Women make up the largest segment of readers and writers of Romance novels. Learn the basic skills needed to write a romance novel in this hands-on course led by Leigh Barbour, a multi-published romance novelist.
Topics covered in this writing course include an overview of the romance publishing industry, types of romance novels, characterization and plots, settings, viewpoints, description, narrative and style, dialogue, sensuality, pacing, revision, available resources, and a look at marketing. Even if you don't intend to write romance novels as a career, this course will provide a goldmine of fascinating insights into a popular genre of literature, and the skills developed in this class can be carried over into other types of writing.
When you have completed this course, you should be able to:
• Turn an idea for a romance novel into a manuscript worthy of publication
• Develop the confidence and skills required to write romance fiction
• Understand the unique features of each sub-category of the romance fiction genre such as Historical Romance, Regency, Contemporary, Inspirational, and Paranormal Romance
• Recognize how romance themes have progressed and how characters in romance novels have changed over time
• Gain an insider glimpse into the Romance Fiction marketplace, current industry trends, perennial favorites, and which genre are thriving or fading
• Discover your true writer's voice and allow it to come to the surface in refreshingly original prose
• Refine your ability to create authentic and lively dialogue
• Avoid common mistakes of bad grammar, awkward dialogue, stereotypes and over-use of metaphors
• Better understand how to infuse sensuality into your prose
• Know how to create dynamic friction and passion between your protagonists
• Write stimulating narrative that will make your story come alive
• Construct an effective plot that will impress publishers and prompt your readers to turn the next page
• Understand the technique of "deconstruction-reconstruction" and learn how to take apart an existing plot or story and rebuild it into a new story of your own
• Learn what is meant by "writing for the market"
• Know what publishers such as Harlequin, Silhouette, and Harper Collin expect to see in a romance novel
• Understand why it is important to follow publishers' guidelines and tip sheets
• Write a winning query letter that will entice a publisher to review your manuscript
Instructor, Leigh Barbour is a published romance novelist. Her works include Zebulon, Raquel's Abel, and Dreams of Chimborazo. Leigh earned a Masters in English Linguistics at George Mason University and a Bachelors in Geography from Radford University. Being fluent in Spanish, she won the prestigious Fulbright Fellows Award as an English Teaching Fellow. In 1994, she spent one year instructing teachers in Arequipa, Peru. After traveling extensively in Latin America, Leigh settled with her husband in Durham, North Carolina, where she spends her days reading, writing, teaching, and tending her Japanese garden and Bassett hounds.
Enrollments begin in Summer 2010 and continue throughout the year. Unlike a traditional class, there is no waiting for classes to begin- students can enroll and start learning the same day and students can work at their own pace in their spare time from the comfort of their home or office. Tuition is $20 and includes 2 CEU credits, no textbook purchase is required. Further details about this writing course and how to enroll online can be found by visiting http://ksurf.net/vu/catalog/342.html
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