Romance Writing I
GUIDE TO FICTION COURSES
Fiction Pathways
Foundation
If you’re not sure what kind of fiction to write...
If you know what kind of fiction to write...
Fiction Writing I
Zoetrope Fiction Writing I
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writing I
Mystery Writing I
Romance Writing I
Children’s Book Writing I
Or...
If you want a rather short course...
Fiction Writing Intensive
Children’s Book Writing Intensive
Middle Grade/Young Adult Intensive
Humor Writing Intensive
Comics & Graphic Novels
Next Steps
After completing a Level I ten-week course...
Short Fiction II
Zoetrope Short Fiction II
Novel II First Draft Part 1
Novel II Critique
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writing II
Mystery Writing II
Romance Writing II
Children’s Book Writing II
After completing Novel First Draft II Part 1...
After completing Short Fiction II...
Also Helpful
These essential courses are great for writers of any level.
Character
Dialogue
Plot 1: Mechanics
Plot 2: Machinations
Reading Fiction
In(verse): Poetic Techniques for Non-Poets
The Writer’s Mind
The Editor’s Eye
Grammar 1: The Basics
Grammar 2: Expertise and Finesse
Social Media
For Teens
Romance Writing I is a 10-week workshop, which includes lectures, exercises, and the critiquing of student projects. It’s for beginners or anyone who wants to brush up on the fundamentals. Farther down, you can view a syllabus for this course.
What’s more addictive than romance? Perhaps romance novels. They account for a hefty portion of all fiction paperback sales, with many millions of readers worldwide experiencing the thrills and heartbreaks of these ever-appealing stories. The field is more wide-open than ever, embracing romance in all its multifarious forms.
To write successful romance novels, you must marry the skills of a fiction writer with a thorough understanding of the genre. Here you will learn about the various types of romance novels and their special requirements, as well as fiction craft and how to market your work.
Whether you seek to write historical or contemporary, sassy or suspenseful, we’ll show you how to write romance novels readers will fall in love with.
I enrolled in Romance I on a whim. It's what I love to read. Why not try writing it? I can't imagine a more supportive instructor and smarter fellow writers to encourage me every step of the way.
Lisa Christensen
advertising writing director
Notes
The “romance” genre does not refer to any fictional work that contains romance; rather, it refers to novels where everything revolves around the love story.
You may also work on a “romance” novel in a Fiction I or (at the advanced level) Novel II First Draft or Novel II Critique, or one of our other genre courses: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Mystery.
If you’re working on a YA novel, you may take a Fiction/Novel course, or a “genre” course, or you may take a Children’s Book course, where the full spectrum of children’s books will be covered.
Upcoming Classes
Check back soon. You'll likely see options when we finish our next schedule.
Syllabus
This course gives you a firm grounding in the basics of the romance genre, and gets you writing a romance novel. Course components:
Lectures
Writing exercises
Workshopping of student projects (each student presenting work two times)
Week 1
Introduction to Romance Writing: What is a romance novel? Types of romance novels. How to choose a type. Studying romance novels.
Week 2
Character: The heroic couple. The heroine. The hero. Character descriptions. Creating characters. Bringing characters to life.
Week 3
Conflict: Romance plots. Problems and solutions. Planning a plot. Cause and effect.
Week 4
Love: The developing relationship. Lust vs. love. Pulling the couple together and keeping them apart. Love scenes. Sexual tension. Finding the right resolution.
Week 5
Storytelling: Starting a story. Scenes and chapters. Story elements—narrative, flashback, suspense, pacing, foreshadowing, the switch.
Week 6
Point of View: Point of view types—first person and various types of third person. Which POV to use. Choosing the POV character. The author's voice.
Week 7
Dialogue: The benefit of dialogue. How dialogue is real but not real. Handling dialogue. Dialogue mechanics.
Week 8
Setting: How to choose a setting. Political correctness. Research.
Week 9
Revision: Reviewing your work. Tips for revision. Diagnosing romance novel “problems."
Week 10
The Business: The ins and outs of publishing. Self-publishing. The submission process. Agents and editors.
Note: Content may vary among individual classes.
