Writing Category Mini Series by Deb Kastner

Writing Category Mini Series
(June 1999 meeting summary)
by
Deb Kastner

Patricia Werner and Kay Bergstrom (aka Cassie Miles) have successfully collaborated on a
Harlequin Intrigue miniseries, and likewise have had a miniseries idea rejected. Saturday they
shared their knowledge of what works and what doesn't to a full HODRW house.

The four kinds of miniseries include:

- THEME: These are the cover-flash books, often editor initiated and not tied to each other,
except by the highly marketable theme (i.e. mail order brides).

- RELATIONAL: These are your brother, sister, friend, hometown, homespun novels, usually
written by one author and are author generated.

- LINKED: Author or editor generated, these stand-alone books are linked by subject and written
by a number of different authors. An example would be a continuity series with military heroes,
bodyguards, or angels.

- SEQUELS: Strong secondary characters often spring into new books.

DO'S AND DON'TS OF PITCHING A MINISERIES:

DON'T be afraid to try alternative markets with your work.
DO write an emotionally compelling, rich story that transcends the romance (this is where babies
come in!).
DO aim toward the hometown/homespun, avoiding urban settings unless it's vital to your emotionally-rich character.
DO use classic romance hooks-the more the merrier!
DO blatantly state your hooks in your synopsis in capital letters.
DON'T just expect your busy editor to grasp your marketing strategy.
DO market aggressively. If an editor gives you a "good" rejection, it makes sense to target her
with another project.
DO create a strong overall arch to the series, and bank it with as many marketable hooks as you
can.
DON'T give up if you're rejected. Roll with the punches. Sometimes even when you do your
homework, the timing will be off.
DO salvage the books in a rejected series idea by writing them individually.