By Harlequin Senior Executive Editor Birgit Davis-Todd
Did you attend our five day online conference? We hope you enjoyed the blogs, chats, writing challenges, photos and Twitter events, which can be revisited in the archives. You had a chance to meet and network with the talented editors from all three acquiring offices—New York, Toronto and the UK.
Post a comment below and let us know what you think! What workshops would you like to see at next year's conference?
Last Chance to Polish Your Submission
Be sure to spend this weekend getting your first chapter and pitch ready to submit on September 22 (10am EST) using the official contest form. You must target one of our 18 eligible series. Last day for first chapter submissions is October 1.
First chapters must be 5000 words maximum. Your 100-word pitch should outline the concept, plot, characters, conflict and setting.
All first chapters will be posted immediately on the SYTYCW site 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. Don't delay!
Still on the Fence about Submitting?
"If you don't play, you can't win," are words to live by. It's scary to put yourself out there and show your writing to others. But if you want to achieve the dream of being published by Harlequin—and winning the Ultimate Author's Publishing Prize—then take a chance and enter the contest. You'll be glad you did!
Think Harlequin!
Harlequin is the world's leading romance publisher. We are always on the lookout for talent, which is why we offer the SYTYCW conference and contest annually.We are thrilled to report that we have contracted 17+new authors from the 2013 SYTYCW contest. How many new writers will we find in 2014?
The Last Word
On behalf of all the editors a big thanks for attending our five day conference. Make sure you enter the writing contest then come back to read all the entries. On November 3 stop by to read the top 10 finalists' manuscripts and vote for your favorite.
Who will be the next new Harlequin author—and winner of the grand prize? We can't wait to find out!
For now send me your last minute questions or comments. I want to hear from you!
9 replies on “SYTYCW: That’s a Wrap!”
Thanks to everyone from Harlequin/MB for their time and effort in the events all week long. It’s been fun and insightful!
@Charlotte
Thanks for your kind words! We all had a lot of fun this week connecting with so many writers. Next week the editors shift gears as we begin reading all the entries as they come in! We can’t wait to find our next new author for Harlequin and the grand prize winner.
Good luck everyone!
It’s been great. Very user friendly and fun. Thanks for all your wonderful help and advice.
Good luck everyone
Last year’s online conference was amazing, but you’ve managed to top it! Timely, thoughtful advice in a welcoming format made this conference an invaluable experience. Thanks so much!
Thank you Harlequin for the warmth, friendly fun week. Reading the First Page papers and the editorial suggestions were productive and enlightening. I am looking forward to submitting my First Chapter.
The conference was great with a lot of good information. The chats with the editors and their confessions post made me realize they are people, too (and nice ones!), so nothing to fear when approaching them with my ms.
Thanks for the great conference and the opportunity to put my work in front of an editor.
I’m glad to see on the submission page that you’ve listed the dates/times for each section of the world so there’s no confusion when the deadline for chapter one is. That’s very helpful.
Good luck to everyone who enters the contest. We are opening for submissions in just over half an hour. I can’t wait to read all the first chapters coming our way!
Can’t wait to enter my submission, hoping you all will enjoy it. Good luck to all budding authors what a fabulous experience for us. Thanks to Harlequin for a great online conference. I was lucky enough to be randomly selected for the opening page critique. The editors guidance was invaluable and I enjoyed completely re-writing it to hopefully make it ‘present’.
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!