Learn to write a short story in the style of mid-century gothic romances published by Ace, Signet, and Paperback Library

If you're interested in stories about distressed heroines and brooding lovers, looming castles and ominous manors, wispy dresses swirling to waltzes, and ancient curses whispered by candlelight, then you're in the right place! 🕯️

This course is aimed at beginning writers interested in gothic fiction. However, writers of all skill levels are invited to enroll.

Write Your First Gothic Romance is a five-lesson activity-based course designed to give you an overview of the basic elements of mid-century gothic romance fiction, along with tips and techniques for crafting a moody, suspenseful tale.

At the end of this course, you'll apply what you've learned to outline—and then write—a 3,000-word short story in the style of classic gothic romances.


Why write a gothic romance?

There are several reasons to write gothic romance stories, particularly for beginners:

  • Gothic romance stories have clear genre elements and well-established tropes that can provide an easier framework for beginning writers to start from

  • Gothic romance stories are melodramatic, full of over-the-top characters, lurid descriptions, and surprise twists. Beyond being fun, writing these kinds of stories can be a good way to practice characterization, setting, cliffhangers, and plot structure.

  • Writing gothic romance gives you an excuse to indulge your moody side and explore the fashion, music, architecture, and culture of a romanticized Victorian era

  • Creating new gothic romance stories can help breathe new life into this classic genre

We'll be publishing your gothic romance stories

Complete the course and submit your short story to us by June 1, 2023 to be included in our special print and digital collection on DriveThruFiction.com!

*Not the actual cover

This is a self-paced, activity-based course

Here's a brief overview of the curriculum:

    1. Welcome to Write Your First Gothic Romance!

    2. About the Instructor

    3. Get to Know the Storytelling Collective

    1. Course Materials

    1. Lesson 1. Elements of a Gothic Romance

    2. Lesson 1. Activity

    1. Lesson 2. Adding Your Personal Twist

    2. Lesson 2. Activities

    1. Lesson 3. Setting the Mood

    2. Lesson 3. Activities

    1. Lesson 4. Using Cliffhangers to Build Suspense

    2. Lesson 4. Activities

About this course

  • $19.00
  • 5 Lessons
  • Project Activities
  • Worksheets

Plus, your registration includes:

  • Help and support from your instructor

  • Access to a private Discord channel

  • Indefinite access to the course and any future course updates

  • Support, encouragement, and accountability from the StoCo community

About the Instructor

Sersa Victory

Sersa Victory is editor-in-chief of Trident Gamebooks, which publishes pick-a-path fantasy adventure stories such as Tomb of the Everstar Sisterhood, Trial of the Wolf Girls, and the upcoming Forge of the Molten Queen. He is also an ENnie-nominated tabletop game designer whose work includes the traps collection Testament of Malice and the bestselling dungeon modules Tomb of Mercy and Necropolis of the Mailed Fist. His game design has won him many contest titles, including Monarch of the Monsters (Kobold Press) and Apprentice of Acererak (Wizards of the Coast).

Develop your writing process, bring your story ideas to life

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