How to Write a Winning Romance Novel
Masterclass over Zoom with Lee Ann Ward
February 21st, 2026
My name is Lee Ann Ward and I'm a USA TODAY bestselling romance author, former acquisitions editor & Senior Editor of Champagne Books (a romance publisher), and the Founder of Writing Away Refuge. I've helped writers shape their romance novels into swoon-worthy prose, from love affairs set in England's Regency Era, to contemporaries so sensual that the words melt the pages. I'm ready to help you write your irresistible romance too with my masterclass over Zoom. Want to write like today's bestselling romance authors? Then this masterclass is for you!
Class Description:
**IMPORTANT: Do keep in mind that our class time on Saturday is in the Central Time Zone (CT)
Class is from 9:30 PM--3:30 PM Central Time (CT) on Saturday, February 21st, 2026.
**Class will also be recorded for those wishing to register and take the masterclass at their leisure.**
9:30 AM--10:30 AM Creating passionate characters and relationships. No matter the heat level, passion and tension are a must. Heat levels and how to write within the guidelines.
10:30 AM--11:30 AM How to create your own unique plotline in formulaic romance. Imparting your unique voice in gripping romance.
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11:30 AM--12:00 PM--LUNCH
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12:00 PM--1:00 PM How to craft realistic dialogue. Whether contemporary stories or historical sagas, dialogue can't be "stilted."
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1:00 PM--2:30 PM Writing effective sex scenes. The HEA (Happily Ever After) or the HFN (Happy For Now). What dedicated romance readers expect. The mechanics of writing a stellar romance and why they matter.
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2:30 PM--2:40 PM--BREAK
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2:40 PM--3:30 PM Genre romance. What's hot and what's not. Whether it be rom com, a true "bodice ripper," or romantasy, we'll flesh out the genres (pun intended). And what is this thing called horromance anyway?
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3:40 PM--4:00 PM Wrap-Up and Q&A
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​​The masterclass is $85: