Why is nobody mentioning Harlequin?

Rebel against the Establishment!

75 K is dead on for Harlequin Historicals.  Go for it! 

Donna

HH went down in length when it began to be edited out of London. It is COMPUTER count.  Theshorter length also means that it is easier for HH to tbe translated. Harlequin does publish in 22 different languages.

Word page count is always going to be higher than computer count because of the not full lines and end of chapter factor. But there can be a10k difference or more in word count between to the two methods when you are at this lenth. And in some ways, it will depend on how dialogue heavy you are.

Mainstream historicals are longer because they often have more subplots. HH tend to be pretty heavily focussed on the development of the emotional relationship between the two protagonists.

But really HH are single title in a series wrapper.

Michelle S

Here are things to think about,  and they're coming from a book reader in the year 2008:  I like to read.  But I WILL NOT READ a book that is either too short or too long.  If it's too short, it does not adequately develop.  If too long, there is just a lot of "mush" in it, and I lose interest.  For me, Harlequins (and Imprints) are the right sizes for modern readers.  Long enough for those "cozy nights" with some hot chocolate, etc., but not so long to where they cannot be read and enjoyed.

 I was told I'll make more money with bigger books. Right now I just want to write and progress in skill to be published.

You simply can't tell. There are so many different factors involved. Mainstream does not necessarily pay more.

And there is always subrights to be considered. Harlequin is published in 110 different countries, 22 different languages. This is not necessarily true of other publishers. Quite a number of the other publishers only publish in the North American market.

Another factor is how much the individual writer needs to do with PR. because Harlequin is so widely recognised, has a significant subscriber base, etc, authors do not necessarily have to do as much.  PR can be very expensive indeed.

The amount a writer earns is dependant on a lot of things -- line, number of books, number of reprints, which countries, when the books comes out etc so it is impossible to say how an average Harlequin author earns.. The one thing that is certain is that it takes far longer than you think, and the key to earning is to buid a readership... Harlequin gives authors the time to build a readership.

Quite a number of the Big Names started in category.For example Stephanie Laurens, Nora Roberts, Catherine Coulter,Jennifer Cruisie., Margaret Moore, Debbie Macomber, Linda Howard, Linda Lael Miller, Susan Wiggs etc.

Some of the other reasons to write sereis v mainstream has to do with the productivity of the author, and  the sorts of stories that the author wants to tell.  It is not all to do with money by a long shot.

FWIW

Michelle S

Wow! You're famous!

Actually, you probably won't see my face b/c they try to hide us behind the actor's heads. That way they can use us many times in the same show. We just go and change our clothes. At first I thought they were crazy and that people would notice but they don't.   Unless someone is actually looking in the background, nobody even notices us. About the closest view you will see me is the back of my head behind Wanda in a bar scene when I used fancy clips that day!

Mind you, there was one this season that should've been good but I missed that show. I'll have to watch the reruns or the comedy channel. Oh and buy the DVD of course.

I think my longest shot was 5 secs and that was in last season and even my dh didn't recognize me until I showed him where I was!

If we ever meet though and you get in the habit of watching the background too, then you'll pick me up easy!

If you watch Corner Gas and remember the show with Oscar and Karen selling cookies, and Davis wanting a bowl of Macaroodles (kids meal) ? Well, my ds was the 10 yo boy in the Ruby with Lacey, in the bar with Karen and Oscar, and on the sidewalk looking for Walkathon sponsors with Davis and Karen.

I know it's hard, but you really can write 100k words.  It all adds up in the tweaking and rewriting.  I believe Harlequin lines require 70k - 80k.  I looked up Harlequin Historicals and they require 70 - 75K.  I don't know where you were getting your information, but at the bottom of this page there is a link to writing guidelines and that's where you can find all the requirements for most of the lines.

Angel, you got it, girl! I also worked for 3 yrs in the 'hole' 1 1/2 miles underground in North Bay - we were the Cdn HQ of Norad which is based in Cheyenne Mtn, CO. (like in Stargate for the rest of you). I always felt special taking the bus down there, especially when I walked through the 6 ton 'blast' door. I wonder if that's why I like Stargate so much?

But yeah, after 20 yrs of enclosed rooms, I crave the wide-open spaces! Can't stand basements any more!