It is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer in possession of a single pen can compose an unforgettable romance novel. This six-week course will guide students through the plotting of modern romance stories.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
On this fun, interactive course you'll be encouraged to toy with the tropes and structures established in famous romance novels and twist them to create an epic love story of your own design. Dream up a central couple that readers can't help but fall for and learn how to overcome the greatest obstacle romance writers ever face: cliché.
What will we cover?
- The conventions of the romance genre. - Common cliches and how to break them. - Romance settings with a twist. - Creating your central couple. - Plots and manipulations.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Plot your own modern romance with a twist. - Create a central couple with a believable romantic journey. - Develop strategies for avoiding romantic cliches.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an intermediate course suitable for students who have already completed an introductory creative writing course at City Lit.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
There will also be a mix of writing exercises, group discussions, group work activities, pair work and formal instruction from the tutor.
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Bluesky.
Eleanor Penny is a writer, essayist and poet. She won the Poetry London Competition 2020, the Verve Poetry Festival prize 2020, and was Highly Commended in the 2021 Forward Prizes. She has twice been shortlisted for Young People’s Poet Laureate. She is a former Barbican Young Poet, and an alumnus of the London Writers Awards 2021. She hosts the literature podcast Bedtime Stories for the End of the World. In her current project Albion, she is researching maritime histories of the UK. She teaches creative writing workshops with organisations including the Poetry School, Spread The Word and The Midnight Run. Her debut pamphlet 'Mercy' was published in 2021 by Flipped Eye. She is currently working on her first novel.
Anna RichardsSee moreSee less
Anna is the author of Little Gods, which was longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize for first novels, and led to her being chosen as one of the twelve best new writers by The Guardian and BBC's Culture Show. She earned her PhD in The Contemporary Novel: Practice as Research at the University of Kent, and is currently completing her new novel.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/writing-romance174687Writing romancehttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/writing_romance-square.jpg159159GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Writing/Novels and short stories/Novels and short stories/Courses/vm/Writing Courses/Novel Writing/Courses/vm/Writing Courses/Fiction Writing/Courses/vm/Writing Courses/Courses/Short Courses/Courses/Short Courses/Humanities/Courses/Writing/Genre writing courses/Courses/Writing/Courses/Writing/Novels and short stories/Courses/vm/Creative courses/Courses/Online courses228515882039204820181341113417135171358113599867317311228513581135991653201813411It is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer in possession of a single pen can compose an unforgettable romance novel. This six-week course will guide students through the plotting of modern romance stories. <div data-content-type="html" data-appearance="default" data-element="main">On this fun course you'll be encouraged to toy with the tropes and structures established in Jane Austen's most famous romances and twist them to create an epic love story of your own design. Dream up a central couple that readers can't help but fall for and learn how to overcome the greatest obstacle romance writers ever face: cliché. <br />
<br />
This is a live online course. You will need:<br />
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.<br />
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.<br />
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.<br />
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.</div>352694033Writing romance159159https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/writing_romance-square_14.jpgInStockEveningThuOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-06-11T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allJun 2026WritingHW407159159Writing romance15980159Eleanor Pennywriting-romance/hw407-2526It is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer in possession of a single pen can compose an unforgettable romance novel. This six-week course will guide students through the plotting of modern romance stories.0000-Available|2026-06-11 00:00:00On this fun, interactive course you'll be encouraged to toy with the tropes and structures established in famous romance novels and twist them to create an epic love story of your own design. Dream up a central couple that readers can't help but fall for and learn how to overcome the greatest obstacle romance writers ever face: cliché.It is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer in possession of a single pen can compose an unforgettable romance novel. This six-week course will guide students through the plotting of modern romance stories.- The conventions of the romance genre.<br>- Common cliches and how to break them.<br>- Romance settings with a twist.<br>- Creating your central couple.<br>- Plots and manipulations.- Plot your own modern romance with a twist.<br>- Create a central couple with a believable romantic journey.