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  • Seminar
  • In-Person: Seaport
  • Adult (18+)

Writing the Romance Novel

Apply for Scholarship
  • $85.00 Non-Member
  • $75.00 Member

Class Description

If you love stories that make you swoon and want to write your own romance novel, this course is for you.

Whether you have the germ of an idea or are already well into a draft, you'll discover what makes a page-turning, heartfelt romance novel by drawing on popular examples of the genre, identifying the rules of romantic fiction and highlighting key techniques that you can bring to your own writing. We’ll review excerpts from published works such as Jasmine Guillory, Emily Henry, and Casey McQuiston.

Romance is for everyone – whoever takes centre stage in your story and whatever kind of love you want to explore in your novel — this class will equip you with the tools for deep character development and plot arcs. You’ll come away with an understanding of romantic tropes and how to use them, the basic plot beats of the genre, an understanding of the sub-genres, and how to create the compelling characters we want to see in an HEA (happily ever after).

Scholarships Format/Location

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.

This class will take place in-person at our Center for Creative Writing in Boston's Seaport neighborhood.


Covid-19 Update:

GrubStreet's space will be mask-optional when Boston's Covid-19 Community Level is low or medium. When the Covid-19 Community Level is high, our space will require masks. Please check GrubStreet's Covid-19 page for the latest info on masking and Community Levels before visiting in person.


Space Accessibility:

Our space is ADA accessible with automatic door openers, ADA-compliant restrooms, desk and table spacing, braille signage, and elevator. Our classrooms can be equipped with ALS for hard of hearing individuals. We cannot guarantee a scent-free environment. For more accessibility requests, please contact our Operations team at [email protected] or (617) 695-0075.