How to write for Modern Romance

One who dont know about it before may get useful information from this post , This one seems to me different type of post......well i wanna say that The way how u tried to explain some posts at here seems to me different 642-383 there are certainly different posts at here,but i didnt find any post related to projects like 70-648 .if someone have information about it,do tell me!Well any updates related to this post?if yes than do tell me!actually i came here while surfing net to get data related to projects of 1Y0-A08 and find this post different one...Is there anyone having information about 642-357 if yes than do tell me!...any updates?if yes than do tell me!

Thanks so much for directing me to the rest of the masterclass. I've now read all the entries and they're brilliant!

x

Hi there - have recently joined the Community and am thrilled with it. Fab content. So helpful. I've read the first part about the alpha male but can you tell me when the next part will be available? It may already be somewhere on the site but Im still finding my way around ....

Thanks so much!

Will you be posting anything about writing for the Historical line, to help would-be historical writers?

Happy writing!

I know how I feel when someone tells me they like my work. Which is why I always say if I've liked someone else's.

Thank you for the answers to my questions. I am aware that I must focus on the hero and heroine of the book and not spend too much time on the secondary characters, and I haven't. Just enough to let you know they are there, waiting in the wings. The romance is the be all, but there is a linked back story that I'd like to see go over the four books, which was why i asked.

I have to say as a reader, I love the books that are linked, such as Michelle's MacEgan brothers or BJ Daniels' Whitehorse series, or Joanna Wayne's Collingsworths. I get to know a little about the characters from their cameo appearances in book one and then I want to see them in book two, as well as saying hi to the hero and heroine from book one when they pop up in book two. I actively look out for the next book in the series.

But I do get tremendously frustrated with series that are written by more than one author - there was a great series based around a group who played Texas Hold Em last year. The five books were written by five different authors, and the trouble was, there was no way of knowing which authors were writing for the series or which titles to look out for. I nearly missed two of the books and found them by chance in a charity shop, months after their release dates. It might have helped if, at the beginning of the book there was a list of other titles in this series, but there usually isn't.  If they're by an author I've enjoyed, I notice the name and look carefully for more. If they're by a different author, how am I supposed to know?

Michelle, I  have read all your MacEgan books. In fact, I usually reserve Sunday afternoons for reading, and only today i read "Her Warrior Slave" and loved every single page of it.

I sold my first book and it was part of a series of brothers.  However, each book was its own entity and could stand alone.  That's the key--you're not guaranteed that you'll sell all of them, so just be careful with it.  But it can be done. ;)

Also, mine were historical, not Modern.  The thing is, each book is judged independently.  There's no harm in writing brothers' books, though.  I probably wouldn't mention it though.  Let them fall in love with that first book and tell them AFTER you've sold it.

Hello. Not sure if this is the place to put this, but I have a question. I am writing my first Mills and Boon story, and enjoying it very much, though it's one of the hardest things I've ever done. As I was writing the first story, I realised that there were a number of other characters whose stories also want to be told, and I'd like to write them one after the other, in a mini series of four books, in the way writers like Joanna Wayne have done. What I'd like to know is, do Mills and Boon like first time authors to do this? And if it is acceptable, do i say this is book one of four when I send it for consideration?

Thanks for the advice Kate, currently reading through you blog and am almost overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things I'm learning :)

Also, and I don't want to sound daft here but theres a part in the blog that basically describes the different Alpha's in each genre. I was just wondering and you'll have to excuse me for being a little clueless here, but what is the difference between 'Modern Heat' and 'Modern Romance'? I thought they were pretty much the same...

Thanks

Natalie 

Hi!

I'm new to the community so *waves at everyone*. I've actually just set about planning my own story and was just hoping if there was anywhere I could get more information on creating the 'Alpha Hero'. I don't want to go ahead with creating him then realise he's completely unrealistic :)

So any help you guys could give me would be great. Thanks 

Natalie

xxx

Romy and Rosie:

There is a thread for the Romance line: http://community.millsandboon.co.uk/forums/cafe-social/simply-series/romance

You are very welcome to ask any and all questions there - several of the authors hang out and I know they'd do their best.  Maybe not the equivalent of a master class by our lovely editors, but we'd definitely have a go at answering your questions on what makes a Romance a...Romance!  :-)

Donna

Sorry if this question is in the wrong place, but I'm not sure where else to put it.

