Romance Writing: How to Create a Best-Selling Romance Novel from Udemy

Who doesn’t like a good love story? Romance is one of the most consistently popular and high-performing genres of fiction. And in the ever-growing online fiction market, a hit romance title can reach thousands or even millions of fans worldwide. But how do you go about writing a romance novel? This course will show you how to begin.

In this course developed by romance editors, we outline the major trends in the genre and strategies for planning and writing your novel. Each unit guides you through the next step of creating your story, providing both handy tips and in-depth analysis to help you craft a romance that readers will love.

If you are…

· An aspiring writer starting your first romance novel;

· An experienced writer making your first foray into the romance market;

· A seasoned romance author seeking to learn how you can find success on new, trendy digital publishing platforms;

. . . Then this course is for you.

This course covers:

· A general introduction to the romance genre;

· The major sub-genres of romance and their unique features;

· Character creation and popular character traits;

· Relationship tropes and developing compelling dynamics;

· Plot development and pacing out a love story.

Who are we?

eGlobal Creative Publishing Inc. is an e-publishing company based in New York State. We operate a growing publishing program which partners with online platforms to bring authors’ works to international audiences. Our mission is to promote global literature and to create opportunities for authors to explore new online fiction media.

What's inside

Syllabus

What is Romance Fiction?

Defining Romance Novels

Why Do People Love Romance?

Romance in Serial Online Fiction

Brainstorming Exercise

Subgenres of Romance

Contemporary Romance

Paranormal Romance

Historical Romance

LGBTQ+ Romance

Young Adult Romance

Characters in Romance

The Protagonist

The Love Interest

Antagonists

Other Supporting Characters

Writing Relationships

Character Dynamics

Obstacles

Relationship Growth

Fantasy Elements

Structure and Plot

The Beginning

The Need for Good Conflict

How to Pace a Romance

When is the Story Over?

Concluding Thoughts

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Romance Writing: How to Create a Best-Selling Romance Novel with these activities:

Review 'Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels'

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Familiarize yourself with the common story structures used in romance novels to improve your understanding of plot development.

View Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Romancing the Beat'.
Read the book, taking notes on key concepts.
Identify how these concepts apply to your own writing.

Review 'Writing the Romantic Comedy'

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Study the elements of romantic comedy to add humor and lightness to your romance writing.

View Writing the Romantic Comedy, Revised and... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Writing the Romantic Comedy'.
Read the book, taking notes on key concepts.
Identify how these concepts apply to your own writing.

Character Trait Brainstorming

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Generate lists of character traits to expand your understanding of character archetypes and dynamics.

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Choose a character archetype (e.g., alpha male, damsel in distress).
Brainstorm a list of traits associated with that archetype.
Consider how these traits might interact with other characters.

Four other activities

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Outline a Romance Novel

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Practice outlining a complete romance novel to solidify your understanding of plot structure and pacing.

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Choose a subgenre and target audience.
Develop your main characters and their backstories.
Outline the major plot points and conflicts.
Plan the resolution and happy ending.

Write a Short Romance Scene

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Practice writing a compelling romance scene to improve your dialogue and character interaction skills.

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Choose a specific scenario or setting.
Write a scene focusing on character interaction and emotion.
Revise and refine your writing.

Compile a List of Romance Tropes

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Research and compile a list of common romance tropes to better understand genre conventions.

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Research common romance tropes online and in books.
Categorize the tropes by subgenre or theme.
Provide examples of each trope in popular romance novels.

Provide Feedback on Other Writers' Romance Scenes

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Improve your understanding of romance writing by providing constructive feedback to other writers.

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Join a writing group or online forum.
Offer feedback on other writers' romance scenes.
Focus on plot, character, and dialogue.

Career center

Learners who complete Romance Writing: How to Create a Best-Selling Romance Novel will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Romance Novelist

A Romance Novelist crafts compelling love stories that captivate readers. This course specifically addressing romance writing helps in understanding genre trends, character creation, relationship dynamics, and plot development. The course's focus on subgenres like contemporary, paranormal, historical, and LGBTQ+ romance, alongside guidance on character archetypes and relationship tropes, helps a romance novelist stand out in a competitive market. Furthermore, the course covers pacing and structure, which are crucial elements in keeping readers engaged and satisfied.

See salaries and explore the career path for Romance Novelist

Fiction Editor

A Fiction Editor reviews and refines manuscripts, ensuring they meet publishing standards and resonate with readers. This course, developed by romance editors, provides insights into the romance genre's conventions, trends, and successful writing strategies. The focus on subgenres, character development, and plot pacing helps an editor assess the quality and marketability of romance manuscripts. Exposure to the elements of serial online fiction may also be valuable, giving the fiction editor a greater ability to suggest improvements to the manuscript.

