April 23rd. If you haven’t already, it’s a day to mark down in your diary. Why? It’s #DVpit day! The Harlequin Editorial Team can’t wait. We jump, every year, at the chance to find fresh and exciting new voices.
So, we’re here, today, to give you the Harlequin Editorial Team’s top tips on how to catch an editor’s eye…
What is #DVpit?
#DVpit is a Twitter event created to showcase pitches from marginalized voices that have been historically underrepresented in publishing. This includes (but is not limited to): Native peoples and people of color; people living and/or born/raised in underrepresented cultures and countries; disabled persons (including neurodiverse); people living with illness; people on marginalized ends of the cultural and/or religious spectrum; people identifying within LGBTQIA+; and more.
For the #DVpit guidelines, go to: https://www.dvpit.com/rules-guidelines
How to Stand Out to a Harlequin Editor
What’s your story’s USP? You only have 280 characters to sell your story. Make them count! Ask yourself: what does an editor need to know about my story?
Keep it simple. The pitch you write will be your first introduction to a potential editor. So, it’s important that you can be clear and concise.
Use comparison titles. Using comparison titles is a great way, in 280 characters, to give an editor an instant flavor of what your story will be like: e.g. The Proposal x Grey’s Anatomy
How a Hashtag Can Change Everything
Finally, the best piece of advice we can give you is this: get familiar with hashtags! It’s how an editor, on the day, will narrow their search. So, we’re going to give you a run down on which hashtags work for which Harlequin series. It’s important to remember, however, that not every hashtag we mention, for a series, will work for your story. So, pick the hashtags that best reflect your story.
Harlequin Desire
- #CR (contemporary romance)
We will have, from the Harlequin Desire team, @stacy_boyd and @errin_jade on the look out
Harlequin Heartwarming
- #CR (contemporary romance)
- #A (adult)
- #SR (sweet romance)
- #mild (no contact to kissing)
@leahmol and @kmgowrie are always excited to find new voices for Harlequin Heartwarming
Harlequin Historical
- #HR (historical romance)
- #A (adult)
- #mild (no contact to kissing)
- #med (kissing to intimate contact, but fade to black (FTB) love scenes)
- #hot (action-packed love scenes where the reader goes along for the ride)
@C_Tricot can’t wait to find her next acquisition for the Harlequin Historical team
Harlequin Intrigue
- #RS (romantic suspense)
We have, from the Harlequin Intrigue team, @DeniseZaza, @Allison_Lyons, and @ConnollyBot waiting to be wowed by your pitches
Harlequin Medical Romance
- #CR (contemporary romance)
- #A (adult)
- #mild (no contact to kissing)
- #med (kissing to intimate contact, but fade to black (FTB) love scenes)
- #hot (action-packed love scenes where the reader goes along for the ride)
@Hannah_ER24 would love to find the next author for Harlequin Medical Romance
Harlequin Presents
- #CR (contemporary romance)
- #A (adult)
- #hot (action-packed love scenes where the reader goes along for the ride)
From the Harlequin Presents team, we have @NicolaCaws ready to take a look at your pitches
Harlequin Romance
- #CR (contemporary romance)
- #SR (sweet romance)
- #A (adult)
- #mild (no contact to kissing)
- #med (kissing to intimate contact, but fade to black (FTB) love scenes)
@Hannah_ER24 will be keeping her eyes peeled, for the Harlequin Romance team.
Harlequin Romantic Suspense
- #RS (romantic suspense)
@CarlyASilver is ready to look at pitches, for Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Harlequin Special Edition
- #CR (contemporary romance)
- #A (adult)
- #R (romance)
@Susan_Litman will be participating, on behalf of Harlequin Special Edition
Love Inspired
- #A (adult)
- #Insp (inspirational romance)
- #R (romance)
- #CR (contemporary romance)
From the Love Inspired team, we have @DinaJDavis
Love Inspired Suspense
- #A (adult)
- #Insp (inspirational romance)
- #R (romance)
- #RS (romantic suspense)
@DinaJDavis will also be looking for stories, for the Love Inspired Suspense team
We can’t wait to read all your pitches on April 23rd!
