A Writer’s Guide to Romantasy with L. Penelope (In-Person Workshop)

Weaving fantasy and romance into a compelling story requires understanding the conventions of both genres. Whether you’re drafting your first love story in an epic fantasy world or looking to deepen the romantic plots of your current manuscript, this class will give you tools and techniques to captivate readers with every page.

In this 4-hour workshop, you will learn ways to blend fantasy and romance elements seamlessly, creating a captivating and unique narrative.

A combination of lectures, writing exercises, and prompts will help you construct immersive fantasy settings, develop intriguing characters, incorporate popular genre tropes, and balance worldbuilding with plot and character. 

Come prepared to write and discuss your projects! 

About the Instructor: 

Leslye Penelope’s debut novel Song of Blood & Stone was chosen as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. The novel also won the inaugural award for Best Self-Published Fiction from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association before it was picked up for publication by St. Martin’s Press. Her novel The Monsters We Defy won the 2023 Audie Award for Best Fantasy Audiobook.

Equally left and right-brained, she graduated from Howard University, where she studied film production and computer science and sometimes dreams in HTML. Leslye is also an alumna of VONA/Voices and Hurston/Wright Writers Workshop.

She hosts the My Imaginary Friends podcast, co-hosts the Ink & Magic podcast, and lives in Maryland with her feline dependents.

Website

This event will be held in person. There are no hybrid/online options at this point. 

By registering for this class, you agree to follow the Clarion West Code of Conduct. 

Limited Free Seating: 

We offer a percentage of seats in every class to People of the Global Majority (Asian, Black, African, Latina/o/x, Middle Eastern, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, and/or have been racialized as 'ethnic minorities') for free, regardless of financial need. 

To inquire about an access seat in this class, please email info@clarionwest.org with the subject 'Writer's Guide to Romantasy' in the subject line. Seats will be awarded by lottery 7-10 days before the class begins. For more information, see our equity and inclusion policies.

Sliding Scale Pricing:

The Supporting Tuition rate is shown for each class or workshop for folks who can pay it. Paying the Supporting Tuition rate enables us to continue to pay our staff and instructors equitably, as well as support access to classes for others who may be in a different situation. 

The Helping Hands rate is available to folks under more limited economic circumstances, no matter your background.

For more information, see our financial aid policies.

Our Refund Policy:

Clarion West will refund all class fees if the request is made 30 days before the class date. Refund requests made within 30 days of the class will be honored if we can fill the seat.

Any exceptions are subject to approval by our workshop staff.