C.J. Miller

I received the post card I included with my revised full manuscript submission in the mail postmarked November 30th. The editor has my work, and now I wait, distracting myself with new edits and fresh manuscripts. If the editor does not like the revised full, my next submission should be closer to what she wants. I have a better idea of how to craft my story for Silhouette Romantic Suspense.

I thought it might be helpful to include what exactly I sent in my revision package: - brief letter to the editor thanking her for the opportunity, reminding her what my story was about, and letting her know I had made the changes she'd suggested - self-address stamped postcard (can be purchased from USPS) so the editor can drop it in the mail when she opens the package. This is piece of mind for me that the package wasn't lost en route. - revised synopsis (4 pages double-spaced) Eharlequin guidelines specify a two-page single-spaced synopsis, but their example shows a double-spaced synopsis. When I asked for clarification from eharl (always follow specification!) the response was to send it double-spaced. - self addressed return envelope with postage (not to hold the manuscript, I don't need that returned, just a regular letter sized for a response from the editor) - cover page with my contact information and information about the book (title, word count, author

I mailed my revised manuscript to Silhouette Romantic Suspense last night. I had set a deadline for myself of a month based on feedback from other Harlequin authors and was pleased I met the deadline with no problem. More than proving I can/am willing to make changes in a timely manner, knowing I had four weeks prevented me from reviewing one scene again and again or obsessing about the editor's comments. When I got stuck on something, I sidelined it, and worked on another area of the manuscript and circled around later. I made continuous progress and felt really good about that. I also heeded the warning of one Harlequin authors, who mentioned she is careful to leave the parts of the manuscript not commented on alone (unless other changes impact it) since the editor liked the story enough to spend the time on revisions, rewriting the whole book isn't necessary. It was tempting to start major rewrites on every chapter, but I focused my time on the parts of the story the edito

I received a request for revisions from an editor at Silhouette Romantic Suspense! The letter was approximately 3 pages of suggestions, some of the points about the manuscript as a whole, and some specific to a given scene. After conferring with several wonderful people on SubCare and with the help and encouragement of friends and family, I've worked out a plan of action. I have approximately a month to complete the changes and send them back. 1. Take a day (or two) to think about the changes. Read the letter about 10 times. 2. Go through the manuscript and mark (via comments and track changes) places where the editor suggests I make revisions. 3. Skim through the manuscript (I've written two more books for SRS since I submitted this one) and refamiliarize myself with the story. Make comments in the margins where I see some of the overarching problems referenced in the letter. 4. Complete smaller changes or those I am most clear about. 5. Tackle the more complicat

I received my first full manuscript request from an editor at Silhouette Romantic Suspense after sending the first 3 chapters (along with query letter and synopsis) at the beginning of June. The request came in the same envelope that normally delivers rejections (the one I send with my query), so I was expecting another rejection. I am thrilled to have made this progress, so while I know this doesn't mean this manuscript with be published, it does mean something in my writing caught the eye of an editor! In other good news, one of my critique partners told me that at the RWA conference, Harlequin was looking for romantic suspense. That's great news for me!

I write like Stephen King Analyze your writing! Not sure this is ideal for a romance writer, but how fun!

One of my dream agents is participating in MuseTrack's Agent Shop . Agent Shop is a way for writers to pitch their manuscripts electronically. The basic idea is at a predetermined time, the moderator of MuseTracks posts "GO" and everyone who wants to pitch their work emails their pitch. The first 30 (that follow the rules) pitches are posted. The contest was set to start at 10am. At 9:50, I had both my computers on - one with the MuseTrack website up and one with my gmail account open with the pitch prepped and ready to send. Due to some technical difficulties "GO" wasn't posted until 2pm. You'd think during that four hours (yes, some of which I thought it had been cancelled, I had missed it, I had internet problems in which somehow only that page wasn't refreshing, and/or I had the wrong date) I would give up. Nope. Didn't give up. For four hours (some of which, I had my husband take over the computer, so I could eat, etc.), I hit F5 on m

I compared my query letter with the one that Kylie helped me write. There's a couple of things I noticed about hers. 1. It's creative: it tells the plot in a unique way uses clever phrases 2. It's snappy: it reads like the back of a novel - quick and to the point, but enough to make you want to read more 3. Formatting: she put the title and character's names in CAPITAL letters - reads easy 4. It's non-academic: this is something I struggle with in my writing. After 18+ years of formalized schooling, which required endless research papers, thesis, and term papers, breaking out of the formal style was hard for me. Going back to work on the query letter. I hope my next project will be ready to mail out by March!