Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Guidelines.... Plotting V's Pantsing... Rejections


When I planned my next Harl Bites, I really didn't have a plan, so to speak. I wrote this werewolf story as I almost always do, with no clue as to where it was heading - just one scene in my head which I expanded and then kept on expanding. I *love* writing like this, love watching the story unfold and surprising me. Sometimes it takes far longer, sometimes the story just flows.
The negatives to this writing style is that I found it conflicted with my Bites story. Harlequin have guidelines to follow (for good reason!) So, I pushed these boundaries, a little too far. No, not a flat out rejection, my harl editor and I came to an agreement that I'd write another Bites that fitted those guidelines better, and I'd revise and expand Moon Thrall to *hopefully* fit Ellora's Cave, which I think it will slot in quite nicely - fingers crossed!
So lesson learned. My next Bites will be at least partially plotted, guided, so to speak, whereas my Ellora's Cave stories I will let fly.
Two vastly different ways of writing... and despite it all, you wouldn't catch me wanting to do anything else!
ps - just thought I'd pop in the rainbow on my ceiling, rather uplifting!

5 comments:

Rachael Johns said...

I think it's great that you can write for two brilliant publishers and have the chance to alternate your writing habits! Should keep you really fresh!

Mel Teshco said...

Thanks Rachael,
I agree one hundred percent. Just wish this new story would stop bugging me so I can finish the couple I'm doing right now!!! LOL

Kylie Griffin said...

I so identify with the letting the story write itself and being surprised where it takes you, Mel.

An interesting read about the HB vs. EC style you have. Did this put your HB schedule behind having to write another? Have you submitted the other EC?

Mel Teshco said...

Hi Kylie,
no, there's no pressure from either publisher, I just submit them when I'm done - though I wish I had another Bites just ready to go now LOL!! I'm just aiming to get to a certain word count on a novel I have for EC then I will be do edits to Moon Thrall and submitting to my editor.
Somewhere between everything else I'll start another Bites =)

Mel Teshco said...

Thanks for saying so Anon! =)

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