I've now read a great deal about writing for the Modern line and am mulling it all (and writing stuff) - that is, IHP and about the alpha hero and various blogs etc as well as here - but I'd like to read the equivalent for the Romance line.

I can't seem to find the equivalent, though. I'm sure I must be searching incorrectly or something. Pointers in the right direction would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

Rosie, the method Janet suggested works well, especially if you want something specific. The other way I use a lot when I want to find those posts is to choose the category "writing contest" from the list in the right hand column. That brings up all the posts related to the three writing contests they've hosted on I Hearts. There's a lot of information there!

Good Morning - I'm new here and am having difficulty finding my way around. Following Jackie's suggestion, I went to the I Heart Presents site, but faced with loads of archive dates I haven't the faintest idea how to find the contest entries.

I'd be grateful if you could tell me how to find them. I don't have enough life left to simply work my way through everything... - although I know I would find it fascinating if I did...

I'm sure there's something simple that I'm missing. Maybe I don't have enough caffeine in my system yet...

Jackie wrote:

For anyone who is going to be entering the new Modern/Modern Heat contest, I would recommend reading the entries from previous contests, plus the editorial feedback that was posted about them. These should be available in the I Heart Presents archives.

The editors are all lovely business women but sometimes they are human and a response goes missing or get delayed.

You do need to follow up with the eeditors email if you have not received a response within 20 weeks. The vast majority of responses are sent out before that time. Include your reference number, title of ms and date sent. Keep it short and business like, you simply want to check on status. It is not the time to pitch another ms or talk about your dog.

 It is what an agent would do for you if an agent had submitted on your behalf. Without an agent, you must be your own.

And I see a number of comments about Jenny posting more  parts. There are quite a number of parts to the masterclass contained in this thread, but I believe the class has finished.

FWIW

Michelle S

positive thinking Ally! I really hope you'll be sharing your good news with us soon...it's so nerve-wracking isn't it?

hi Jenny

Thanks for the tip on writing the alpha male as i find it difficult to create a worthy male, its easy to create a good female but the male.

i'll try writing down what his character etc and see what happens. Can't wait to read your next piece of advice.

Ally, the best thing to do is to email the editors using the generic email address.  Give your name and the reference number you should have got with your confirmation letter. It may take them a week or two, but you should get a response.

J

18 weeks and counting! eek...I'm going to focus on my competition entry for now to take my mind off the lack of response...I've been reading both your blogs, so entertaining and insightful!

Well done on sending off that partial- fingers crossed for you! I'm no expert, just another hopeful, but I gather response times can vary- anything from two weeks to quite a few months! The main thing is to make sure you get an email or letter saying they have received the submission- that usually comes through with a week or two. If you don't get that, you may want to email just to check it arrived safely.

I'm getting blank pages too Mulberry! Just hit the back button and have faith it's happened rather than refreshing :-)

Yes, I know I am shouting! This site is driving me mad tonight! Sorry about all the duplicate posts. When I try to post, I just get a blank page. For a very long time. I left it at least five minutes at one stage. Then I go back in, and the post isn't there, so I try again. And again! Then suddenly a whole string of duplicate posts appear.

That's a good suggestion- they are fun to read anyway, and the editors comments are sooooooo helpful! For anyone targeting Presents /Modern, the Instant Seduction contest from earlier last year is worth a look too. Plus there's loads of good advice from the editors and published writers.

I'm sure there should be a specific Modern thread somewhere where we can discuss the contest, but I couldn't find it!

Hello Jenny,

Could you let me know if there are going to be any more tips for writing.  I enjoyed 'Living with and loving the Alpha Male' and wondered when the next installment can be expected.

Regards

Annamarie