Writing Romance
Have you always wanted to write a romance novel but didn’t know where to begin? This course will take you from start to finish, with either a one-day workshop or an evening course over six weeks.
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Sun 17 Aug
- $120.00 incl. GST
Sessions
Session 1
Sun 17 Aug 10:00 - Sun 17 Aug 16:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Please note there is NO refund or transfer if you cancel less than 5 working days in advance of a class starting. Our refund policy can be read in full here.
Description
Have you always wanted to write a romance novel but didn’t know where to begin? This course will take you from start to finish - from plotting, story structure and tropes to characterisation, pacing and editing. We’ll look at skills like writing punchy dialogue and cover the importance of conflict and point of view, as well as reader expectations and the essential elements of romance. There have never been more opportunities in publishing than there are today, so publishing options are also key. This much-maligned genre is the highest-earning of all fiction. Sign up to realise your writing dreams and become a part of a billion-dollar industry today.
Expected learning outcomes
- Understand the essential elements of a romance novel eg, conflict, point of view and a happy ending.
- Understand story structure and plotting.
- Hone your skills in writing dialogue.
- Understand the romance publishing market and where to from here.
Who should attend?
Anyone who enjoys, is curious about, or has always dreamed of, writing a romance novel or would like to learn writing skills that can also be applied to other genres.
Opening Address 16 August 2025 for Writer's Weekend Programme
You are invited to attend our opening address at 9am on Saturday 16 August 2025. Carole Beu from The Women's Bookshop will fire up the day with an early morning talk on her raves and faves. Have a cuppa, listen to Carole and meet others. Please register here so we know how many to expect.
About your tutor, Hayley Leibowitz
As an award-winning editor, author and scriptwriter, along with publishing novels, Hayley has written for daily soap opera and television drama. As a hybrid author writing under a pen name, her romance novels have been traditionally and self-published - five novellas and three full-length contemporary romances so far. As an accomplished journalist and editor, and long-time writing tutor, her experience stands her in good stead to pass on both the practical knowledge and creative writing skills necessary to write a romance novel.
