Comments on: Writing Competition Tips: Don’t Let the Plot Get in the Way of the Story http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competiton-tips-don%e2%80%99t-let-the-plot-get-in-the-way-of-the-story/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:28:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Lorna S. http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competiton-tips-don%e2%80%99t-let-the-plot-get-in-the-way-of-the-story/comment-page-1/#comment-58610 Lorna S. Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:18:41 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1066#comment-58610 I had been putting together some ideas for a manuscript, and then came across the offer of a fast track submission for medical romance. The deadline was the next night, so I stayed up a couple of nights to do a first chapter and synopsis and mailed it a few minutes before the deadline! Sadly, I must have made a midnight error and typed the address incorrectly, since the next morning I had a message failed notice. I resubmitted it anyway: will it still be looked at? Or shall I write two more chapters and re-submit in the normal way? I know a late script must be irritating, if you have been inundated already! I had been putting together some ideas for a manuscript, and then came across the offer of a fast track submission for medical romance. The deadline was the next night, so I stayed up a couple of nights to do a first chapter and synopsis and mailed it a few minutes before the deadline! Sadly, I must have made a midnight error and typed the address incorrectly, since the next morning I had a message failed notice. I resubmitted it anyway: will it still be looked at? Or shall I write two more chapters and re-submit in the normal way? I know a late script must be irritating, if you have been inundated already!

]]> By: Anne http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competiton-tips-don%e2%80%99t-let-the-plot-get-in-the-way-of-the-story/comment-page-1/#comment-52618 Anne Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:52:33 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1066#comment-52618 Im sorry to say but in Harlequin presents it is impossible to write a book for you guys without having one of these cliches: 1. A rich dominating male lead(most commonly a billionaire) who always has his way with women. Oh and have you noticed that there are almost no male characters who are virgins? 2. The meek little virgin girl who thinks she can resist the temptations of the dominating male. If the female lead has a child she is either the aunt of the child, or the child is under the age of 5. those cliches are in EVERY Harlequin presents novel, so it's impossible to write an uncliched novel for Harlequin. Im sorry to say but in Harlequin presents it is impossible to write a book for you guys without having one of these cliches:
1. A rich dominating male lead(most commonly a billionaire) who always has his way with women. Oh and have you noticed that there are almost no male characters who are virgins?
2. The meek little virgin girl who thinks she can resist the temptations of the dominating male. If the female lead has a child she is either the aunt of the child, or the child is under the age of 5.

those cliches are in EVERY Harlequin presents novel, so it’s impossible to write an uncliched novel for Harlequin.

]]> By: Lorna http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competiton-tips-don%e2%80%99t-let-the-plot-get-in-the-way-of-the-story/comment-page-1/#comment-51616 Lorna Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:11:05 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1066#comment-51616 Lauren Oh my. Your literary references are terrifying me. I vaguely remember the Last Duchess - about a painting? And I've made the mistake of starting to read Blaze books again too; with 1st person narrative, crime scenes and erectile dysfunction. Help! There just aren't enough Modern Heat romances published each month to satisfy me. Lauren
Oh my. Your literary references are terrifying me. I vaguely remember the Last Duchess – about a painting? And I’ve made the mistake of starting to read Blaze books again too; with 1st person narrative, crime scenes and erectile dysfunction. Help! There just aren’t enough Modern Heat romances published each month to satisfy me.

]]> By: Lauren Malmsteen http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competiton-tips-don%e2%80%99t-let-the-plot-get-in-the-way-of-the-story/comment-page-1/#comment-51278 Lauren Malmsteen Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:02:16 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1066#comment-51278 Trenda, Yes I agree that the purpose of the letter is to attract attention. Actually, thinking about it, if the webpage had said "This is the sort of stuff we want," then just about every manuscript on the poor editor's desk would be exactly the same! Lorna, I agree that striking the right balance between character and plot is tricky, but I think it can be done. I've been re-reading Browning's "My Last Duchess" (I'm sure you can find it on the web) and I've been looking at how he managed to get so much into that poem - when on the face of it it's all first person narrative! I've also been looking at Beowulf as a template for my hero. What I got from that is the idea of raw, masculine energy. Similarly for the close of Homer's Odyssey, in which the hero proves he is the rightful heir. I didn't want to do a "yet another version of Mr Rochester!" But I think my main influence has been re-reading Byron's Don Juan. One has to remember that Don Juan is a satirical poem, which cuts through the cliches and conventions of romance in order to rewrite them. Trenda,

