Begins Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026

Class will meet weekly via Zoom on Tuesdays, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM ET

🌍 Class Times by Time Zone: Los Angeles (PT): 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM / Chicago (CT): 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM / New York (ET): 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button to talk with us. 

About the Instructor

Instructor Amanda Arista is a published author and seasoned writing instructor whose heart beats for storytelling in all its forms. Born in Illinois and raised in Corpus Christi, she now lives in Dallas—though her heart lies in London. Good thing she loves to travel. During the summer after second grade, she read every book in the young adult section of the library, much to the surprise of the local librarian. So she started making up her own stories and hasn't stopped.

Along with her BA in English & Psychology and her MA in Education, Amanda is a graduate of the SMU The Writer's Path program and taught aspiring authors for six years in the program. She has delivered lectures at several writer conferences—including her popular talk on stirring up trouble with romantic subplots—and loves discussing craft, character, and structure.

Amanda is the author of the Diaries of an Urban Panther series and The Merci Lanard Files. She is represented by Kimberly Brower of Park, Fine, and Brower Literary Management.

Who is this class for?

Limited to just 10 students, this online romance writing workshop is perfect for writers who are ready to put pen to paper and draft the love story they've been dreaming about. Each session, you'll explore a stage of the classic romance arc and workshop one scene from your story. This course is open to introductory and intermediate writers—the only requirement is a willingness to write, revise, and support fellow romance writers on the journey to happily ever after.

What to expect:

This 10-week online writing workshop invites students to craft the backbone of an original romance novel or screenplay by exploring the classic romance story arc—from the Meet Cute through the Happily Ever After. Each week, students will examine a different stage of falling in love, using examples from literature, film, and beloved romance stories to illuminate the timeless patterns that make readers' hearts soar. Any love story is welcome, from contemporary to comedy to romantasy.

As you progress through the romantic arc together, you will write one scene per week that corresponds to a key moment in your story. Class time will be divided between discussions of each stage of the romantic journey and structured peer workshops where students share their developing scenes and receive constructive feedback from the group. For each 5-page submission, students will receive instructor feedback on their ability to hit the essential story beats of the romance arc, along with character development notes.

By the end of this creative writing course, students will have completed at least 9–10 edited scenes that serve as the structural backbone of their romance novel—a substantial foundation from which to continue writing toward a complete manuscript.

What are the writing goals?

In this course, students will write and revise 9–10 essential scenes that form the narrative backbone of their romance novel, grounded in the classic romance story arc. Each week, students will submit one scene of up to 5 pages and receive instructor feedback on story structure and character development, as well as constructive peer workshop feedback.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week 1 (June 2): Welcome, General Journey Overview, and World/Character Building

Week 2 (June 9): Scene 1 Feedback, Meet-Cute 

Week 3 (June 16): Feedback, Threshold/Spark 

Week 4 (June 23): Feedback, Tests, Allies, Enemies/Barrier

Week 5 (June 30): Feedback, Approach

Week 6 (July 7): Feedback, Ordeal

Week 7 (July 14): Feedback, Reward/Commitment 

Week 8 (July 21): Feedback, Road Back

Week 9 (July 28): Feedback, Resurrection

Week 10 (August 4): Final Feedback and Where Do We Go From Here?

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• A Romance Novel Foundation: 9–10 fully workshopped scenes that capture the essential romantic arc of your story, ready to expand into a complete manuscript.
• Mastery of the Romance Arc: A deep understanding of the classic romance story structure—from Meet Cute to Happily Ever After—and the ability to apply its stages to create compelling love stories in any subgenre.
• Consistent Writing Practice: The discipline and habit of producing new work weekly, demystifying the writing process and building momentum toward a finished novel.
• Character and Chemistry Expertise: The tools to craft authentic character arcs and irresistible romantic chemistry, ensuring your protagonists undergo meaningful transformation from first meeting to final page.

TESTIMONIALS:

"Amanda was great. She covered everything I wanted her to and more." -former student

"I loved this class! I found everything especially valuable, and particularly how Amanda taught us to use the hero's journey to plot a romance. And the feedback on our homework was fantastic. The entire class was really well organized." -former student

"Amanda's class exceeded my expectations for what we could accomplish in a four-week class. Her lecture/slides dug deep into character and plot as well as the tropes of romance writing genre. I feel prepared to write my book now!" -former student

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