Sunday 5 June 2011

The new buzz word at HMB Romance HQ

Unpredictability is apparently the new buzz word at Mills and Boon headquarters, to quote Editor Flo Nicoll "Unpredictability is literally all we can talk about". At last year's RNA conference the theme of the Mills and Boon Editor talk was 'new twists on old themes' so this is clearly something anyone trying to write for Harlequin M&B needs to be thinking about. I'm going to be interested to find out the results of the Unpredictability Task Force - what are readers sick of, what do they want to see more of etc. If you want to read the Editor blog post in full or find out what on earth I'm on about then click here.

How to be fresh and new and yet fit the category line? It's a very interesting question, answers in a comment box will be welcome ;-)
While you're thinking about it have a slice of cake:

7 comments:

Jackie Ashenden said...

Well, you know, I have no idea re the whole unpredictability thing. But I have a sneaking suspicion that it all revolves around character. And also that terrible 'we can't quite tell you what we mean but we know when we see it' kind of thing. :-)

Lacey Devlin said...

LOL! Jackie you're a crack up. I also think it's all about the character.

Romy Sommer said...

Yum! Thanks for the treat, Lorraine.

Anonymous said...

Yes, so easy to slip from unpredictable nirvana into inappropriate hell!

Lorraine said...

LOL Aimee, that is SO reassuring!

My pleasure Romy.

Lacey and Jackie - I think if you have unique characters that's a good start...Hmm, maybe not one to over-think or you'll end up in a mess.

Maisey said...

Jackie and Lacey, I'm with you. ;) I've heard that buzz word bandied around and I think, as I heard it applied to my own book (LOL) that character and character actions and reactions are the key to unpredictibility.

A fresh, exciting character can give the surprise factor to a familiar theme.

Lorraine said...

Hi Maisey, thanks, that's interesting re the reactions/action thing, it confirms what I've heard elsewhere. Difficulty I foresee is making an action unpredictable yet still believable but the more interesting the character the more likely they are to act differently I suppose.
I THINK I'm getting it, we'll see ;-)
Thanks for the comments guys!