The Artist

The Art of Kilig: A Romance Writing Workshop

By Carina Gaskell
PHP 1000
October 26, 2026
10AM to 12NN
Online via Zoom

The craft of romance writing lies in creating compelling characters, meaningful conflict, irresistible chemistry, and emotional stakes that make a love story satisfying. Participants will be introduced to the conventions and craft of the romance genre, from its subgenres and narrative perspectives to character development, tension, pacing, and the all-important happily-ever-after. Participants will explore the three-act story structure as a framework for developing their own stories, examine what makes romance novels work or fall flat, and apply these principles through guided writing activities.

This class may be taken for PHP 1000.

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Carina Gaskell

Carina Gaskell (@carinagaskellwrites) writes multicultural romance novels led by Filipina characters. She believes that romance is political, from who gets their Happy Ever After to how they get it and why. She seeks to explore the intersections of love, art, culture, and politics in her work, and publishes independently as praxis.
Carina Gaskell

By the end of this session, you will...

Identify the defining characteristics of the romance genre and distinguish between its major subgenres.

Understand how point of view influences a reader's experience of a love story.

Recognize how character, conflict, chemistry, tension, and pacing work together to sustain a romance.

Apply the three-act structure to map the major turning points of a romance narrative.

Identify common craft issues that can weaken a romance and strategies for addressing them.

Begin developing a romance story outline using the concepts discussed.

This class is for…

  • Aspiring romance writers who want to understand the genre and its conventions.
  • Beginner writers looking for a framework to develop their first romance story.
  • Writers with existing story ideas who want to strengthen their characters, conflict, chemistry, and pacing.
  • Readers interested in understanding beyond just tropes the craft behind compelling romance novels.

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The Art of Kilig: A Romance Writing Workshop

The craft of romance writing lies in creating compelling characters, meaningful conflict, irresistible chemistry, and emotional stakes that make a love story satisfying. Participants will be introduced to the conventions and craft of the romance genre, from its subgenres and narrative perspectives to character development, tension, pacing, and the all-important happily-ever-after. Participants will explore the three-act story structure as a framework for developing their own stories, examine what makes romance novels work or fall flat, and apply these principles through guided writing activities.

This class may be taken for PHP 1000.

INQUIRE NEXT