The Romance Novel Generator is a seven-month program designed to help a small cohort of writers complete the first drafts of their romance novels.
Romance is one of the most beloved and bestselling genres read today. At GrubStreet, we believe its artistic depth and emotional resonance deserve just as much attention as any other literary form. That’s why the Romance Generator embraces the genre’s rich storytelling tradition while helping you discover the most commercially viable, emotionally compelling book you can write.
Throughout the program, you’ll be generating new material and shaping your manuscript. The Romance Generator is also divided into four major phases focusing on significant components to the novel development process:
- Phase One features craft discussions, genre trope analysis, romance novel readings, instructor check-ins, workshops, and a guest author visit to share their experience.
- Phase Two moves into revision strategies, critique/beta readers, one-on-one instructor-student meetings, and workshops.
- Phase Three explores the publishing process with practice in writing/revising your query letter, synopsis, and elevator pitch for agents–in addition to the usual student check-ins, workshops, and class visit(s).
- Phase Four is when each student will meet with a literary agent seeking romance novels to discuss their query letter and the first five pages of the manuscript, which the agent will read in advance.
You will also gain access to key industry professionals at GrubStreet’s spring marquee mixers and events. Writers who complete this program will join GrubStreet’s ever-growing alumni program which provides access to exclusive ongoing classes, mentorship, writing groups, and industry networking opportunities, many of them tuition-free.
This program hopes to foster a strong community of Romance writers who fuel each other’s success over the lifetime of their careers. As with all of GrubStreet’s programs, writers do not need advanced (or any) degrees to participate. They simply need to be committed to their writing and the broader writing community. Scholarships are also available and applying is simple.
Students have entered our Novel Generator programs with as few as 10 pages written and as many as 150. No matter how far along, what matters most is your openness to exploration and revision. Through class discussion and exercises, we’ll help you clarify your concept and strengthen your plot so you can leave with a cohesive first draft.
All the Novel Generators can work as a companion leading up to applying for GrubStreet’s Novel Incubator, but it is not an alternative to it. The Incubator is for students who have completed a strong first draft of a novel; the Generator is designed to push students toward that strong first draft, whether or not they ultimately enroll in the Incubator or pursue other revision strategies.
Please note that there are multiple Novel Generator sessions, each with its own set of application/registration processes and genre explorations. Please review each program to see what suits your current creative needs, and if you have any questions, feel free to contact [email protected].
Key Dates & Information
Location:
- The 2025-2026 Romance Novel Generator will take place on Zoom. Writers everywhere are encouraged to apply.
Registration Info:
- Registration Opens: Monday, July 14 (Open Enrollment. No Application Required.)
Online Info Sessions:
- Genre-Focused Novel Generators Online Info Session w/ Dariel Suarez, 7/22
- Romance Novel Generator Online Info Session w/ Thien-Kim Lam, 8/7
Program Dates:
- Program Duration: September 2025 – April 2026
- Class Time: Wednesdays, 6:30–9:30 PM ET
- First Day of Class: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Financial Info:
- Tuition Total: $4,500
- Scholarship Info: Available in the amount of 25% to 75% off the total tuition cost. The optional and brief application can be found using the Scholarship link on the course registration page.
Is This Program Right For You?
Wondering if the Romance Novel Generator is the right next step for you? If you’re excited to complete your novel and ready to prioritize your writing, this program could be a great fit. Ideal candidates have some experience sharing and receiving feedback in workshops, a handful of pages written, and a rough sense of their story and characters. You don’t need a polished draft, just a strong commitment to your project, a love of the Romance genre, and the time and energy to engage with an encouraging community of writers. If you’re ready to dive deeper into your craft and would benefit from structure, accountability, and literary community, we’d love to read your application.