If you’ve ever wanted to write for one of Harlequin/Mills&Boon’s romance categories, hopefully you’ve checked out their website and blog aptly titled “Write for Harlequin”. Below is a blog post I recently wrote for them on the top five things I wish I’d known starting out. Hope you will find them helpful!
1. Stick to what the editors want
The editors are looking for fresh voices and takes. However, as I soon learned, they’re very particular about what that means to them. Thankfully, none of it is a secret—carefully read the guidelines and stick to them, with your own original voice. If the category calls for books set in North America, don’t set yours in Australia. If the editors specifically want a word count of 55,000, make sure you’re within a few words of that. If you want to try something outside those boundaries, that’s not a “fresh take”, it’s a rejection.
2. Multi-hooks are your friend
If you’re just starting out and like me had no idea what a multi-hook even was… It’s stacking a bunch of hooks together. Hint: it’s also non-optional. For example, in my first published Love Inspired Suspense book I stacked “Alaska”, “K-9”, “child in danger”, “law enforcement hero” together, and added the trope “woman in peril”. Each of these were on the editor’s wish list, by the way. It is rare for a modern category romance to get published without multi-hooks. So, embrace them and find a few that you love—that are also on the editor’s wish list of your preferred category.
3. Structure, structure, structure
While some people (not me!) are talented enough to build a house without plans, they still include all the elements of a house: foundation, walls, roof, and so on. The same is true for your novel. Whether you’re a “pantser”, a “plotter” (guilty!), or somewhere in between, you’re not exempt from submitting a full synopsis with a clear structure. The synopsis will quickly reveal to the editor whether you understand structure, before they invest in your story. So be sure to own at least two good books on the subject—and read and apply their wisdom!
4. Category is not a formula
Often a category romance is seen as a formula, that writers “just need to crack” to get published. Turns out, that is simply not true. While each category has its own emphasis and guidelines, there is room for a variety of stories, voices, and journeys. In the category I write, the six novels published each month offer an abundance of originality. Which is why readers read all six, month after month. This freedom within limits is one of the main reasons I love writing category romance.
5. Your book is not your baby
Unless you’re a rare exception, the first book that you have lovingly worked on for many years (face it, we all have a least one of those!) is unlikely to get published. That’s okay, and it’s probably for the best. I clung to my first novel like it was my baby, and it became a millstone around my neck. Learn from my mistake—see your first novel as an important stepping stone on the way to publication and, to quote Elsa, let it go.