By Harlequin Senior Executive Editor Birgit Davis-Todd
Welcome to So You Think You Can Write! Harlequin and Mills & Boon are searching globally to find new authors for all our series. Always wanted to write a romance novel? Be sure to enter our Writing Contest. One lucky winner will be offered a book publishing contract with the world’s leader in romance fiction!
Five Day Online Conference
Join us September 16 – 20 for our 24/7 online conference AKA Harlequin’s boot camp for writers. Exercise those writing muscles with an intensive workout packed with blogs, podcasts, live chats, writing challenges, Twitter events, author interviews and more. Stop by our ever popular 50 Editors forum to say hello to the Harlequin editors and ask lots of questions. Check the daily Calendar for topics and start times for all conference events.
SYTYCW Writing Contest Details
Beginning September 23 you can submit the First Chapter (5000 words max) of your romance story plus a 100-Word Pitch to the series you have targeted. The pitch should outline the concept, plot, characters, conflict and setting. You must target one of our 20 eligible series. Last day for submissions is October 9.
New this year:We’re accepting submissions to Harlequin Shivers, an exciting new series in our Harlequin Digital First program.
New this year:All First Chapter submissions will be posted immediately for everyone to read and add comments in the space provided. Submit your chapter right away so more people—including the editors–will see it!
Top 50 Finalists & Top Ten Finalists
In mid-October Harlequin editors in New York, Toronto and the UK will select the Top 50 best chapters from all the submissions received and request full manuscripts from those writers. They’ll read the full Top 50 manuscripts and narrow the field to the Top 10 manuscripts, which will then be posted for voting.
New this year: More finalists in each round, which means even more opportunities for writers to have their manuscripts read by the editors!
Public Voting: November 12 – 25
Yes, that’s you! Read all 10 complete manuscripts and vote for your favorite.
New this year: Spend time with our Author Mentors & Editors who have teamed up with each of the 10 finalists to generate excitement.
New this year: You can post comments about each of our 10 finalists’ manuscripts in the space provided.
Grand Prize Winner Date: December 4
We’ll announce the name of the contest winner—and lucky recipient of a series publishing contract with Harlequin!
The Last Word
Why do we offer this conference and contest each year? Harlequin is always looking for new writers for our many programs.
1500: the minimum number of books published a year
750: the minimum number of contracts offered a year
500: the minimum number of authors under contract now
4: the number of books an editor needs to contract each business day
1: You—our next new author!
