Essentials of Romance Writing
Does a deep love story live in your soul? Could you join the ranks of the Bronte sisters, Nora Roberts, Judith McNaught, Danielle Steele, or Nicholas Sparks? Discover your romantic writing roots while you familiarize yourself with the specific factors that create a successful romance story.
Course level: Beginner / Intermediate
Required Book: You Can Write a Romance by Rita Clay Estrada & Rita Gallagher
Workshop Length: 6 weeks
Tuition: $299.00 ($269.10 for VIP)
Start Date: View Essentials of Romance Writing Course Schedule
Course Structure
The workshop will consist of six one-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures (text based) and associated textbook reading assignments, along with a writing assignment to be submitted to the instructor for private review. In addition, work will be posted each session for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop you will be able to participate in asynchronous lecture discussion and be encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing and creativity exercises. (1.2 CEUs)
You will learn:
- How the hero of an action novel differs from the hero of a romantic novel
- To master the tricky business of putting your hero and heroine together and keeping them together-yet-apart until the story’s close
- To create the sexual tension that will have your readers turning the pages late into the night
- Conventions must be followed and what rules can be broken for readers to embrace your work
Who should take this course:
- Short Story writers and Novelists who love the romance genre
- Graduates of other beginner level workshops who now want to focus on their passion of romance writing
- Students of any level who want to explore the romance genre in more depth and gain key insights from a Published Author
Course Outline
Session One: Introduction
- What is a genre romance?
- How does it differ from a mainstream novel?
- Why we write (and read) romance?
- A brief touch of history.
Writing Assignment: If you are already working on a romance and you want to continue with it, summarize the plot in 500 words or fewer. Or if you do not have a story started, think of two or three story ideas and summarize the plots, for a total of no more than 500 words.
Session Two: Characterization
- What is and is not acceptable in a romance character
- Developing the heroine, hero, and side-kick character
- Names for characters
Writing Assignment: In 250 words or fewer, tell about your heroine. What does she want to accomplish? What stands in her way? Give your hero the same treatment as the heroine, again in 250 words or fewer. Who is this man and how does he impact the heroine’s life?
Session Three: The Story Opening
- Putting heroine and hero on stage immediately
- Conflict
- Selecting the right spot in the story to begin
Writing Assignment: Write the first 500 words of your story. The heroine’s conflict/problem should be apparent. How does the hero arrive? On a white horse? Bring him into the picture as soon as possible.
Session Four: The Issue of Intimacy
- Sensuality versus sensuousness
- How much intimacy is enough and how much is too much?
- The “sweet romance” versus the “temptation” romance
- Euphemisms
Writing Assignment: Write a “love scene” of no more than 500 words that shows some aspect of intimacy between the hero and heroine.
Session Five: Plot Essentials
- How romance resembles mainstream fiction
- The importance of character change
- eries of triumphs and obstacles
- How romance differs from mainstream fiction—morality
Writing Assignment: Using up to 1000 words, write a scene encompassing one plot point in your story. It could be an argument between the hero and heroine, or it could be a resolution of a problem. It could be a decision made by the heroine, or a turning point in her life. It could be a triumph or an obstacle.
Session Six: First 2500 words
- Resources
- Romance Writers of America
- Publishers
Writing Assignment: Submit the first 2500 words of your novel or story, or, if you wish, send 2500 words from the middle of the story, or the end. If you’re writing a short story, it may be complete in 2500 words.
