Online | Fiction | Workshop

Online Romance Writing Workshop

Do you want to write love stories that are as compelling, as emotional, and as steamy as the strongest romance writers out there?

In this six-week online workshop, writers who either already write romance or desire to write it will learn all the components of what makes romance writing successful. Writers will study character development, point-of-view, conflict, plot, pace, dialogue, and even how to write a love scene. Weekly writing prompts will encourage authors to get to work, and assigned reading by the best romance authors will help guide writers in their craft. Each writer will get to workshop their writing twice, and will also meet once with me for an individual conference to discuss their writing goals. No experience with romance writing necessary—just an eagerness to learn more about this genre.

CLASS TAKEAWAYS

- intensive feedback from peers and instructors on two romance submissions

- one private meeting with the instructor over the phone or Skype to discuss writing style, goals, and areas for improvement

- straightforward, practical lessons on POV, character development, plot, pace, and other elements of craft to help writers craft compelling love stories

- the ability to write a riveting love scene

- greater familiarity with the world of contemporary romance writing

- detailed information on what the submission process and publishing landscape looks like for romance writers

- more confidence as a writer, on and off the page

CLASS STRUCTURE

Week 1: Intro, formula of the genre, subgenres of romance, tropes in romance novels

Week 2: Hero/heroine, secondary characters, back stories, internal conflict, workshop #1

Week 3: Creating good chemistry, writing love scenes, point-of-view, pace, workshop #2

Week 4: Plot, subplot, external conflict, plot clichés, goal/motivation/conflict, workshop #3

Week 5: Stylistic points, dialogue, first chapters, endings, happily ever after vs. happy for now, workshop #4

Week 6: Types of romance stories publishers are seeking, pitches/query letters/synopses, submitting your work, workshop #5

Rachel Burkot

Rachel Burkot worked as a romance book editor at Harlequin for six years, acquiring category romance, contemporary romance, multicultural romance and women’s fiction. She is currently a literary agent at Holloway Literary, where she works on authors’ manuscripts, helps them with career planning, sells books to publishing houses, negotiates deals and rights, reviews contracts, and helps with promotion and marketing strategies.