Category: Writing Advice

Latest Posts

A woman in a white tank top writes in a notebook with a dark blue gradient overtop which reads
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On Writing Love Inspired Suspense

Today’s the day! You’ve decided to write your very own Love Inspired Suspense manuscript. But… where do you start? How […]

Posted on: July 5, 2023
Two chili peppers intertwined on a black background. There are flames rising from the bottom. The text in the lower right reads How Spicy Is Your Story?
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Heat Levels: How Spicy Is Your Romance?

It’s usually simple to decide where you should place your story with Harlequin. If you’ve written a book about Vikings, […]

Posted on: June 14, 2023
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Pacing in High-Stakes Stories: How to Sustain Suspense without Losing Romance

Every plot needs to move at a good pace to keep readers interested. But in suspenseful stories, pacing is especially […]

Posted on: May 10, 2023
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The Do’s and Don’ts of a Revise and Resubmit

If you’re reading this post, you’ve likely put in the time to complete a draft of your manuscript and taken […]

Posted on: April 19, 2023
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Spotlight on K9s: Writing about Dogs

As you may have noticed, dogs are a very popular element in many of our Harlequin novels. These furry friends […]

Posted on: April 5, 2023
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How to submit to Harlequin using Submittable – a guide for new authors

So, your manuscript is done and you’ve prepared your synopsis and cover letter. You’re ready to hit “submit”! What’s next? […]

Posted on: March 28, 2023
Young Woman working from home who is sitting on the floor in front of the couch.
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Hooks Vs Tropes: What’s the Difference?

This post has been updated from its previously published version “Hooks” and “tropes” are two words that category romance readers […]

Posted on: March 17, 2023
A piece of paper with a red heart drawn in pastel. Behind the paper there is a box of pastels waiting to be used.
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Color Coding Your First Draft for Editing

Happy new year! It’s time for new beginnings. If you’re working on a new manuscript (or if you want to […]

Posted on: January 16, 2023
An open book, heart cut outs on top of the book.
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Popular Trends in Romance

Whether you’re a longtime romance writer or new at it, you are always on the lookout for the latest trends. […]

Posted on: November 1, 2022
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Tropes Spotlight: Opposites Attract

“Tropes”, one of those factors that category romance editors are always searching when reading a manuscript. But, what is a […]

Posted on: September 26, 2022