Are you participating in #MedicalRomanceIncludesYou, our upcoming Twitter and Facebook pitch events for Harlequin Medical Romance? Then be sure to join our Editor Q&A on March 5th at 11 am ET to ask the Harlequin editors all your questions ahead of pitch day! Join the Write for Harlequin Facebook Community in advance to participate in the Editor Q&A! More details on the pitch event below!
Have you been dreaming of captivating readers with a pulse-racing medical romance? Do you have a doctor ready to swoop a midwife off their feet? Or perhaps, it’s a tale of a paramedic who reunites with their surgeon ex for one night of passion…with consequences! We are looking for Medical Romance books from underrepresented authors that will immerse readers in the drama of the medical world. Underrepresented voices includes, but is not limited to, authors who identify as Black, Indigenous or people of color (BIPOC), members of LGBTQ+ communities, marginalized ethnic and religious cultures, and people with disabilities and neurodiversity.
This is an opportunity to showcase your story idea to the Harlequin Medical Romance editors and maybe get some helpful feedback from Harlequin editors. You may even become our newest author!
The focus of the story must be on the development of the central romantic relationship against the backdrop of a contemporary medical setting. All of our stories feature dynamic and dedicated medical professionals who work together in a medical setting and present a range of sensualities from warm and tender to intense and passionate.
The romance writing and reading community includes people of all backgrounds, communities and cultures who share an enjoyment of stories that celebrate love and happiness. Harlequin is committed to bringing readers a wide range of stories that reflect our diverse society.
#MedicalRomanceIncludesYou is happening on Friday, March 26, 2021 from 8am to 8pm GMT. Here’s everything you need to know:
Hannah Rossiter from the Harlequin Medical Romance editorial team will be monitoring the #MedicalRomanceIncludesYou hashtag on Twitter for book pitches (280 characters max) from own voices authors. Follow Hannah Rossiter on Twitter at @Hannah_ER24 for updates and tips leading up to the #MedicalRomanceIncludesYou Pitch event.
Megan Haslam from the Harlequin Medical Romance editorial team will be monitoring the #MedicalRomanceIncludesYou event on the Write for Harlequin Facebook group for aspiring romance writers. Join the group on Facebook, select “going” to the #MedicalRomanceIncludesYou event and post your pitch (500 characters max) to the event “Discussion” area on March 26.
If Hannah or Megan give your pitch a “like” please send your first chapter and story synopsis for review by submitting via Harlequin.Submittable.com to the Harlequin Medical Romance line. Be sure to include the hashtag #MedicalRomanceIncludesYou” in the subject line, and make sure your submission is long enough. One chapter should be about 3000-5000 words.
All submissions will be read and responded to within 60 days.
Please choose only one social platform, Twitter OR Facebook, to post your pitch. Don’t worry, Hannah and Megan will be reading every single pitch, so as long as you post it once, they’ll see it! Hannah and Megan may, in some cases, respond to your pitch after the 8am to 8pm GMT entry window has closed.
Join our Editor Q&A on March 5 at 11 am ET in the Write for Harlequin Facebook Community to ask the editors all your questions ahead of pitch day! Be sure to join our Facebook group in advance.
You’ll find the writing guidelines and word counts for Harlequin’s Medical Romance series here. There is lots of information on the Write for Harlequin website to guide you on what the Medical Romance team are looking for, so check it out here.
These Twitter and Facebook pitch events are specifically looking for underrepresented voices who love to write Medical Romance. We welcome submissions from all authors at any time to Harlequin Medical via Submittable.
We can’t wait to see your pitches!
The Harlequin Medical Team
6 replies on “CALLING UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES: WE WANT TO SEE YOUR MEDICAL ROMANCE!”
Hi, can we submit more than one pitch?
Hi Tamires,
Yes, you can submit more than one pitch.
We hope to spot your pitch on March 26!
Warmest wishes,
Hannah
Hi. How long should the synopsis be for the Medical line, and should it be single-spaced or double-spaced? Thanks!
Hi Kimberley,
We look for a synopsis that is around 3 to 5 pages long and single spaced. We also have this handy post on writing a synopsis for your Harlequin submission which I hope might be helpful:
https://www.writeforharlequin.com/the-short-and-sweet-on-writing-a-synopsis/
Warmest wishes,
Hannah
Hi!
I wanted to know what classifies as a marginalized ethnic or religious culture? Can you give examples?
Would Jewish be marginalized? Would atheist?
Thanks!
Hi Stefani, thanks for asking this question. Many authors ask and we include this information in our FAQs: Underrepresented voices includes, but is not limited to, authors who identify as Black, Indigenous or people of color (BIPOC), members of LGBTQ+ communities, marginalized ethnic and religious cultures, and people with disabilities and neurodiversity.
We welcome more own voices stories with Jewish characters or another romance story you’re interested in writing.
Thank you, Carol
Comments ( 7 )
I spent the entire shutdown working. Had no time to wind down. I didn’t see my son much when school shutdown. My one co worker was told to stay home for 3 weeks so I picked up her hours. This year has been really crappy.
Ugh, Janell. Here’s hoping the rest of your summer is better.
Thanks for the info, Carol! Everyone is different in how they deal with the shutdown! I stay at home all the time since I don’t work so I haven’t been too effected but my shopping and errands sure have been effected!
Valri, I’ve been doing most of my shopping online. My local Target is still low on some items – mostly cleaning supplies. Grocery store is pretty much back to normal. Most of the dining in our town is outdoor. I can’t imagine have school-age kids!
Wow–getting your creative process on track must have been daunting–especially with “extra-large dog” glad to have you home. You don’t like coffee–I love coffee and have enjoyed my fortifying 2 cups in the morning even more than usual! How as COVID affected your story lines and characterizations? Best Wishes for all releases!
Interesting question, Virginia. You’ll have to tell me if the tone of my “COVID” books changed any! LOL
Life has changed so much! My dad passed Feb 2. The assisted living facility my folks were at went into hardcore lockdown the beginning of March. Mom couldn’t leave her apartment for 4 months! She was on the third floor, Will be 89 in two months & doesn’t use the phone. My husband and I remodeled the lower level completely and moved her in with us July 1. What a life change and difficult transition for the 3 of us! But we’re working thru it!