CW 73 W — Getting to the Heart of the Story: Romance Novel Workshop
Quarter: Summer
Instructor(s): Jeanne De Vita
Date(s): Jun 24—Aug 26
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Wednesdays
Class Meeting Time: 12:00—1:00 pm (PT)
Tuition: $1000
Refund Deadline: Jun 26
Unit(s): 2
Enrollment Limit: 18
Status: Closed
Quarter: Summer
Day: Wednesdays
Duration: 10 weeks
Time: 12:00—1:00 pm (PT)
Date(s): Jun 24—Aug 26
Unit(s): 2
Tuition: $1000
Refund Deadline: Jun 26
Instructor(s): Jeanne De Vita
Enrollment Limit: 18
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Closed
While authors of other genres are having difficulty getting into print, sales of romance novels keep breaking new records. While writing a romance novel is within your reach, it requires more than a love story. In this course, we will study the current publishing landscape and debunk myths about “writing to market.” We’ll explore concepts of genre, subgenre, and niche, analyzing best-selling work by authors such as Emily Henry, Jayci Lee, and Mia Sosa to learn to avoid common mistakes and follow what the pros do. You’ll develop a solid premise, define your characters’ goals and stakes, identify the beats of your story, and complete a plot grid to use as a template for future books. Open to authors writing at any “heat” level, this course will include a Q&A about publishing and creating a career as a romance writer, along with workshopping weekly writing assignments.
JEANNE DE VITA
Editor and Literary Agent
Jeanne De Vita is a developmental editor, copy editor, and former acquisitions editor who teaches writing and editing courses privately and at UCLA Extension, Writers.com, and The Ripped Bodice bookstore. She received an MFA in creative writing from the University of Notre Dame, where she taught in the First Year Writing Program. She is a literary manager at Martin-Newens Literary Management with a focus on fiction and select nonfiction. Textbooks for this course:
See syllabus for details., Students should read two books from the list.