RACY READS

Are you the next big romance writer? Have you got a steamy story to tell? Fancy yourself as the new Jackie Collins? Well, here's your chance. ITV's Lorraine together with Mills & Boon are launching a nationwide search to find racy literature's hidden diamond . . . and it could be you!

All you have to do is submit the first 1000 words of your novel by the 28th January, and the judges will take it from there. The prize? A publishing contract with the legendary institution that is M&B, meaning you'll see your book on the shelves this summer - AND, wait for it, you'll be flown out to Hollywood for lunch and literary liaisons with the one and only Jackie Collins. Yes - Jackie! It doesn't get much better than that.

I'll be judging the comp alongside Jackie. Here's what I'm looking for . . .

1. A really strong, compelling, addictive opening. Remember you've only got 1000 words to impress us. This might sound daunting if you've never written a word in your life, but believe me, you'll be surprised at how quickly that word count climbs. You could set up a mystery, or a secret, and we just have to keep reading to see it unravel; it could be an electric writing style, sharp and sassy and on the money; or it could be a character we instantly fall in love with. Either way, by the time we reach the end of that 1000 words, we have to be desperate to read the rest.

2. Focus on your characters. Think about what attracts you to your favourite protagonists - not just in books, but on TV, in film, even people you know, and try to isolate what it is that draws you in. You might bring in a sexy hero who immediately casts us under his spell, or a feisty, gutsy heroine we just have to see succeed, or perhaps it's a villain who we love to hate. Remember: it's all about the characters. Get them right and you've got us hooked.

3. Let your imagination run wild. This is fiction, so, yes, while you might feel more comfortable writing what you know, don't be afraid to conjure the seemingly ridiculous, the overblown, the exaggerated. Have fun! If we invest in your characters then we'll believe your story, whatever you tell us. One thing I think of when I'm writing bonkbusters is: This is big, but how do I make it bigger? We want to escape into your book. Take us there.

Here's how to enter - good luck! http://www.itv.com/lorraine/hottopics/enter-racy-reads/

Victoria x