Romance Writing the Focus of New McDaniel Program

McDaniel College has a new writing program centered on romance writing.

The master’s degree-level online classes in The McDaniel College Romance Writing program can be used towards earning an MLA, and people can start applying now for enrollment, which opens July 1.

Patch recently did a Q & A with Pamela Regis, the McDaniel Professor of English who coordinates the romance writing program.

You tell us in comments: What is your favorite all-time romance novel?

Do you think more people need education on what a good romance novel is? There’s been a lot of criticism for the quality of writing in the New York Times Bestseller, .

[Romance] is the most popular form of fiction in America. So here we have this form of fiction, it’s not really well understood. A lot of people take pot shots at it. It attracts all kinds of attention. One thing we can say about Fifty Shades of Grey, even though neither have read it, is that it’s a sensation. Ever since James Fenimore Cooper wrote Last of Mohicans and said ‘I can do better,’ ever since, people have read books and said, 'I can do this.' This is path for them.

Do you think there is a lot of interest in fiction writing now that there are more self publishing opportunities for writers ?

The barriers to entry are lower now. There is more of an avenue for getting your stuff out there. … We hope there will be a lot of interest [in the new fiction program.] We think there is an audience out there for this kind of instruction---we’ll find out won’t we.

What is your favorite romance novel?

Pride and Prejudice. It’s perfect. She [Jane Austen] understood the romance form completely. You get four courtships told in part or in whole. Elizabeth is close to the most perfect heroine, but then, of course, there is Darcy.

How many times have you read it? Upwards of 20.