Bronwyn Stuart - Romance Author
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Mills and Boon New Voices Contest

7/31/2011

18 Comments

 

On the 13th of September, Mills and Boon will launch their New Voices contest for a second year. Very exciting stuff if you're looking to be published in category length fiction. I have some thoughts I wanted to share with new writer's looking to enter for their first time. Keep in mind that this is only my opinion and that I'm neither published nor did I final (although my entry has since gone onto win one USA contest and final in another two).

First of all, make sure you get someone to read your entry before you send it. Don't email you favourite author and ask them but equally, don't email it to your mum and ask her advice either. You absolutely have to get another writer or author to check it over for grammar, pacing and plot. But before this step, you actually have to write it. The rules say that your entire entry, if you make it through all the stages, should be no more than ten thousand words (make sure you read the rules at least three times and maybe once backwards too). As a general rule of thumb, each chapter should only be about three to four thousand words in Category length, longer for Single Title.

So, chapter one needs to start somewhere exciting. Don't start with your heroine waxing poetic about her surroundings unless she wakes up and has no idea where she is or how she got there. Start in the moment with your heroine being chased down a dark street or meeting your hero and hating him off the bat. Number one is to write the story that needs to be written. Don't pick up ten Mills and Boon and try to write a cross between all ten that you think will sell because the others did. Hopefully you already have a story written or started. This is a contest that calls for chapter one and two and then the pivotal moment. If you have no idea how your story will end or what your characters will get up to, it's going to be super hard and maybe almost impossible to get that final chapter.

Before you freak out and get all stressed that you're not ready, last year, the finalists got to work with a mentor for chapter two and the pivotal moment. With a few months left to go, get to work on an idea that will blow everyone away. Make sure you write it with voice! Lots and lots of voice! If you have no idea what that means, Google it or check out the following websites.

http://www.kyliegriffin.com/Home.html
http://www.annegracie.com/links.htm
http://www.heidi-rice.com/
http://www.natalie-anderson.blogspot.com/

And Romance Writer's of Australia and Romance Writer's of America are fantastic resources too. Mills and Boon New Voices are on Twitter and Facebook where you can ask questions and meet up with fellow entrants. Make sure you check back regularly to the New Voices website and check out the tips and updates.

The last thing you need to remember is that not everyone is going to love your entry. Last year there were some toxic people who posted comments meant to dishearten and discourage your dreams. Ignore those ones and don't retaliate. They aren't the ones you have to impress with your entry. Also, there can be only one winner. Thousands of entries, one winner. That winner could be you! You can't win it if you're not in it =)


I'm off to a conference next week but in the mean time, I'm going to offer to help one lucky commenter with their entry. Remember that I'm not published and my opinion my not count for anything but it can't hurt right? So leave a comment before the 24th of August with your name and maybe something like 'Pick me!!' and I'll draw a name out of a hat (or rather one of the kids will to keep it fair). The winner can email me their first chapter and I'll give you some feedback and maybe some help if you need it. 
18 Comments
Ashley Ellis
8/2/2011 09:34:43 pm

I entered last year and thought it was a great experience. I'm in the process of finishing a rough outline for my whole story and have a first draft of my first chapter. With the kids all back in school in mid-August, I'm hoping to have a solid draft by the end of the month and spend September having my writing group read it. I'd love an extra set of eyes on it though! Thanks for the offer of a critic!

Reply
Suzanne link
8/3/2011 03:41:24 am

What a generous offer! I'd love to be picked and to have you read my submission chapter, it would be incredibly valuable to have the opinion of another aspiring author.

Reply
Bronwyn link
8/5/2011 06:03:21 pm

Thanks for leaving comments, ladies =) You're both in the draw!

