Today, Harlequin, one of the world’s leading publishers of books for women, added a compelling epilogue to its tremendously popular So You Think You Can Write event by announcing Katrina Williams of Allen, Texas, as the winner of its unpublished author competition and awarding the Dallas-area resident with her very first publishing contract.

Ms. Williams, an avid Harlequin reader, impressed a judging panel comprised of Harlequin editors with her manuscript entitled The Divorce Deal. “I loved Katrina’s hero,” said Stacy Boyd, senior editor for Harlequin Desire. “But what really made her book stand out was her unique, fresh voice. I’m very excited to be working with her on her winning manuscript.” Ms. Williams has since sold a second book to Harlequin and begun to establish a permanent career as a professional author.

So You Think You Can Write is Harlequin’s annual digital conference offering aspiring novelists the opportunity to spend an entire working week with more than 50 Harlequin editors via social media tools such as podcasts, videos, webinars, blog posts, community discussions and Twitter.

Participants have the opportunity to learn valuable insider tips and have their writing samples critiqued by professional editors. The event, which ran from November 7 – 11, 2011, drew more than 17,000 unique visitors to the site. Ms. Williams’ manuscript was selected from 175 submissions.

“This is the culmination of a dream I’ve had since third grade,” said Ms. Williams. Asked to describe her reaction when she received “The Call” informing her she had won the contest, she replied, “I believe I hyperventilated. I know I cried. Just because I wanted to write for Harlequin didn’t mean I was good enough. Winning provided that validation. I honestly would have been happy being one of the finalists, but winning is just…wow.”

In fact, the judging panel was so impressed with the quality of submissions that they have expressed interest in manuscripts by a further five contestants. “We knew we would award one deserving participant with a contract but were delighted to read publishable manuscripts by so many other contestants,” said Kathleen Scheibling, Senior Editor of Harlequin American Romance and the organizer of this year’s contest. “We are thrilled that participants in the inaugural So You Think You Can Write conference, in 2010, took advantage of the expert advice and tips from Harlequin editors. The quality of this year’s entries tells us that So You Think You Can Write is achieving its goal of helping young romance novelists get started on the path to publication.”

Ms. Williams’ winning manuscript, The Divorce Deal, will be published as a Harlequin Desire novel in February 2013. Its release will be accompanied by promotions and a front cover design declaring it as a So You Think You Can Write winner.

So You Think You Can Write will return for its third conference and contest in the latter half of 2012.

Writing a cover letter is a little like getting dressed for a blind date. Making the right choices can be key to winning someone over…but what’s the best route to take? What blouse can you choose that says “I’m funny, charming, and make a killer apple pie”? You don’t even know this guy—how can you guess what he’ll like or hate? You can spend three hours getting your hair, makeup and outfit just right and there’s still always the chance that he’ll be allergic to your perfume, or have an unnatural aversion to the color of your favorite sweater.

Here’s the simple truth: there’s no hard-and-fast rule about what makes a good cover letter. But there are some things you can keep in mind. As someone who reads a lot of cover letters, there are definitely things that I’d like to see. So here’s my two cents (or rather, three hints) on ways to help your cover letter shine.

1. Cover the basics:

   Writing your cover letter may be like prepping for a blind date, but receiving it? Well, it’s kind of like speed dating, especially when I first open it and am skimming for what I need to know to file it properly in one of my to-be-read piles. Help me out here, and start the letter with some key facts: word count, time period (if it’s a historical novel), some of the main “hooks” of your story (also known as the selling points—things like “reunion romance” or “secret baby” or “hero bodyguard”). Also be sure to let me know that the manuscript is complete. (I’m afraid I can’t review works-in-progress. Finish it first, and then decide whether or not to submit it.) All of this is very useful information for me to have by the end of the first paragraph. And what I want to know most? The title! You’d be surprised how often I get cover letters where the book’s title isn’t mentioned at all.

2. If you know it, show it!:

   You’re a smart and savvy writer, right? That’s why you’re reading these posts, learning about the wonderful, diverse range Harlequin covers. It’s a great move on your part—you’re putting yourself ahead of the pack by learning about our different lines, the requirements that we have, and the types of stories we want. So once you’ve gathered all of this useful information, use it in your cover letter! You’re sure your book is perfect for Desire? Prove it to us by stating explicitly how your story fits the requirements of a hot alpha hero in passion-driven conflict with your strong, sexy heroine. Or maybe you’re submitting a Love Inspired story for consideration? Be sure to note how your sweet-rather-than-sensual romance grows as the hero and heroine face challenges together and achieve happiness in a realistic but still faith-driven manner. You’re the advocate for your book, so make your case to us—show us in your cover letter that you know what we’re looking for, and that you have it, ready to deliver.

3. Toot your own horn—especially if your hero’s a trumpet player:

   The information describing your story (word count, title, plot, line suitability) definitely needs to come first, but when you get to the end of your letter, leave room for a little bragging. Has this story won awards from your local writers’ organization? Have you won awards—or maybe landed on a bestseller list—for any other books you’ve written? Or perhaps you have personal knowledge or experience that enhances this particular story? If you’re writing a story with a special forces hero/heroine and you served in the military for fifteen years, then that’s great information for us to know. But please keep it professional and related to this project—your personal bio may be fascinating, but if you’re selling me on your book, then that’s where your focus should be.

There aren’t any guarantees in life, but by following these tips, you stand a much better chance of getting a second date—or at least a letter from an editor to say something other than that s/he’s just not that into you. And as with dating, even if one guy falls short of the mark, don’t let that stop you! Believe in yourself, believe in your story, and keep trying. If I’ve learned anything from working at Harlequin, it’s that happily-ever-after—in romance or otherwise—could be waiting around any corner. Keep your chin up and your eyes open, and let me know if my hints have helped you find your way!

