With rumours of My Weekly Story Collection going weekly there could be far more opportunities to get our stories out there. I have never written a crime story but I presume they would not have to be too gritty although obviously more edgy than say a light romance.
I could not write a medical romance, being woefully deficient in my knowledge of the world of doctors and nurses, but I lived in a village for many years and could perhaps do a 'cosy' murder along the lines of Murder She Wrote or Midsomer Murders.
Of course there would have to be a hero and heroine and I presume a love interest but I think it will be a new challenge that we should embrace. The scope is all encompassing. I should imagine there are no taboos apart of course from anything too graphic.
Crime can also mean theft. Perhaps a priceless jewel or someone's identity? The long lost daughter coming back to claim an inheritance? Is she who she says she is?
I think I may very well have a go at 'something different'.
How does everyone else feel about excercising those 'little grey cells'?
Good post, Margaret. Yes, it is good to try something different.
ReplyDeleteWe enjoy reading murder mysteries, but have never written one.
Those little grey cells (lol) could do with exercising in a new direction.
Glad you agree. My latest MWSC has a crime in it - blackmail. I have submitted first three chapters and synopsis to Maggie so we'll see how it goes.
DeleteMost of my novellas have had a crime element already, and I love writing them! But it will be interesting to see how the new crime genre works, Margaret.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they've published one of the new crime stories yet have they? I always look out for the names I know and purchase them and I haven't spotted any yet.
DeleteMargaret
No, I don't think they have yet. I have it on good authority that October is the month when everything kicks off regarding the new genres.
DeleteMaggie has just said she would like to see the rest of my new more 'explicit' novel. I have gone into detail about the heroine being in a separate bedroom from her fiance, but apparently that is no longer necessary.
DeleteInteresting times.
I'm still waiting on her decision for my latest, which is very different to what I normally write for My Weekly. My hero and heroine share a room too, at one point in the story. And there's a much darker story behind it. I also sent her another partial which PF said was 'too dark' for them. Now Maggie doesn't mind other povs, I'm hoping she'll want to see the rest of that too.
DeleteIt looks like big changes are afoot at My Weekly, which will be interesting. It would be helpful if we can all post about what works or doesn't in terms of acceptances from Maggie. If they do go to one PN a week, can we keep up with demand??
ReplyDeleteI know from personal experience that what works with Maggie is having at least one feisty older person amongst the characters. Usually a mother figure to the heroine. Maggie also likes her tortured heroes, but she also likes lots of snappy dialogue. That's snappy as in brisk and fun, rather than snappy as in people bickering.
DeleteI'm going to have a damn good go of keeping up with demand! I'd love to have about 3 or 4 a year published, though I know from all the extremely talented ladies on this blog that competition is tough.
That's interesting, Sally. I have a tortured hero in my latest so I'll keep my fingers crossed. I have a feisty older sister so maybe she'll like it. I'm working on the final submission before I send it off.
DeleteCarol, we can always try. :)
DeleteHi, thanks for the excellent blog. I'm thinking of trying a pocket novel, but usually I write romance using the pov of both male and female main characters (only those two though) Do MW accept ones with two viewpoints or do they only like heroine? I've looked at a few, but they seem to stay in her pov. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnon, they certainly do accept both points of view. I've sold a couple like that. In fact they're now moving onto more points of view, even those of other characters.
DeleteThanks Sally, that's great!
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ReplyDeleteMargaret, I love cosy mysteries. Go for it, I've considered doing one myself. And we can always "up" the secrets in our romances.
ReplyDelete