Creative writing competition: Love to Write

The Love to Write competition is for romance writers from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds.

Mills & Boon is running Love to Write in partnership with Love Island winner Amber Rose Gill, who is publishing her debut romance Until I Met You with Mills & Boon in July 2022.

‘For me this project is so much more than just a love story,' said Amber Rose. 'It’s about bringing more representation and inclusivity to the romance genre. I know first-hand growing up that love stories were never about girls and boys who looked like me – the lead characters were never black or mixed race.  I want to create a narrative that changes this, that lets people see themselves in the heroine or hero. Given Mills & Boon novels have been selling for over 100 years, it’s the perfect brand to join forces with to make positive changes and to inspire other writers to do the same.’

To be eligible to enter, writers should be unpublished and unagented. Anyone may enter, but Mills & Boon particularly welcomes submissions from writers from underrepresented backgrounds. Stories should fit with one of the existing Mills & Boon categories: Modern, Historical, Medical and True Love.

The winner will receive a book contract with Mills & Boon worth £2,000, plus a £1,500 grant to support their writing. They'll also be given mentoring with an experienced Mills & Boon editor to hel them develop their submission into a publishable novel.

To enter, submit the fist 5,000 words, a synposis and an author statement.

Entry is free.

The closing date is 19 September.

For full details see the website.