Harlequin's Feel Good Project Launches Creator's Fund

Back at the start of my Ho Ho Ho Harlequin Holiday Extravaganza I featured a post on Harlequin's new Feel Good Project- Read the original post HERE.

If you're an established or up-and-coming female TV or movie script writer Harlequin, the Publisher that makes the world go round is looking for-

See below for details:

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Harlequin Creator Fund

The Creator Fund is designed to attract and support up-and-coming and established female writers (in the US and Canada) of fiction, TV or movie scripts, who tell feel-good stories with a unique point of view. The first fund draws from a pool of $30,000 USD and will focus on submissions in a wide range of genres, including, but not limited to, comedy, drama, suspense, adventure and historical. The stories must be character-driven and leave audiences feeling uplifted. The writers of the chosen submissions will receive funding and guidance for an opportunity to complete and package their story ideas for advancement.

How do I submit?

You can submit your novel, TV or movie proposals here.

Who can submit?

We are looking for female creators who are residents of the United States of America and Canada (excluding Quebec) and are over the age of majority in their state or province/territory of residence. We also welcome cocreators or creative teams to apply. As an inclusive publisher, Harlequin welcomes female writers from all backgrounds, communities and cultures to submit.

We will not consider applications from corporations or corporate teams, or from any employees (or their family members) of Harlequin and its related companies. Current and former Harlequin authors are very welcome to apply.

We ask that you not submit more than one application to each category.

When does this run?

The current call for submissions will open on January 23, 2019, and close on March 15, 2019. Once the entry period has closed, we will announce a timeline for judging and announcements based on the number of entries received. We hope to have those announcements made by the end of April 2019.

Successful applicants will be contacted shortly after our decisions are made. We may, but will not be required to, contact unsuccessful applicants.

 

What is Harlequin looking for?

We are looking for material that highlights your unique voice while supporting Harlequin’s commitment to telling feel-good stories. Entries will be evaluated on:

1.   Characters – we want fully developed, believable and authentic characters.

2.   Story – we want a compelling story that engages the audience and leaves the audience hopeful and energized.

3.   Originality – we want a story that is unique and stands apart.

4.   Voice – we want a story told in an authentic voice that reflects you as a creator.

5.   Marketability – we want stories that the world wants to consume, that is relevant and engaging.

6.   Quality of the writing – including form, structure, pacing and fundamentals.

At the time of your application, we will ask you to select the category to which you are applying. Each category has slightly different application criteria:

·      TV: Treatment (maximum of 2,500 words) and a pitch letter setting out story concept and the general arc of an 8–12 episode season, including character descriptions and story locations.

·      Movie: Treatment (maximum of 2,500 words) and a pitch letter setting out story concept, key plot points, settings and characters.

·      Novel: Synopsis (maximum of 2,500 words) plus the first chapter of the novel. If your novel begins with a prologue, include it and chapter one (maximum of 7,500 words) and a pitch letter. Total word count is 10,000 maximum for synopsis and chapter one.

While we are not imposing a hard cap on the proposal length, we strongly suggest you aim for the guidelines above as a target. We want enough detail to fairly evaluate your proposal, but the proposal needs to be punchy enough to attract our attention and let us know the “hook” of your idea.

While we are not tied to any specific genre, this first Creator Fund is in support of the broader Harlequin Feel Good initiative. That means we are looking for uplifting, positive stories that empower our audience and should end on a positive (or at least hopeful) note. This means we are generally not interested in horror, blood, gore or shock-value writing, though this is not a hard rule if such story elements are in service of the feel-good arc.

How will Harlequin choose recipients?

Once the time period for entries has closed, all eligible entries will be sent to our judging panel for evaluation. Currently, the judging panel is made up of executives from Harlequin editorial and marketing, and movie and television consultants.

The panel will apply the guidelines above to each entry and look for promising and exciting proposals that support the Harlequin Feel Good Project.

More information

To find more information or to submit, visit the Harlequin Creator Fund submissions page.

Contact Information

The Harlequin Creator Fund is being offered by Harlequin Enterprises Limited, Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower, 22 Adelaide Street West, Floor 41, Toronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canada. Please direct any inquiries to: HarlequinCreatorFund@Harlequin.com.

If this sounds like you don't wait submissions end March 15, 2019!!

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