Class Syllabus: How to Write Romance

Office Hours:	9 to 5 Eastern

Course Description and Structure

This self-paced, teacher assisted course is designed for any romance writer who wants to add depth to their characters and story. But this course is unique in the fact that you are not going to learn how to write about romance or love. This course will explore in-depth what romance is and how to use this new knowledge to 'trigger' the reader's emotions. When this happens the reader feels the budding relationship grow between the characters. This increases the emotional impact, and the story's chance of being noticed by book reviewers and publishers. The information in this course will also help writers struggling to create realistic, strong characters in their romance stories.

Do your stories lack something? Do people think the character's actions are weakly motivated? Do people make comments that the characters are lacking passion or a firm commitment? Do critique partners dislike one of your characters? Have you created a wonderful character only to have other people say they dislike the character, or some of the ways they act? If these problems plague your story then this course is for you. If not, come and enjoy learning more about your craft in a fun, relaxed, self-paced, friendly workshop style course where you are free to contribute and exchange ideas with other students.

The novel, short story, or magazine writer will all find this course improves their story. The Romance genre is driven by two things, emotional impact and reader's demands. Maximizing a story's ability to provide both will give it an edge over the thousands of other books submitted to publisher's each month. Learn from published authors the tips that make your book stand above the rest.

This course is half the size of a romance novel, more than 100 pages long. It is full of information and useful tips that can improve any romance story, whether your first, or your tenth. The instructor has included things learned from writing her own romance novels, and working for an American publishing company (listed in Writers Digest's publisher directory) where she edited romance novels of all genres from paranormal to inspirational, historical to intrigue, science fiction to fantasy.

The course goes beyond teaching students what makes a good romance story. It covers a wide range of topics from understanding the principals of love and how to make the reader feel loved, to the art of flirting, and what readers expect from a romance story.

As a bonus, several authors contributed to the content of this course; Romance writer Lena Robinson; Writer, teacher Rob Parnell; and inspirational author Debra Kinnard.

There are nine lessons, and more than seventy net links. If you would like to know more about this course please scroll down the enrollment page and click on the syllabus links.

Suzanne James is a published author, full time writer, and senior editor of Novel Writer Magazine. For more information view the syllabus or visit http://www.squidoo.com/gracepub/

Course Requirements

There are no course requirements except the love of reading romance. Everything you need to study this course is included.

Course Goals

This is a practical course not an academic one. Students are encouraged to redo assignments and lessons until they feel satisfied with their skills. Everyone is encouraged to participate weekly in the class forums.

The object of this course is to teach students how to improve their romance stories by understanding what love is, how people fall in love, and how to play on the reader's emotions to create a gripping story.

Course Materials

There are no books required to take this course, but there are a couple that will help you recieve the greatest benefits from this course.

45 Master Characters, by Victoria Lynn Schmidt.
5 Languages of Love, by Gary Chapman.
The Idiot's Guide to Writing Romance.

These books are available in most libraries, but if you are unable to find them it is not important. All the content needed for this course is found in the lessons.

The content of this course equals what would be found in a 100 page book.

Grading Policy

Students are graded on their ability to express and understand the knowledge taught in the lessons, both in the assignments and in the class forums.

Disclaimer

This course will not improve all romance stories. There are many elements needed to create marketable fiction. This course only covers one.

Topics covered.

1. What is romance? The genre has a very broad definition of books that fit into the romance genre, but this course will only deal with romance, falling in love, and love.

2.Flirting. This primal instinct is understood around the world and can be used to create an emotional bond between the reader. Learn the natural progression that takes people from strangers to a couple.

3. Love. There are two lessons which deal with healthy love, and co dependancy. They cover the different types of love, what love is, and the emotional journey from strangers to an intimate couple.

4. The Writer's Style. Each genre has its own style. Knowing how to write a marketable novel will help writers find their 'place' in the publishing world. This lesson also has simple, easy to understand, guidelines for removing passive voice, passive writing, showing not telling, and some common grammar problems.

5. Can a writer reduce the number of rejection letters they receive? Yes, if they know how to write a marketable novel and then sell it to the right publisher. This lesson includes a general romance genre story arc and tips on structuring a novel.

6. Characters are the heartbeat of a romance novel. Understanding how to weave the character motivation and plot points together into a strong story will eliminate the need for multiple rewrites and will create a story which will make editors stop and take the time to read.

7. To create a perfect couple, and dynamic/memorable characters a writer needs to understand personality types. There is an indepth list of the four basic personality types included in this course for you to take with you when finished the course.

8. The Hero and Heroine are the foundation of the story. What do today's reader want in their hero/heroines? This course doesn't outline what is selling today, but teaches you how to keep current with what readers want.

9. Suspense is the flow and rhythm of romance. Suspense as it relates to romance is dealt with in this course. How can it be used as a tool to improve the story and how it influences the reader are both discussed in one lesson.

Instructor Profile:

My Writer's Profiles: http://www.squidoo.com/gracepub/ http://www.ifreelance.com/pro/8436 http://www.writingup.com/blog/gracepub Job: Senior Editor - Novel Writer Magazine

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