Begins Saturday, August 9th, 2025

Class will meet weekly via Zoom for 2 Hours on Saturdays at 10AM - 12:00 PM Central

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button (lower left) to talk with us. 

Instructor Amanda Arista is a published romance author and seasoned writing instructor with over six years of teaching experience at SMU. Born in Illinois and raised in Texas, Amanda is the author of the Diaries of an Urban Panther series and The Merci Lanard Files, and is represented by Kimberly Brower of Park, Fine, and Brower Literary Management. Amanda is passionate about helping aspiring authors master the craft of romance writing.

Ready to write the romance novel of your dreams? This intensive 4-week online workshop teaches you everything you need to create compelling characters, irresistible chemistry, and page-turning plots that keep readers coming back for more.

Romance dominates the publishing world for good reason—there's a subgenre for every reader's taste, from enemies-to-lovers to star-crossed passion. Whether you're drawn to contemporary romance, historical settings, or paranormal love stories, this course will help you discover your unique romantic voice and give you the practical tools to bring your story to life.

Using examples from bestselling novels and beloved films, you'll learn to craft multi-dimensional heroes and heroines who leap off the page. We'll explore how to develop secondary characters who either champion your couple's love or create delicious obstacles, plus antagonists who threaten their happily ever after.

Beyond character development, you'll master the art of world-building that immerses readers completely in your story. We'll dig deep into emotional stakes, plot structure, and the essential romantic beats that create unputdownable fiction.

Key Course Takeaways:

• Master Romance Genre Fundamentals - Identify whether you're writing true romance vs. romantic elements, understand audience expectations, and learn how setting functions as a story element
• Create Irresistible Characters - Develop compelling heroes with meaningful flaws, craft perfectly matched romantic leads, and build authentic secondary characters using psychology principles and love languages
• Structure Your Romance Plot - Apply the Hero's Journey to romance writing, master the five essential romantic scenes (meet-cute, spark, barrier, declaration, resolution), and weave subplots that enhance tension
• Write Authentic Intimacy - Build sexual tension at appropriate spice levels, understand the progression of physical intimacy, and seamlessly integrate steamy scenes into your overall story structure
• Develop Professional Writing Skills - Learn industry-standard plot frameworks, create compelling story backbones, and understand how to deliver the satisfying happily ever after that romance readers crave

Weekly Workshop Structure

Week 1: Romance Foundations & Genre Mastery

• Take the romance writing assessment: Are you writing romance or a book with romantic elements?
• Define your target audience and their expectations
• Understand how setting drives your story forward
• Homework: Analyze Pride and Prejudice for romantic structure

Week 2: Character Development & Chemistry

• Create complex heroes using psychological frameworks and Myers-Briggs principles
• Design romantic leads who complement and challenge each other
• Develop supporting characters who feel authentic and serve your plot
• Explore different types of love and assign love languages to your characters

Week 3: Plot Architecture & Essential Scenes

• Adapt the Hero's Journey specifically for romance storytelling
• Master the five critical romantic beats every successful romance needs:
  1. Meet Cute - How your couple first encounters each other
  2. The Spark - When readers know these characters belong together
  3. The Barrier - What keeps them apart and creates tension
  4. Declaration of Love - The emotional turning point
  5. Resolution - Sealing their happily ever after
• Structure subplots that enhance rather than distract from the central romance

Week 4: Intimacy, Tension & Story Integration

• Build sexual tension that serves your story and audience
• Navigate different spice levels and industry expectations
• Learn the natural progression of physical intimacy
• Integrate all elements using proven story structure techniques
• Master the "river plot line" for seamless narrative flow

Course Format & Materials

This live, interactive Zoom workshop combines expert instruction with hands-on writing exercises. Each week includes targeted homework assignments featuring both classic and contemporary romance examples, plus practical writing tasks that build your novel step by step.

Perfect for beginning romance writers ready to turn their ideas into publishable manuscripts, as well as experienced writers looking to strengthen their romantic storytelling skills.

Why Choose This Course?

Learn from a published author who understands both the creative and commercial sides of romance writing. Amanda's proven teaching methods have helped hundreds of writers develop their craft, and her industry connections provide real-world insights into what publishers and readers want.

Join a supportive community of fellow romance writers and gain the confidence, skills, and structure you need to complete your novel. By the end of four weeks, you'll have a solid foundation for your romance story and the tools to keep writing with purpose and passion.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

• Instructor: Amanda Arista
• Begins Saturday, August 9th, 2025
  
• Class will meet weekly via Zoom for 2 Hours on Saturdays at 10AM - 12:00 PM Central
• Tuition is $299 USD.