With over 160 issues printed, RWA's monthly newsletter -- Hearts Talk -- is our members' main source of romance industry information.

Preview

Jan 2007 (front page only)

Want to write an article for Hearts Talk?

We welcome submissions (see our guidelines below) but please note that we do not offer payment. Address your submission to the Editor at editor@romanceaustralia.com  In your email, specify which column you are targeting (e.g. The Business Of Writing - includes motivational and time management articles, Getting Started - for beginners; For Every Writer - all levels; Book Review; or Market Feature) and put your article IN THE BODY OF YOUR EMAIL. No attachments please. Also include your website address, brief bio, newest release (if applicable) and area(s) of expertize.

After RWA accepts your article and it is scheduled for a forthcoming issue, you can obtain a copy of the issue by emailing the editor on editor@romanceaustralia.com with your snail mail address. Alternatively, if you have Adobe Reader, you can get an electronic *.pdf copy (bear in mind this will be in at least five parts and some computers have trouble reading a large file).

Writing Articles for Hearts Talk

Here are a few tips on the structure and content of your article for HeartsTalk (thanks goes to former Hearts Talk editor, Louise Bickerton for this).

Of course, every writer brings her own flavour to an article and while this is great, there are a few things most articles should always include:

1. Write a punchy, 'grab 'em' headline that introduces your topic. It should be short with a clear message (eg. SHOW ME, DON’T TELL ME!) 2. Give me a quick introduction in the third person that adds detail to the headlines message and draws the reader in (e.g. We all hate criticism but it can belp us to write better if we use it wisely).

3. Launch straight into the message of your article with minimal waffle - define your topic/argument/problem-to-be-solved within the first two paragraphs.

4. Remember you are talking to romance writers and readers whose range of writing experience extends from beginner to published author. Decide the level of complexity of your ideas at the start and stick to this level throughout the article 5. Deal with each issue separately in clearly defined sections or paragraph. If it is relevant, number your ideas (eg. 10 Tips for Synopsis Writing) or break up the sections with minor headings that introduce the idea to be discussed (eg. BE SELECTIVE So, how much of this criticism sbould you believe, and more importantly act on?).

6. Draw all your ideas together at the end to complete your article and give the reader a satisfying conclusion. This can be done in the last paragraph where you summarise what has been discussed throughout the article (eg. Simple to use, E-mail is almost as fast and personal as a telephone call - and just as cheap. Once you use it you'Il wonder how you ever got along without it).

7. Give a short biography of yourself (the author) at the very end no more than three sentences. (eg. Jane Writer is a freelance journalist, past Emma Darcy Award finalist and is currently working on a reincarnation romance. Visit her website at www.janewriter.com).

Put © and your name at the end and a word count for the editor - that’s computer word count, please. Copyright remains with the author although Hearts Talk has reciprocal reproduction rights with some newsletters in the US who may reprint your article without seeking permission. Credit is always given to the author and to Hearts Talk. If the editor wishes to use it again or give it on to another unaffiliated organization, she will seek your permission to do so.