome is for my other manuscript? Thank you for your time. Trenda Joanne,

I submitted a requested full manuscript to Richmond in January of this year. It is targeted to Modern/Presents. Would it be permissible for me to enter this new competition, or should I wait and see what the outcome is for my other manuscript?

Thank you for your time.

Trenda

]]> By: Suzanne http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competition-tips-great-beginnings-great-expectations%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-51063 Suzanne Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:39:03 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1042#comment-51063 Hi Amy, I forgot to say thank you, sorry. It's all the excitement. :) I'm looking forward to your next segment. Thank you once again, Suzanne Hi Amy,

I forgot to say thank you, sorry. It’s all the excitement. :)
I’m looking forward to your next segment.

Thank you once again,

Suzanne

]]> By: Caroline Storer http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competition-tips-great-beginnings-great-expectations%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-50993 Caroline Storer Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:53:56 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1042#comment-50993 Hook and reel your reader in like a ten pound trout! That's what I've read in a million "How To Books", (the trout bit is mine!), for a compelling opening. But boy oh boy is that harder than it looks! I've drafted my first chapter for the HM&B comp. but now will have to do massive editing not to mention writing the synopsis. Take care. Caroline x Hook and reel your reader in like a ten pound trout! That’s what I’ve read in a million “How To Books”, (the trout bit is mine!), for a compelling opening. But boy oh boy is that harder than it looks! I’ve drafted my first chapter for the HM&B comp. but now will have to do massive editing not to mention writing the synopsis. Take care. Caroline x

]]> By: Suzanne http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competition-tips-great-beginnings-great-expectations%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-50974 Suzanne Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:41:20 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1042#comment-50974 I have studied and studied. I've gone over the tips many times. Also I've finished my first chapter and synopsis. (well actually three chapters) I'll let it sit for a few days. The tips provided are most helpful. I'm eager to get here each day to find out if there are more posts. I think feedback would be great. Something I'm looking forward to. :) Suzanne I have studied and studied. I’ve gone over the tips many times. Also I’ve finished my first chapter and synopsis. (well actually three chapters) I’ll let it sit for a few days.

The tips provided are most helpful. I’m eager to get here each day to find out if there are more posts.

I think feedback would be great. Something I’m looking forward to. :)

Suzanne

]]> By: Melanie Milburne http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competition-tips-great-beginnings-great-expectations%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-50973 Melanie Milburne Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:29:00 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1042#comment-50973 Good luck to all you aspiring writers with this one. I think contests are a great way to hone your talent. The feedback is so useful. I didn't enter many in my day other than the ones run by RWA in Australia but I found the judges comments really boosted my confidence. Grabbing the reader's attention is one of the things I look for in mainstream books as well as romance. Some authors lure you in and others have you gripped by the throat in the opening sentence. You don't have time in a category novel to waste time and space with backstory. I often have it in while I am writing as a sort of map but then I cull it later on my subsequent edits. Happy writing everyone! Melanie Good luck to all you aspiring writers with this one. I think contests are a great way to hone your talent. The feedback is so useful. I didn’t enter many in my day other than the ones run by RWA in Australia but I found the judges comments really boosted my confidence.
Grabbing the reader’s attention is one of the things I look for in mainstream books as well as romance. Some authors lure you in and others have you gripped by the throat in the opening sentence.
You don’t have time in a category novel to waste time and space with backstory. I often have it in while I am writing as a sort of map but then I cull it later on my subsequent edits.
Happy writing everyone!
Melanie

]]> By: Susanna http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competition-tips-great-beginnings-great-expectations%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-50965 Susanna Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:43:50 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1042#comment-50965 I JUST GOT THE CALL FOR THE HARLEQUIN PRESENTS WRITING COMPETITION FOR 2009 AND I WON!!!! Just kidding...but it did get your attention, didn't it? You are so right Joanne about the difficulties of grabbing a reader's attention at the beginning. It is the most agonizing part for me. Once I get started, it becomes easier, but these tips you've provided are wonderful. Thank you so much, Karen in California I JUST GOT THE CALL FOR THE HARLEQUIN PRESENTS WRITING COMPETITION FOR 2009 AND I WON!!!!

Just kidding…but it did get your attention, didn’t it?

You are so right Joanne about the difficulties of grabbing a reader’s attention at the beginning. It is the most agonizing part for me. Once I get started, it becomes easier, but these tips you’ve provided are wonderful.

Thank you so much,

Karen in California

]]> By: Joanne http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competition-tips-great-beginnings-great-expectations%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-50964 Joanne Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:52:49 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1042#comment-50964 Thanks Joanne - that's really helpful :) Thanks Joanne – that’s really helpful :)

]]> By: Kerrin http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competition-tips-great-beginnings-great-expectations%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-50951 Kerrin Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:35:22 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1042#comment-50951 Wow, thanks for the great advice and guidance! It is good to know i am on the right track. Now i just have to figure out what to leave out and put to in the first chapter. And i now need to figure out how much to write and when to stop...oh this could go on for forever but at least i know the start is how it should be! Wow, thanks for the great advice and guidance! It is good to know i am on the right track. Now i just have to figure out what to leave out and put to in the first chapter. And i now need to figure out how much to write and when to stop…oh this could go on for forever but at least i know the start is how it should be!

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