Comments on: So you want to write for Harlequin Presents – Part 7 http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/2009/09/08/so-you-want-to-write-for-harlequin-presents-part-7/ Author of Glamorous, Sexy Romance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:39:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Suzanne http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/2009/09/08/so-you-want-to-write-for-harlequin-presents-part-7/comment-page-1/#comment-3078 Suzanne Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:49:26 +0000 http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/?p=1367#comment-3078 Thank you for answering my question. Suzanne :) Thank you for answering my question.

Suzanne :)

]]> By: Kelly Hunter http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/2009/09/08/so-you-want-to-write-for-harlequin-presents-part-7/comment-page-1/#comment-3077 Kelly Hunter Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:13:44 +0000 http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/?p=1367#comment-3077 Echoing Kim's thoughts about drama and tone being important differences between Modern and Modern Heat stories. It's hair-tearingly hard to keep story tone light and sparkling if the dramatic arc of the story is dark, passionate, and brooding. On the other hand, if you lighten the story and characters up too much there's not enough to lose (except reader interest - you lose that real fast). For me, writing for Modern Heat is about finding a comfortable balance between darkness and light and then walking that tightrope without falling off. Slippery little sucker. Echoing Kim’s thoughts about drama and tone being important differences between Modern and Modern Heat stories. It’s hair-tearingly hard to keep story tone light and sparkling if the dramatic arc of the story is dark, passionate, and brooding. On the other hand, if you lighten the story and characters up too much there’s not enough to lose (except reader interest – you lose that real fast).

For me, writing for Modern Heat is about finding a comfortable balance between darkness and light and then walking that tightrope without falling off. Slippery little sucker.

]]> By: Lynn Raye Harris http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/2009/09/08/so-you-want-to-write-for-harlequin-presents-part-7/comment-page-1/#comment-3076 Lynn Raye Harris Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:54:40 +0000 http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/?p=1367#comment-3076 I'm going to agree with Kimberly about the sexual tension. It's individual, I think, and not line dependent. Mine are pretty darn hot -- and no one has ever told me to tone it down. I’m going to agree with Kimberly about the sexual tension. It’s individual, I think, and not line dependent. Mine are pretty darn hot — and no one has ever told me to tone it down.

]]> By: Lynn Raye Harris http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/2009/09/08/so-you-want-to-write-for-harlequin-presents-part-7/comment-page-1/#comment-3075 Lynn Raye Harris Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:53:25 +0000 http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/?p=1367#comment-3075 Hi, Heidi! Thanks for stopping by. :) It's interesting how you can totally appreciate Modern, but can't write it. Likewise, I enjoy the Modern Heats, but they aren't me and I wouldn't begin to know how to write one! Hi, Heidi! Thanks for stopping by. :) It’s interesting how you can totally appreciate Modern, but can’t write it. Likewise, I enjoy the Modern Heats, but they aren’t me and I wouldn’t begin to know how to write one!

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/2009/09/08/so-you-want-to-write-for-harlequin-presents-part-7/comment-page-1/#comment-3074 Rebecca Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:21:04 +0000 http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/?p=1367#comment-3074 Thanks for the info, Kimberly! You can't have a good romance without the sizzle. I'm looking forward to reading your books! Thanks for the info, Kimberly! You can’t have a good romance without the sizzle. I’m looking forward to reading your books!

]]> By: Kimberly Lang http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/2009/09/08/so-you-want-to-write-for-harlequin-presents-part-7/comment-page-1/#comment-3073 Kimberly Lang Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:57:52 +0000 http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/?p=1367#comment-3073 I'd say both are pretty darn sensual, and like everything else, the "when" "how" and "how much" is going to depend on the story. Sexual tension is what's important -- the sizzle needs to be there from the first moment they meet. However, if by sensual, you mean graphically depicted, that's going to vary from author to author and story to story. Some of mine are more explicit in that than others. The only hard-and-fast rule is that they must sizzle :-) I’d say both are pretty darn sensual, and like everything else, the “when” “how” and “how much” is going to depend on the story.

