Harlequin’s Romance Includes You Author Mentorship Open for Submissions – Closing Soon

Yippie, Yeah, Woo Hooo! If you haven’t already heard the news, the Romance Includes You Mentorship Submission is finally here. In an effort to support the movement for more diversity in romance books, Harlequin says they are committed to publishing diverse and inclusive voices so that readers see themselves reflected in the books we publish”.

ATTENTION ROMANCE WRITERS:  Harlequin wants to see your creativity and where your voice shines. According to the Write for Harlequin Mentorship page, eligible submissions should be in the category romance genre; these novels are typically 50,000 to 70,000 words in length and are trope-based (think friends to lovers, second chances, forbidden love) with a central love story between the main characters and a guaranteed happily ever after ending. What happens along the way is up to your imagination. Your story may include characters that share your background, community or culture but this is not a requirement. We are open to romance stories with all gender and identity pairings.

DO ROMANCE WRITERS HAVE TO SUBMIT A COMPLETED NOVEL?  Eventually, but No–not now. Harlequin is asking interested romance writers to submit the following:

  • the first 5,000 words of a romance novel
  • a one paragraph summary of the story’s pitch and a story synopsis outlining the story arc, characters, plot, themes and ending (maximum 1,000 words)
  • a personal statement explaining why you applied, what you are hoping to get out of this mentorship if you are selected, and what greater diversity and representation in the romance genre means to you (maximum 300 words)

So submit your entry, remembering that you can’t win if you don’t play—best of luck. A checklist, tips, and more information can be found on writeforharlequin.com and the Write for Harlequin Mentorship page.  Submit by January 31, 2023.

 

This event is part of Harlequin’s outreach efforts to connect with diverse communities of authors. As always, Harlequin welcomes submissions from all authors at any time via Submittable.

About Harlequin

Harlequin is a leading publisher of commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction. The company publishes more than 100 titles a month, in both print and digital formats, that reach audiences globally. Encompassing highly recognizable imprints that span a broad number of genres, the publisher is home to many award-winning New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling authors. Harlequin is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, the second-largest consumer book publisher in the world. Through HarperCollins’s global publishing program, Harlequin titles are published in 17 countries and 16 languages. For more information, please visit Harlequin.com and Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks. Follow Harlequin on Twitter: @HarlequinBooks.

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