Short Works: Briefs and Bites
by Adrienne Macintosh
No, this is not an article about underwear or about dentistry, though nightmares may occasionally feature both. This is about two great opportunities for writers—SPICE Briefs and Nocturne Bites.
For those who are not familiar with either of the programs, here's the scoop. These are short stories of about 10 to 15,000 words that are published in ebook only format through the eHarlequin.com eBook Boutique.
The Briefs are shorter versions of SPICE books—which means they're erotic, steamy and full of sex. But Assistant Editor Mary-Margaret Scrimger cautions writers: "It [the story] should be sensual. I'm not talking silk sheets and rose petals, but there has to be an element of sensuality that goes beyond sex."
Another tip she offers is to adhere strictly to the word count—these stories are only a maximum of 15,000 words. This is not a place to submit your novel.
Also keep in mind that with such a limited word count, you must be careful with the things you try to tackle in your story. For example, Ms. Scrimger advises using caution when building your story around a traumatic or negative past. Overcoming being raped or abused is not an easy thing to do and is certainly very difficult to do in a sensitive and true-to-life way in 15,000 words—especially when much of your story must be dedicated to the sexual situations.
On the flip side, a humorous tone can backfire just as easily. While a witty writing style may be very effective, trying to inject humor into a situation that is supposed to be erotic usually has the effect of deflating the sexual tension that you are trying so hard to build. You may be able to write a very erotic scene about a zucchini, but if it gets stuck in an unfortunate place, that's not very sexy.
In a way, this advice would probably also apply to Nocturne Bites. As the name implies, Bites are shorter versions of Silhouette Nocturne stories, which means they must be paranormal romances that are dark and sexy.
Associate Senior Editor Ann Leslie Tuttle stresses the dark part: "I've noticed that some of the submissions are written in a chick lit tone, which is just too light for the needs of Nocturne and Nocturne Bites. These stories need to be dark romances with a sense of larger-than life issues at stake. Silly, comedic moments just undermine the drama."
And, just as in any good story, a good Bite will also have a large dose of conflict. Ms. Tuttle explains: "In addition to the external drama, there needs to be a sense that the protagonists are both battling some internal conflict that will require their character development during the course of the romance. This is what will provide the tension and allow readers to become invested in the story."
So if you're a paranormal writer that's finding it hard to write a gripping 70,000-word story, consider adapting it into a Bite. Often authors might fall into the temptation of trying to stretch out their plots to make a full-length Nocturne story—or even to try and make it into a miniseries of two or three or four books. Ms. Tuttle warns that thin plotting often means a slow pace—a death sentence for your book. But trimming that story into a short Bite might just make it the fast-paced, tightly plotted story that the editors are looking for.
And don't think that your story must be a miniseries. Stand-alone stories can work very well in the shorter—and longer—formats. From an editor's point of view, they are easier to work with and can always be spun off into a variety of directions down the road.
For new and established writers, the SPICE Briefs and Silhouette Nocturne Bites can be a great way to get your foot in the door, to both building a readership and a relationship with Harlequin editorial staff.
For more information on Briefs and Bites, go to the Writing Guidelines.
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