Yes I agree that the purpose of the letter is to attract attention. Actually, thinking about it, if the webpage had said “This is the sort of stuff we want,” then just about every manuscript on the poor editor’s desk would be exactly the same!

Lorna,

I agree that striking the right balance between character and plot is tricky, but I think it can be done. I’ve been re-reading Browning’s “My Last Duchess” (I’m sure you can find it on the web) and I’ve been looking at how he managed to get so much into that poem – when on the face of it it’s all first person narrative!

I’ve also been looking at Beowulf as a template for my hero. What I got from that is the idea of raw, masculine energy. Similarly for the close of Homer’s Odyssey, in which the hero proves he is the rightful heir. I didn’t want to do a “yet another version of Mr Rochester!” But I think my main influence has been re-reading Byron’s Don Juan. One has to remember that Don Juan is a satirical poem, which cuts through the cliches and conventions of romance in order to rewrite them.

]]> By: Trenda http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competiton-tips-don%e2%80%99t-let-the-plot-get-in-the-way-of-the-story/comment-page-1/#comment-51252 Trenda Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:10:12 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1066#comment-51252 Lorna, I love secret baby stories too! :-) Lorna, I love secret baby stories too! :-)

]]> By: Lorna http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competiton-tips-don%e2%80%99t-let-the-plot-get-in-the-way-of-the-story/comment-page-1/#comment-51249 Lorna Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:10:44 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1066#comment-51249 Every snippet of advice on these pages has been so helpful. I suppose my biggest confusion in the Modern Heat series is how most books have a lot more plot than in the Modern series - and I have to say I love them for it, especially the Australian ones. But recent advice urges us to be wary of too much plot. Balancing a character driven story with a need for a racy plot is definitely going to be my biggest problem. And I so want a cliched secret baby too! Every snippet of advice on these pages has been so helpful. I suppose my biggest confusion in the Modern Heat series is how most books have a lot more plot than in the Modern series – and I have to say I love them for it, especially the Australian ones. But recent advice urges us to be wary of too much plot.
Balancing a character driven story with a need for a racy plot is definitely going to be my biggest problem. And I so want a cliched secret baby too!

]]> By: Mulberry http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competiton-tips-don%e2%80%99t-let-the-plot-get-in-the-way-of-the-story/comment-page-1/#comment-51234 Mulberry Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:12:49 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1066#comment-51234 Mary Anne, love that 12 Step Idea! I'll stand up and admit it- "I'm Jane and I'm a Head Hopper." Mary Anne, love that 12 Step Idea!

I’ll stand up and admit it- “I’m Jane and I’m a Head Hopper.”

]]> By: Trenda http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competiton-tips-don%e2%80%99t-let-the-plot-get-in-the-way-of-the-story/comment-page-1/#comment-51203 Trenda Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:34:29 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1066#comment-51203 Lauren, Much of the insight into a romance novel's hero and heroine would be provided within the synopsis, and of course in the opening chapters. My understanding has been that a query letter's purpose is to quickly and effectively grab the editor's attention by very briefly summarizing the storyline, introducing the primary characters and their individual motivations, as well as conveying your own special writing voice. Because each writer's voice is different, the personality and nuances of her/his voice will naturally come across in a way that is unique to her/him. I'm not certain which line the sample letter would best represent, but it seems to remind me of the tone and "feel" of the Silhouette Desire line. Gotta love those sexy Texan cowboys! ;-) The purpose of the sample letter is to provide us writers with a template to guide us in writing our own query letters. I could be mistaken, but I don't think it is based on an actual manuscript. :-) Happy writing! Trenda Lauren,

Much of the insight into a romance novel’s hero and heroine would be provided within the synopsis, and of course in the opening chapters.

