Harlequin Intrigue editor Patience Bloom shares insider info!

Start simple. The biggest mistake I see is when a writer throws in everything but the kitchen sink. The heroine discovers she’s pregnant by the cowboy down the street who has amnesia and can’t remember that he’s the father of another baby left on his doorstep by his ex who just died in a car crash—or was she murdered–but he never forgot the heroine. Did I mention a tornado is coming? This is sensory overload for the reader and often seems forced. When you start, consider a basic plot first. Like, the heroine is on the run and must face her demons and the man she never stopped loving. Think of what the back cover copy of your book might say. Something simple and catchy, right? It’s not how much you put in the story, but how you tell it. For a series book, you don’t need a lot of ado to get to I Do.

(For more awesome tips, check out the Harlequin Blog)