Romance Writing Secrets

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.

Lesson 1
Have you ever read a romance novel and thought: "Hey, I could write one of those?" Or maybe you started writing a romance novel because you loved reading them so much, but you just didn?t know how to finish it? Romance Writing Secrets is just the course for you. Packed with lots of insider secrets, tips, hints, and techniques for crafting romantic fiction, this class will inspire you to become a published author.

Lesson 2
Romance novels are different from other types of fiction because they have two protagonists: the hero and the heroine. These characters act as each other?s allies and antagonists. While there may be a villain in your romance, the main source of conflict comes from the love interest. In this lesson, you'll discover how to turn up the heat by escalating the tension between your lovers.

Lesson 3
Romance flows rather organically from well-crafted characters, as you've probably noticed in your reading. In this lesson, you?ll learn the arc of all romantic novels, from the cute meet to the moment where all seems lost. Join in the ups and downs as your characters go from the infancy of love to its full-blown splendor.

Lesson 4
Internal and external conflicts fuel every scene of every romance. Today you'll learn how to harness the power of these conflicts to round out your character goals, motivation, conflict, and disaster. Being able to write strong conflict will guide you in creating compelling, page-turning scenes populated with interesting and believable characters.

Lesson 5
If you've ever appreciated a well-narrated story, you know the difference point of view can make. Point of view affects how your story is told on every level, from tone to pacing to conflict. In this lesson, we?ll examine the most effective viewpoint for writing romance novels, and how to stay consistent so that your readers are always getting the best perspective on your story.

Lesson 6
If there is one key to creating great romance fiction, it?s emotion. Romance readers pick up your books for the vicarious experience of falling in love. In today's lesson, you'll learn how to take your readers on an emotional journey that will leave them talking about your book for days.

Lesson 7
Romance novels can be titillating, but love scenes are about much more than physical intimacy. Naked flesh is one thing. Naked vulnerability?the scary and exciting connection that happens when two lovers really expose themselves?means much more. In this lesson, you'll learn the tricks behind the hottest secret weapon of romance novels.

Lesson 8
Romance writers don't include great banter just to fill up space. Dialogue can be fun, amusing, and even brilliant, but it has to be functional. Today, you?ll learn how to create witty banter that does two important things for the story?develop characters and draw the reader in deeper.

Lesson 9
To create a romance that appeals to all senses, you need to pay attention to the visual. Readers need to see your story unfolding on the page. In this lesson, you?ll learn the importance of symbols, props, motifs, and how surprises will charm and delight people into turning the page.

Lesson 10
Writing is rewriting, or so the saying goes. But many new authors are daunted by revisions. In this lesson, you'll learn how to revise your fiction, from the big picture problems to the details in the final polish. You'll discover how the pros work, and learn how smart revision can take your story from so-so to spectacular.

Lesson 11
Your novel's finished, but now what? Today you'll learn to write the short cover letter pitch and synopsis that will catapult your story to the top of the editor's pile. You'll find out how to showcase the romantic elements and external conflict in your story so that they win editors over. If you do it right, the synopsis and cover letter might just be the ticket to a contract with a major publishing house.

Lesson 12
Writing is 90% hard work, and yours has only just begun when you finish writing your novel. In our final lesson, you'll learn how to skip the slush pile and get an editor or agent to request your manuscript. There are a few time-tested tricks that you can use to market yourself and your book, and I'm going to show you the secrets to keeping your spirits up while you find a home for your very first romance novel.