Masterclass
Writing Swoon-worthy Romance
Registration has now closed
📚 Overview
Romance is the hottest genre right now. From Colleen Hoover to Rebecca Yarros, romance authors are topping the bestseller charts, fuelling BookTok frenzies and shaping the conversation in traditional and self-publishing spaces.
If you’re ready to write a romance novel, or just want to better understand the genre everybody’s talking about, join us for a special two-hour masterclass with romance experts Bryn Donovan, Sara Oestreich, and Katie Reed. Together, we’ll unpack how to create sizzling chemistry, why tropes are a writer’s best friend, and what editors and literary agents are seeing in the romance market today.
🎓 What You'll Learn
Schedule
15:00 - 15:45 EDT
Writing Romance Tropes
From HEAs to fake dating to enemies-to-lovers, tropes are a central part of romance novels. In this masterclass, we’ll take a closer look at what they are, why they’re important to the genre, and which tropes exist for various sub-genres. Romance author Bryn Donovan will teach you everything you need to know about these must-have tropes and how to use them to your advantage, while sharing practical tips for making them your own.
16:00 - 17:00 EDT
Light versus Dark Romance + Q&A
In this panel talk, editors Sara Oestreich and Katie Reed – each representing a different camp in the light vs. dark romance market – will discuss today’s hottest trends. From beachy rom-coms to steamy romantasy, they’ll draw back the curtain on what people are reading, popular sub-genres, and what we can expect to see next. At the end of the session, you’ll have the chance to ask your burning questions during an open Q&A.Speakers
Bryn Donovan
Author and Editor
Bryn Donovan is an author, freelance book editor, and former publishing executive whose novels include the #1 Publishers Weekly bestseller Sunrise Cabin (written as Stacey Donovan), Her Knight at the Museum, in development for a Hallmark movie, and Her Time Traveling Duke. Her nonfiction books for writers include the TikTok sensation Master Lists for Writers and 5,000 Writing Prompts. She lives in the Chicago area, and she loves rescue dogs, vinyl records, crafts, vegan baking, and making lists. You can hire her on Reedsy.
Sara Oestreich
Developmental Editor
Sara Oestreich is a developmental editor with decades of experience in romance, women’s lit, fantasy, and PNR. She's worked with boutique publishers and has been involved in writing & editing over 500 books. Known for her keen eye for detail, character motivation, and narrative flow, Sara enjoys helping authors craft emotionally impactful and polished stories. She’s been a librarian, ghostwriter, and now enjoys editing most! When she’s not working, she organizes a spicy book club to share her love for love stories. Sara loves supporting writers in finding their voice and achieving success in the competitive romance industry. You can hire Sara on Reedsy here.
Katie Reed
Developmental Editor and Literary Agent
Katie Reed is a developmental editor and literary agent. She edits a wide range of genres at all levels of writing. You can find her profile here on Reedsy, where she primarily focuses on romance, women's fiction, and fantasy. She is committed to providing professional, expert feedback delivered in a motivating and constructive manner; her goal is that every client enters the revisions stage feeling confident in the direction of their manuscript, newly inspired to shape it into the best it can be. As a literary agent with Andrea Hurst and Associates, Katie represents upmarket women's fiction, psychological suspense/thriller, and most subgenres of romance, including romance fantasy/romantasy. You can find her detailed wishlist at www.andreahurst.com. (Please note that Katie is unable to act as a literary agent for editorial clients.)
