Creative Writing Course: How to Write a Romance Novel

Learn to write your own romance novel with our writing short courses in Sydney!

Do you love love stories? Do you want to learn how to write a romance story? Or perhaps you're already writing one, and you are wanting to learn how to get published in romance?

Romance is the highest earning popular fiction genre in the world, with the most avid and voracious readers, and in this course you’ll learn how to write a romance novel, as well as what a reader/editor/agent is looking for in a romance story, and how to deliver that page-turning, heart- stealing experience for the genre-savvy romance reader.

Learn the tools and techniques to build engaging characters who will overcome emotional and physical obstacles to forge strong and powerful relationships and an enduring love that will have your reader sighing long after they’ve finished your book – and hurrying out to buy the next one. The workshop includes a series of structured in-class activities with positive feedback in a supportive environment as students learn the fundamentals of romance writing in this practical, interactive 6- week course in Sydney.

If you want to write romance and build a successful career as a romance writer, then this is the course for you.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this romance novel course, you should:

• Know the elements that define the romance genre, as well as the different categories of romance stories, and the nuances of audience, market and industry, and how to find out what readers and publishers want.
• Understand the core fundamentals of creating characters with well-motivated objectives that create compelling conflict.
• Be able to develop a realistic relationship between the characters that hit the ‘feels’ of the reader, as well as know how and when to use tension.
• Develop a plot and draft a story outline that will have deliver that swoon-worthy read.
• Understand what a synopsis is, how to use one, and how to write one
• Understand basic editing and how to approach editors, agents, and readers as a professional writer

Course content

What will be covered in this romance novel writing course?

Week 1: Genre, Market, Audience & Industry

What romance is (and isn’t), and what the romance novel market looks like, reader demographics and which publishers are publishing what.

Week 2: Character

How to create swoon-worthy heroes and heroines with objectives, motivations and conflict.

Week 3: Relationship Development & Tension

With the ‘Who’ sorted out, learn the ‘how’ and ‘why’ – how to get these characters together, and why they need to be together by developing tension and intimacy in an authentic and organic relationship arc.

Week 4: Plot & Story Structure

How to plot your romance novel and ensure conflict is realistic and sustainable through to the ‘Happy Ever After’ ending.

Week 5: Revisions, Edits & Synopsis

How to revise and edit (and what’s the difference?) and how to use, and how to write, the ‘Dreaded Synopsis’.

Week 6: Pitching, Publishing & Submissions

How to pitch your romance novel to an editor or agent, how to submit your manuscript to a publisher, and what is involved with self-publishing.

Intended audience

Who is this romance writing course for?

This course is carefully tailored for the beginner romance writer wanting to learn how to write a romance novel, as well as those with some experience who are looking to upskill.

Course venue

Online via Zoom

• Zoom details will be emailed to you 
• Requirement: A device and stable internet connection

Course materials

What to bring to class

A notebook and pen/pencil.