Course: Certificate in Romance Writing

Whether you are interested in romance writing as a hobby or aspire to publication, this course will provide you with highly relevant skills and industry knowledge.

You will discover how to create believable characters and develop a character-driven plot, as well as the importance of the setting and realistic dialogue. You will also learn about injecting tension and humour into your work, polishing your manuscript prior to submission, and the role of self-promotion in achieving success. Modules specialising in the romantic short story and romantic sub-genres are included.

Course Number	95320
Course Fees From	View our payment options

Delivery mode:	Print or online
Course duration:	Max 18 months
Assessments:	12 written assessments
Qualification:	Open Colleges Certificate
Nationally Recognised	No
Government Funding	No

Career One jobs for:

ID	Subject expand all

	So you want to write romance fiction Editors want a 'fresh new voice' Steps along the road to being a romance author What is romance fiction? Romance sub-genres
	Leading man, leading lady Study the guidelines Naming your characters Getting to know your characters Character motivation
	Plotting your romance novel The character-driven plot The mechanics of plotting Essential ingredients in a romance plot The advantages of a character-driven plot
	First chapter, first meeting What does a first chapter have to do? Where do you start ? Use the '5 Ws' The lovers' first meeting
	Setting and sensuality Setting: where lovers meet Editorial guidelines The work environment Keep organised files
	A deft touch with dialogue Characters who sound like real people The role of dialogue What is 'good dialogue'? How do you write effective dialogue
	Romantic research and sub-genres Why research? Every genre has its conventions Popular psychology Seven useful tips
	Conflict, pace and tension Motivation and source of conflict: review How to maintain tension and conflict throughout your novel Playing on emotions: anticipation and fear Building suspense by shifting point of view
	Writing the romantic short story The structure of a short story Planning your story Where to get story ideas Beginnings, middles and ends in the short story
	Style and humour What is style? Build your own humour library What makes a character humorous? Developing your own style
	The final polish Is your novel ready to send away? A general editing checklist When you need to redraft Does your book suit the target market?
	As you move towards success The waiting game Dealing with rejection 'Good' rejections and 'bad' rejections Self-promotion

Entry requirements

Minimum education

Open entry. Previous schooling and academic achievements are not required for entry into this course.

Minimum age

Minimum age of 16 years. If you are under 18 your application must be signed by a parent or guardian.

Computer requirements

Students will need access to a computer and the internet. For students who do not have access to either a computer or the internet please contact a student support officer to discuss alternative methods of communication.

Minimum specifications for the computer are:

Microsoft Office 2003 or equivalent, and
Microsoft Windows 98, or
Mac OS X, and
CD-ROM drive.

Students will also need access to a printer and the following applications:

Adobe Acrobat Reader and
Macromedia Flash player.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language and you did not complete the last two years of secondary education in English, you are required to provide evidence of English language competency before enrolling into the course. Examples of appropriate evidence are listed below:

Evidence	Example
IELTS	Overall score of 5.5
TOEFL	530 (paper), 197 (computer) or 71 (internet)
12 months in English-speaking employment	Testimonial, statutory declaration

Additional requirements

There are no additional requirements for this course.

Upon completion of this course, you will have developed a better understanding of the subject area and be able to put your new skills into practice.

June Colbert

A published author and experienced English teacher, June Colbert is also a trainer with Open Colleges and writes instructional materials for both adults and young people.

Born in the UK, June emigrated to Australia as a child. Gaining a Commonwealth scholarship to Sydney University, she completed a BA in English Lit and a Diploma of Education (1973). Since then, June has also completed a Diploma in TESOL and has recently taken the Developing the Novel course through University of California, Berkeley. She is now working towards her Master of Arts in English.

June began writing fiction for young people in 2000 and has since had a short story published, as well as four novels for young people: The King of Large, The Last Boy, Volcano and What Willow Knew, which was listed for the Sisters in Crime Awards.

No Jobs found for this Course.

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