My understanding has been that a query letter’s purpose is to quickly and effectively grab the editor’s attention by very briefly summarizing the storyline, introducing the primary characters and their individual motivations, as well as conveying your own special writing voice.

Because each writer’s voice is different, the personality and nuances of her/his voice will naturally come across in a way that is unique to her/him. I’m not certain which line the sample letter would best represent, but it seems to remind me of the tone and “feel” of the Silhouette Desire line. Gotta love those sexy Texan cowboys! ;-)

The purpose of the sample letter is to provide us writers with a template to guide us in writing our own query letters. I could be mistaken, but I don’t think it is based on an actual manuscript. :-)

Happy writing!

Trenda

]]> By: Texas gal http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competiton-tips-don%e2%80%99t-let-the-plot-get-in-the-way-of-the-story/comment-page-1/#comment-51201 Texas gal Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:19:48 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1066#comment-51201 Being from Texas, I loved the pitch. By the way, Lauren, I believe it was written correctly as "gal". Just wanted to say Thanks for all of the wonderful writing tips. I can't wait for more. Being from Texas, I loved the pitch. By the way, Lauren, I believe it was written correctly as “gal”.

Just wanted to say Thanks for all of the wonderful writing tips. I can’t wait for more.

]]> By: Lauren Malmsteen http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/08/writing-competiton-tips-don%e2%80%99t-let-the-plot-get-in-the-way-of-the-story/comment-page-1/#comment-51180 Lauren Malmsteen Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:39:16 +0000 http://www.iheartpresents.com/?p=1066#comment-51180 Just to follow up on Tangiles's point about knowing what is and isn't cliche. I had another look at the specimen letter you have up at eHarlequin, and the pitch raised a few alarm bells! "Set in the Texas countryside, my guarded-heart rodeo-riding hero is a hot-blooded alpha male who was abandoned at birth by his mother and raised by a foster family. My heroine is a city gal reporter with a fear of intimacy who has never even seen a cow up close, but is assigned to interview the hero for a feature article. There’s plenty of tension, romance and hot boiling passion that threatens to set the pages on fire and burn up the manuscript in your hands." Apart from the spelling mistake ("girl" not "gal", surely?), we don't get anything much on the hero, and we're supposed to know that he's alpha-male without any evidence. I mean, Ernest in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Ernest was also raised by foster parents, but he's pretty obviously gay isn't he? It's the last line which jars though because I could equally well write: "My book is the best thing since sliced bread!" But just because I say my story delivers doesn't indicate that my writing style contains those things which imply passion, tension and romance,now does it? Would it not help to fix this, say use a query letter from one of your better authors? Just to follow up on Tangiles’s point about knowing what is and isn’t cliche. I had another look at the specimen letter you have up at eHarlequin, and the pitch raised a few alarm bells!

“Set in the Texas countryside, my guarded-heart rodeo-riding hero is a hot-blooded alpha male who was abandoned at birth by his mother and raised by a foster family. My heroine is a city gal reporter with a fear of intimacy who has never even seen a cow up close, but is assigned to interview the hero for a feature article. There’s plenty of tension, romance and hot boiling passion that threatens to set the pages on fire and burn up the manuscript in your hands.”

Apart from the spelling mistake (“girl” not “gal”, surely?), we don’t get anything much on the hero, and we’re supposed to know that he’s alpha-male without any evidence. I mean, Ernest in Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Ernest was also raised by foster parents, but he’s pretty obviously gay isn’t he? It’s the last line which jars though because I could equally well write: “My book is the best thing since sliced bread!” But just because I say my story delivers doesn’t indicate that my writing style contains those things which imply passion, tension and romance,now does it?

Would it not help to fix this, say use a query letter from one of your better authors?

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