Short fiction, once the runt of the litter, now finds itself the star in the pet-store window. And no wonder. In today’s digital universe, writing a short story makes a lot of sense. For new writers, it can be a foot in the door with publishers. It can also be a good way for an author to establish a reader base and a publicity platform, things that publishers are increasingly looking for from new writers. At Harlequin, we have several options for the writer who wants to write short, including Nocturne Cravings, Historical Undone as well as Carina Press, Harlequin’s digital-first imprint.

For established authors, writing a short piece is good exposure, a chance to grab new readers and, in the case of an anthology, the opportunity to work with other writers. Your editor can tell you about your options and point you in the right direction.

And all of this without the time commitment of a long novel! After all, once you’ve written a full-length book, 15,000 words should be a piece of cake. Right?

Not so fast. Here are few things to consider…

Short in Length, Long on Planning

A novella has to have all the same compelling aspects of a novel—great characters, meaty conflict, a well-developed plot and a satisfying conclusion—but with a tenth of the time to do it in. In a story of 30,000 words or less, the reader has to know very quickly who the characters are, what they want and what’s standing in the way of them getting it.

Which means you have to know these things before you even begin. And that means a little bit of planning is required.

CHARACTER — Before you begin writing, figure out what motivates your character—what does she want in this story, why is it important to her, and what is she going to do to get it? A character’s motivation is usually rooted in her back story—but the back story should not be a major part of your story. And it shouldn’t be dumped into the reader’s lap in the first chapter. Remember the old adage: show, don’t tell. Choose the most relevant details of your character’s life and weave them into the story at the most effective times. The reader does not need to know your heroine’s life story. Also keep in mind that the character may not be aware of the link between what happened in the past and their current actions. This could be something that the other character helps them to see and overcome.

Now do the same for the other main character, and even any secondary characters that crop up in your novella.

CONFLICT — What is standing in the way of the hero and heroine getting what they want? For character’s in a romance, it’s often each other! E.g. The heroine has to rob a bank (her goal) to pay kidnappers who are holding her child hostage (her motivation), but the hero, a cop whose wife died in a botched bank robbery (his motivation), is determined to stop her (his goal) and handcuffs himself to her (the conflict). The other thing you should consider when coming up with a conflict is not only it will force the characters apart, but how it will bring them together—physically and emotionally.

Also evaluate what the stakes are for your characters—how much do they stand to lose? Even though your story is short, if the stakes are ho-hum, your story will be, too. So if our heroine from the example above had to rob a bank because kidnappers were holding her cat hostage, though this might be sad for the kitty, it’s not quite as gripping as it would be if it were her child.

PLOT – Once you know your character and the conflict, plot the story out. What challenges is your heroine going to face on the road to achieving her goal? How do those challenges build to the climax? Pacing is everything in a short piece, so examine the development of your plot and ask yourself, are you devoting too much of the story to the setup? Does it take too long—or not long enough—to get to the climax? Did you give yourself enough time to resolve the conflict? Is the resolution of the conflict too easy or simple? Will it satisfy the reader? A romance reader wants a “happily ever after” for the characters. Is that believable based on what you’ve put them through? This is often why in a short romantic story, the hero and heroine will already know each other, as it’s a good shortcut to establishing a believable relationship.

FIT – As with a novel, when you submit a short story, you must know your series and your audience. What word length is the publisher looking for? What genres? Time periods? What’s the tone of the pieces in the program?

As with novels, the best way to figure this out is to read some of the already published works.

The Long and Short of It Is—Don’t Screw Around

When setting out to write a short story, remember that time and space is not a luxury that you have—make every word count. Perhaps even more so than with a full-length novel, you must be strict, exercise restraint and keep focus on the matter/conflict at hand.

Happy (short) writing!

So we’ve shown you how to start and how to tackle writing your first chapter, but the big question that we’re sure is on everyone’s lips is— how do you write a powerful ending that stays with your readers for a long time?

Well, never fear, here are our few sneaky tips to achieving those happily-ever-afters to last a life time:

• Be Creative

  We know that its hard to avoid happily ever after clichés and there’s certainly nothing wrong with a fairytale wedding or a baby bump but think of what new twist or spin you can put on these tropes. For example maybe your hero and heroine get their happy family by adopting or may be your heroine is the one who proposes!

• Your ending should belong to your characters

  Make sure that it grows organically out of who your characters are. As you write keep asking yourself what the characters want most in the world, why they want it, and what’s stopping them from achieving it. These questions should help with all aspects of the plot and in turn lead you towards the right ending for your story.

• No shock twists for the sake of it!

  When talking about how to end a murder mystery, classic crime author Raymond Chandler said, “The solution, once revealed, must seem to have been inevitable.” The same can be said for romance. Even though you want to surprise your readers, plant the seeds of your ending early, so that when people re-read your fab story they will be able to see that, of course, although fresh and original, this was the ending these characters were always heading towards.

• Tie up all loose ends

  Make sure you keep track of even the smallest sub-plot aspect, and that you resolve them. For example you can’t have a secondary character go for a walk around the ground of your hero’s stately home and never come back!

• Resolve the central conflict

  Most importantly your hero and heroine must face up to and overcome their internal conflicts by the time you reach the climax of the story. A damaged hero who still hasn’t learnt how to let the heroine into his guarded heart by the final page will have readers throwing your book at the wall. Characters need to learn and grow over the course of the story, so only once your hero and heroine have both done this, are you ready to type those immortal words…THE END!