Today, we bring you a post from our Archives as we continue our Inside Harlequin series. Harlequin editor Carly Silver offers a breakdown on what happens at the line editing stage of a book. By this point, the book has had a substantive edit, to work out the big-picture kinks with characterization and plot development.…
Category: Harlequin Editors
Inside Harlequin: Editorial with Nicola Caws!
Today on the blog we launch our Inside Harlequin series! We talk with Nic Caws, Associate Editor at Harlequin, about what a day in the life of an editor entails, what she looks for when acquiring a book, and what upcoming titles she’s particularly looking forward to! What does a typical day look like…
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We went to see Crazy Rich Asians and here’s what we thought!
The romantic comedy is having a moment in film and television right now, and our romance editors are loving it! Earlier this fall the editors from all three Harlequin offices went to see Crazy Rich Asians. We were curious to see how a romcom would be updated and refreshed for the 2018 screen, and what…
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What We’re Watching: The Bold Type
by Patience Bloom On a somewhat regular basis, we’d like to discuss what we’re reading, watching, and talking about. In addition to To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Sierra Burgess Is a Loser, Crazy Rich Asians, and, okay, The West Wing (again), I am absorbed by The Bold Type and am trying to get friends in the office…
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The Black Moment: How to raise the romantic stakes before the HEA
By Patience Bloom, Senior Editor, Harlequin Romantic Suspense What is a black moment? In a romance novel, the black moment occurs when the hero and heroine lose all hope in love. Their lives might be in danger, too, or another crisis might wrench them apart. But the main issue is that their happily-ever-after may not…
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Romance Writing 101: Give Your Characters Conflict!
This week, we wanted to bring out one of our former colleagues Grace Thiele’s posts, one which gives you some excellent advice on how to intensify conflict! Perfect especially for those who are contemplating submitting to our #RomanceIncludesYou blitz! Good afternoon, turtle doves! Today I am feeling decidedly conflicted about London weather – relieved that it is…
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The Who 101: Creating Memorable Characters
If the clothes make the man, then characters make the story. If you don’t have fleshed-out, fully-realized, believable characters, you don’t have much of a book, no matter how earth-shatteringly great the prose may be. Just think of your favorite book from childhood or adolescence. Perhaps you were (still are) a great devourer of anything written by Jane…
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Romance Writing 101: Imagining your characters
To encourage your participation in our #RomanceIncludesYou blitz, we have a helpful, fun post by one of our former colleagues, Grace Thiele, who discusses the art of developing your characters! In her own words… Hello possums! There will be an eensy-weensy deviation from what I promised to write about a few weeks ago (I know, I should’ve…
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First Chapter Needs from Harlequin Editors
A few years ago Harlequin editors created a little checklist about effective first chapters. We don’t literally fill them out these days, but most of us keep them in mind. Here are some of the points we raised… Is the characterization strong and vivid? Do the characters make decisions? Are the characters appealing? Is the motivation established…
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Make a Date with Desire: Desire editor roundtable
Turns out, you can judge a book by its cover. In August, Harlequin Desire has a new cover look, and the stories are getting bolder, too. SYTYCW will be checking in with Desire all month, starting today with a Desire editor roundtable. Watch our video introduction, and read the full transcript of the discussion that…