Reply
charlotte mcfall
8/11/2011 09:24:48 pm

Thank you for the offer. I am scared of entering the new voice competition. But thought if you don't enter you will never know. For that reason i would love you to read my submission. As you have experience in entering competitions and receiving feed back. :)
Good luck with your writing

Reply
Mel Jolley link
8/15/2011 07:42:45 pm

Great idea Bronwyn. Very kind of you to make the offer. I'm also happy to see I've visited three of the websites you've suggested before ever coming here. BONUS! Best of luck with you future endeavours. Oh and PICK ME! lol

Reply
Mel Jolley link
8/15/2011 07:54:07 pm

I lied, I've been to all four websites I've just realised! Great minds eh?! ;-)
Oh and if you fancy it come check out a blog a friend of mine set up as a meeting place for some like minded individuals. http://themutualadmirationsociety.blogspot.com/
We just post snippets from current wips, give daily word counts, have rants. Got Kiwis, Poms and Yanks but no Aussies ;-)

Reply
Christy
8/15/2011 08:38:07 pm

Thank you, Bronwyn for the websites. As a Newbie, I can use all the help I can get.

PS Pick Me, Pretty Please with sugar on top (and a bright red cherry)!

Reply
Nicole
8/15/2011 10:33:12 pm

Please pick me - I have been writing since 2004 and finished 6 MS's and I am desperate to get published. There is nothing in the world I want to do other than write, however I am new to the world of romance and need all of the help I can get! Having said that all of these comments seem worthy to get your critique as well so I will be very happy for whoever wins.

Reply
Sherri Shackelford link
8/16/2011 02:10:48 am

I entered last year and it was brutal! But I still say you have to try. I blogged about this too- hopefully Mills & Boon has worked out some of the kinks.

I remember your entry -the returning courtesan. It was definitely on par with some of the ones they picked for the top ten.

I started a different book and tried the Harlequin So You Think You Can Write contest. Nothing. But the book wouldn't let go, so I kept writing. Tina James bought it this summer. It just goes to show, anything can happen! Even if you don't get noticed in the New Voices contest, keep trying :)

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Sherri Shackelford
8/16/2011 02:13:16 am

(You were robbed ;)

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Tracey Alvrez
8/16/2011 08:31:21 am

Some great advice Bronwyn. Wish there was a magic formula for voice though! Would love to win, but best of luck to whoever does. :0)

Reply
Michelle Ford
8/21/2011 02:57:57 pm

Another set of eyse with someone in the know can always help. Compared to most i'm a newbie :)

Reply
Dee Bourret
8/21/2011 04:03:29 pm

Hi Bronwyn! I remember you from last year. You were very helpful and I was quite surprised that your entry didn't make it. As a matter of fact, there were so many entries that I loved that didn't make it :( I'm gonna try again this year, hopefully more prepared than last year.

Reply
Jo
8/21/2011 09:29:40 pm

I think that this is an extremely generous and also well thought out offer. Although - in fairness - my Mom is my harshest critic, I still think it's better to have someone neutral read the work. I'm always writing, everything from poetry to children's stories to educational material for kids to fantasy novels. This is my first serious try at romance, but the story popped into my head fully formed and refuses to go away. I must say, I'd love to be published so that others can read and enjoy the story too, but I also firmly believe that you should write for the love of it too.

Have a fantastic week ahead and if I'm fortunate enough to be drawn, I look forward to working with you. :-)

Reply
Tammy link
8/22/2011 05:10:44 am

Pick Me! lol
Great info!! And aw... I wanted to wax poetic. I'm reading and rereading the rules, every time I notice something I missed before. This will be my first time entering - If i make it - and such a great opportunity for aspiring authors.

Reply
Meinda B. Pierce
8/22/2011 10:27:04 am

Great advice Bronwyn! Thank you so much for offering a crit - please enter me in your drawing.

Melinda

Reply
Bronwyn link
8/25/2011 09:46:57 pm

Thanks so much to everyone for stopping by and commenting! And thanks for the beautiful comments about my entry from last year too. Makes me smile to know mine was memorable =)

The winner is... Nicole!!! Congrats and hopefully I can help get you ready.

Good luck and keep at it! The only way to get better is to keep writing and keep working at it.

Reply
Independence Dating Site link
10/6/2013 12:24:46 am

Was browsing Google and found your site, enjoyed the reading, thanks

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    I'm a published author but I'm still mostly stumbling about in the dark looking for the right paths so this blog is about that, though sometimes something will give the me the shits and I'll have a bit of a rant. I'll try not to be offensive but occasionally my mouth opens without asking my brain's permission so I'll apologise in advance.

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  • Home
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