Sexual tension is what’s important — the sizzle needs to be there from the first moment they meet.

However, if by sensual, you mean graphically depicted, that’s going to vary from author to author and story to story. Some of mine are more explicit in that than others.

The only hard-and-fast rule is that they must sizzle :-)

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/2009/09/08/so-you-want-to-write-for-harlequin-presents-part-7/comment-page-1/#comment-3072 Rebecca Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:46:16 +0000 http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/?p=1367#comment-3072 Would you say that the level of sensuality in the Moderns differs from the Modern Heats? If so, in what way? Would you say that the level of sensuality in the Moderns differs from the Modern Heats? If so, in what way?

]]> By: Heidi Rice http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/2009/09/08/so-you-want-to-write-for-harlequin-presents-part-7/comment-page-1/#comment-3071 Heidi Rice Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:49:24 +0000 http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/?p=1367#comment-3071 Had to just chip in here as one of Kimberly's Modern Heat buddies and say her description of the differences between Modern and Modern Heat are spot on. Wish I'd thought of that Roman Candle/Sparkler analogy... Yup, it's all about tone and attitude and voice and I think, as an aspiring writer, you will know from reading the books, both Modern and Modern Heat, where your voice will fit. I absolutely adore the passionate intensity of the Moderns, but when I put finger to keyboard, my heroines immediately start getting all minxy and answering back and my heroes can't seem to resist goading them and before I know it sparks are going off everywhere and they're flirting with each other outrageously and... well, the tone and attitude isn't quite right for Modern. You have to go with what you write best and once you start writing you'll know what that is. Whatever you do, don't force the fit, because your readers will know. Had to just chip in here as one of Kimberly’s Modern Heat buddies and say her description of the differences between Modern and Modern Heat are spot on.

Wish I’d thought of that Roman Candle/Sparkler analogy…

Yup, it’s all about tone and attitude and voice and I think, as an aspiring writer, you will know from reading the books, both Modern and Modern Heat, where your voice will fit.

I absolutely adore the passionate intensity of the Moderns, but when I put finger to keyboard, my heroines immediately start getting all minxy and answering back and my heroes can’t seem to resist goading them and before I know it sparks are going off everywhere and they’re flirting with each other outrageously and… well, the tone and attitude isn’t quite right for Modern.

You have to go with what you write best and once you start writing you’ll know what that is. Whatever you do, don’t force the fit, because your readers will know.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/2009/09/08/so-you-want-to-write-for-harlequin-presents-part-7/comment-page-1/#comment-3070 Rebecca Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:29:44 +0000 http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/?p=1367#comment-3070 Thanks, Lynn...will do! Thanks, Lynn…will do!

]]> By: Lynn Raye Harris http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/2009/09/08/so-you-want-to-write-for-harlequin-presents-part-7/comment-page-1/#comment-3069 Lynn Raye Harris Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:23:18 +0000 http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/?p=1367#comment-3069 Thanks, Rebecca! Glad if it helps at all! :) As for your question, that's really something you'd want to ask the editors. I can't speak for them at all. My gut feeling is that you need to write one type of story to begin with. You have to build a readership and not change mid-stream -- your readers wouldn't know what to expect! But that's my feeling and what works for me. I'd suggest popping over to I Heart Presents and asking in the comments trail for the writing competition posts. Or going to eHarlequin and asking in the thread for the competition. The editors may have an entirely different view than I do. :) Thanks, Rebecca! Glad if it helps at all! :)

As for your question, that’s really something you’d want to ask the editors. I can’t speak for them at all. My gut feeling is that you need to write one type of story to begin with. You have to build a readership and not change mid-stream — your readers wouldn’t know what to expect!

But that’s my feeling and what works for me. I’d suggest popping over to I Heart Presents and asking in the comments trail for the writing competition posts. Or going to eHarlequin and asking in the thread for the competition.

The editors may have an entirely different view than I do. :)

]]>