<br>- Develop strategies for avoiding romantic cliches.This is an intermediate course suitable for students who have already completed an introductory creative writing course at City Lit.There will also be a mix of writing exercises, group discussions, group work activities, pair work and formal instruction from the tutor. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Writing materials.<p>City Lit offer a range of courses for aspiring authors. <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Browse the writing section of our website to find the perfect course for you</a>.</p><p><br>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/citylitwriting.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bluesky</a>.</p>Novels and short storiesNovels and short storiesvirtual3035875Writing romance179179https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/writing_romance-square_15.jpgInStockEveningWedOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-10-28T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceOct 2026WritingHW465179179Writing romance179116179Anna Richardswriting-romance/hw465-2627It is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer in possession of a single pen can compose an unforgettable romance novel. This six-week course will guide students through the plotting of modern romance stories.0000-Available|2026-10-28 00:00:00On this fun, interactive course you'll be encouraged to toy with the tropes and structures established in famous romance novels and twist them to create an epic love story of your own design. Dream up a central couple that readers can't help but fall for and learn how to overcome the greatest obstacle romance writers ever face: cliché.It is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer in possession of a single pen can compose an unforgettable romance novel. This six-week course will guide students through the plotting of modern romance stories.- The conventions of the romance genre.<br>- Common cliches and how to break them.<br>- Romance settings with a twist.<br>- Creating your central couple.<br>- Plots and manipulations.- Plot your own modern romance with a twist.<br>- Create a central couple with a believable romantic journey.<br>- Develop strategies for avoiding romantic cliches.This is an intermediate course suitable for students who have already completed an introductory creative writing course at City Lit.There will also be a mix of writing exercises, group discussions, group work activities, pair work and formal instruction from the tutor. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Writing materials.<p>City Lit offer a range of courses for aspiring authors. <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Browse the writing section of our website to find the perfect course for you</a>.</p><p><br>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/citylitwriting.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bluesky</a>.</p>Novels and short storiesNovels and short storiesvirtual159,179159,17980,116HW407,HW465NONEThu,Wed11/06/26 - 16/07/2619:00 - 21:0019:0021:006 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksWeekdayOnlineOnlineEleanor Penny,Anna RichardsBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for all,Beginners, Some experienceAvailable courses2026-06-11T00:00:00+00:00,2026-10-28T00:00:00+00:00EveningJun 2026,Oct 2026Writing159159,179Writing romancewriting-romance/hw407-2526,writing-romance/hw465-2627It is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer in possession of a single pen can compose an unforgettable romance novel. This six-week course will guide students through the plotting of modern romance stories.0000-Available|2026-06-11 00:00:00On this fun, interactive course you'll be encouraged to toy with the tropes and structures established in famous romance novels and twist them to create an epic love story of your own design. Dream up a central couple that readers can't help but fall for and learn how to overcome the greatest obstacle romance writers ever face: cliché.It is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer in possession of a single pen can compose an unforgettable romance novel. This six-week course will guide students through the plotting of modern romance stories.- The conventions of the romance genre.<br>- Common cliches and how to break them.<br>- Romance settings with a twist.<br>- Creating your central couple.<br>- Plots and manipulations.- Plot your own modern romance with a twist.<br>- Create a central couple with a believable romantic journey.<br>- Develop strategies for avoiding romantic cliches.This is an intermediate course suitable for students who have already completed an introductory creative writing course at City Lit.There will also be a mix of writing exercises, group discussions, group work activities, pair work and formal instruction from the tutor. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Writing materials.<p>City Lit offer a range of courses for aspiring authors. <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Browse the writing section of our website to find the perfect course for you</a>.</p><p><br>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/citylitwriting.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bluesky</a>.</p>Novels and short storiesNovels and short storiesconfigurable
158813599Novels and short storieshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing/novels-and-short-stories/novels-and-short-stories-11/2/285/13581/13599/1588/Courses/Writing/Novels and short stories/Novels and short stories
