Comments on: Harlequin Presents Writing Competition 2009: Editor Chat Transcript

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:20:40 +0000

Hi Sally,
Last I heard there were about 60 entries so far, but the editors expect most to come in during the last week.
~Amy

By: Sally Clements

Sally Clements — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:06:40 +0000

So, with not long to go, how big is the pile of entries now?

By: Cat

Cat — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:36:15 +0000

Many thanks for that response, Amy.
Actually, I really am having too much fun for it to be legal, just writing my entry
Just wondering what the chances are that this much fun could lead to a career…

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:53:22 +0000

Hi Cat,

1) For this contest, I would recommend you read the synopses of past writing contest winners we’ve posted on I Heart Presents — obviously, the editors liked them Here are some links (winning first chapters were also posted, so take a search around the blog for posts under the “writing contest” category for more. Some old posts have weird characters in them from old coding, sorry about that).

http://www.iheartpresents.com/2008/04/writing-contest-winning-synopsis/

http://www.iheartpresents.com/2008/04/synopsis-the-heiresss-instant-seduction/

http://www.iheartpresents.com/2008/04/writing-competition-synopsis/

http://www.iheartpresents.com/2008/11/lucy-robertss-winning-synopsis/

http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/03/feel-the-heat-runner-up-rachael-blair%e2%80%99s-synopsis/

http://www.iheartpresents.com/2009/02/feel-the-heat-contest-jackie-coatess-synopsis/

http://www.iheartpresents.com/2008/12/feel-the-heat-runner-up-felicity-rogers-synopsis/

2) It varies — I think 3 or 4 authors have sold following writing contests but that includes winners, runners up, and people who didn’t even win but piqued the editors’ interest enough to get a request for more. So there is a chance you can sell without winning; and winning itself isn’t a guarantee you will sell. Try not to think about the numbers — just do your best and see what happens
~Amy

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:43:11 +0000

Hi Tereasa,

One of the chat questions from above is “Can they be set at multiple locations, not all of them exotic?” and Joanne’s answer was “JG: Multiple locations are fine, Betty, however the overall feel should be of escapism. As I have answered elsewhere, setting a book entirely in a rural area is not really Presents – we want glamour and sophistication!”

One of the hallmarks of Presents is the glamourous settings — be in Europe, fictional kingdoms, or the more luxurious parts of someone’s home country (think Park Avenue or Hollywood in the US; a fantastic beach house in Australia; an English country estate, etc.). Harlequin has many lines based around small-town USA that might be a better fit for your style.

Hope that helps,
~Amy

By: Tereasa Bellew

Tereasa Bellew — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:44:18 +0000

Thanks for all the great answers. I have one more. Would the entry be considered if the setting is wrong? Suppose you have a great story, voice and characters but the setting is small town USA; is there still a possibility of winning/placing in the contest? Of should the story match all the guidelines for Modern Heat?
Thanks! Looking forward to your answer.

By: Cat

Cat — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:55:38 +0000

I have 2 questions, and I hope these haven’t been answered in a different thread and I missed them

1) I was wondering about the synopsis. I saw the sample synopsis at http://www.eharlequin.com/store/20060406001/images/pdf/SampleSynopsis.pdf and noticed how it had a literary style rather than the simple tell-the-story type that is often suggested in websites of writing tips. Would a more ‘literary’ style work better for this contest?

2) Just wondering– how many of the winners/runners up in these contests end up getting published in Harlequin? That is, once the editor has worked with the author, does the author now stand a good chance to get published in Harlequin?

Again, sorry if I missed the answers to these questions!
Thanks!

By: Caroline

Caroline — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:42:53 +0000

Thanks from me as well – a lot of the questions I had wondered about were answered! I really enjoyed the on-line chat – once I got used to the protocol. I put it down to “first time nerves”. Take care. Caroline x

By: Gail Fuller

Gail Fuller — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:34:17 +0000

Thanks again for answering so many of our questions.

By: Lynn Raye Harris

Lynn Raye Harris — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:10:43 +0000

Seeing that stack of entries gives me chills all over again. Good chills.