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Literary Agent

A Literary Agent represents authors and sells their work to publishers. Knowledge of genre trends and reader preferences, as covered in this course, helps the literary agent identify promising romance manuscripts and pitch them effectively. The course's focus on subgenres like paranormal and historical romance, along with character creation and relationship dynamics, gives the literary agent a deeper understanding of what makes a romance novel successful. The agent may also be better able to give advice to authors whom they represent.

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Content Writer

A Content Writer creates engaging written material for websites, blogs, and marketing campaigns. If the content writer is in charge of writing romance-themed content, then this course helps with understanding the romance genre, its subgenres, and popular tropes. The course's focus on character creation and relationship dynamics gives the content writer a framework for creating compelling blog posts, articles, or social media content related to romance novels. With the insight from this course, content can be better tailored to specific online venues.

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Editorial Assistant

An Editorial Assistant provides administrative and editorial support to publishing houses or literary agencies. This course gives the editorial assistant insights into the romance genre, its subgenres, and what makes a novel successful. The course provides a helpful context for assessing manuscripts and understanding the needs of editors and agents. An editorial assistant may also be better able to provide feedback to senior colleagues or to authors.

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Creative Writing Teacher

A Creative Writing Teacher instructs and mentors aspiring writers in developing their craft. This course on romance writing provides valuable knowledge of the genre's conventions, subgenres, and successful writing techniques. The course's modules on character creation, relationship dynamics, and plot development help a teacher guide students through the process of writing compelling romance stories. Having a structured curriculum to present helps the creative writing teacher to organize their own class.

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Freelance Writer

A Freelance Writer creates written content on a variety of topics for different clients. If a freelance write specializes in romance or romantic topics, then this course helps with understanding the romance genre, its subgenres, and popular tropes. The course's focus on character creation and relationship dynamics gives the freelance writer a framework for creating compelling articles, blog posts, or marketing materials related to romance novels. The course may allow them to enter a new market.

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Social Media Manager

A Social Media Manager develops and implements social media strategies to promote brands or products. For a social media manager working for a romance author or publishing house, this course will be exceptionally helpful. The course helps in understanding the romance genre, its subgenres, and what appeals to readers. The course's focus on character archetypes and relationship tropes helps the social media manager create engaging content that resonates with romance fans. The social media manager may also be better able to schedule posts at optimal times.

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Book Reviewer

A Book Reviewer reads and evaluates books, providing critical assessments for publications or online platforms. This course helps the book reviewer develop a deeper understanding of the romance genre, its subgenres, and the elements that make a romance novel successful. The course's focus on character development, plot pacing, and relationship dynamics gives insights into the nuances of romance writing, allowing the reviewer to provide more informed and insightful critiques. The course may also help them compare different books.

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Copy Editor

A Copy Editor reviews and corrects written material for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style. While not specifically focused on creative content, this course helps the copy editor develop a familiarity with the conventions and terminology of the romance genre. This knowledge allows the copy editor to better identify and correct errors in romance manuscripts, ensuring accuracy and consistency. This helps the copy editor to not accidentally 'correct' elements that are purposeful stylistic choices.

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Marketing Specialist

A Marketing Specialist develops and executes marketing campaigns to promote products or services. For a marketing specialist working in the publishing industry, this course can be applied. The course helps in understanding the romance genre, its subgenres, and what appeals to readers. The course's focus on what makes a successful novel helps the marketing specialist create targeted campaigns that resonate with romance readers. A marketing specialist may also wish to use the insights to suggest new cover designs.

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Public Relations Specialist

A Public Relations Specialist manages communication between an organization and the public. For a public relations specialist working for a romance author or publishing house, this course may be useful. The course helps with understanding the romance genre, its subgenres, and what appeals to readers. The course's focus on character archetypes and relationship tropes helps the public relations specialist craft messaging that resonates with romance fans. The public relations specialist may use this information to craft press releases.

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Librarian

A Librarian manages library resources and assists patrons in finding information. This course may be useful for librarians who want to better understand the romance genre and its appeal to readers. The course's overview of subgenres, character types, and relationship dynamics helps the librarian curate their romance collection and provide recommendations to patrons. A librarian may also be able to promote the book collection more effectively.

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Screenwriter

Screenwriters write scripts for movies and television, but this course may still be helpful. Although the course focuses on novels, it can help in understanding the romance genre, its subgenres, and popular tropes. The course's focus on character creation and relationship dynamics gives the screenwriter a framework for creating compelling romantic plots. The screenwriter may also be able to adapt romance novels into filmscripts.

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Bookstore Employee

A Bookstore Employee assists customers in finding books and maintaining store operations. This course may be useful for bookstore employees who want to better understand the romance genre and its appeal to readers. The course's overview of subgenres, character types, and relationship dynamics helps the employee provide recommendations to customers. They may also be able to promote the book collection more effectively and engage in conversation with the readership.

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Romance Writing

How to Create a Best-Selling Romance Novel

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