This writing course, Online: Writing Romance with Anne Gracie, takes place online.

The market for romance novels is huge, hungry and international, and many Australian romance writers have achieved remarkable success both internationally and, more recently, at home.

However, there’s a widespread belief that romance novels are all much the same, and that there’s a secret formula. They aren’t and there isn’t. Successful romance novels engage readers the same way that all good novels do: with a strong premise, an engrossing story, compelling characters, evocative writing, tension on the page, and clever structure. The aim is to deliver an emotional and entertaining experience.

Is this course right for you? Read our FAQ >

Join this online romance writing workshop with author Anne Gracie prepared to write and read, and improve your writing skills with practical writing exercises. Share your writing to get reader and tutor feedback—a great preparation for publication.

Even if you’re not writing a romance, including a touch of romance in a different kind of novel can enlarge and enrich readers’ experience and widen your potential reading audience.

Topics covered will include:

• the market and appeal of romance novels
• the difference between plot and story
• getting started on your novel
• creating lively and appealing characters
• creating conflict and tension
• pushing on to finish a story — and keeping the faith
• troubleshooting
• the various roads to publication.

This course involves submitting short writing exercises, and giving and receiving peer feedback. Participants will receive limited tutor feedback.

Expected Learning Outcomes 

In this workshop, participants will:

1. Identify why romance novels have such a widespread appeal and how to create an inspired premise
2. Learn how to create lively and appealing characters
3. Learn how to craft conflict and tension on the page.

Participant Requirements

Internet access and confidence using basic computer software are essential for this program. Please read our FAQ before enrolling.

You do not need to log into the course at a specific time and there are no live meetings. You will receive an email with an invitation link to join the online classroom a week before the course starts.

Please expect to spend a minimum of six hours on the course, noting that the amount of time needed to read, respond to discussions, write, revise and critique will vary from person to person.

• You can complete the lesson material in your own time.
• There will be assignments which have deadlines. To be guaranteed tutor feedback, you will need to complete the assignments by the deadline.

You can find out more about the course by reading our frequently asked questions.  If you have any questions, please contact us.

Reviews 

‘Anne Gracie was an excellent tutor. Her lessons and generous feedback was very helpful in developing my writing skills.’ — Rachel, 2023

‘The information provided was very thorough and covered lists of aspects of writing. Much more than I expected to learn from a 1 week course.’ — Shannon, 2022

‘Lesson information provided by the tutor was excellent as was Anne’s investment in assisting with the sections submitted for critique.’ — Shannean, 2022

More from Writing NSW

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