Bad First Draft: Writing Romantasy

Sundays, October 5th - November 23rd
2pm - 3:30pm ET

Course description

Fairies, dragons, mermaids, and vampires - if you’ve spent any amount of time in the Bookstagram/BookTok corners of the internet or the actual corners of your local library or bookstore, you know that Romantasy has emerged as a wildly popular (and beautifully diverse) genre when it comes to the published texts of the present day.

Led by avid Romantasy reader and author Julia Argy, this very special iteration of Not Sorry’s annual fiction writing class focuses on Romantasy, the genre that’s taken readers by storm, blending romance tropes and fantastical elements which transport devoted readers. And if you find yourself wondering if you, TOO, could write a Romantasy of your own, we answer YES, and we have the course for you: Bad First Draft: Writing Romantasy.

In this course, Julia will guide students both new to and well-acquainted with Romantasy through the fictional crafts of plot, pacing, characterization, and dialogue. In the first half of the course, students will encounter an in-depth analysis of Romantasy novels for their specific genre demands and learn how to meet them while honoring their own voices and interests.

In the second half of the course, we write! Students will have the opportunity to build 50,000 words (or less) of their own Romantasy novel. This section will be facilitated by our CEO and Romance novel enthusiast, Vanessa Zoltan. And by the end of the course, you’ll have a solid “Bad First Draft”—or the foundation of one—as well as the spark and confidence to keep writing and begin revising.

Please note, you do not need to be familiar with romance or romantasy novels to join the class. We believe using romance and romantasy novels as our foundational texts will enrich writers of all fiction genres and subgenres.

Whether you are an experienced author, novice writer, or passionate reader, this course is for you.

By the end of this 8-week program, you will:

• Have 50,000 words (or less) of a Romantasy novel ready for editing

• Gain more experience in the development of romance and fantasy writing

• Create your own characters and story (either previously brainstormed or new to your imagination) for your very own Bad First Draft

THE COURSE IS PERFECT FOR:

• Avid Romantasy, Romance, and Fantasy readers

• Aspiring writers who wish to finally put their amazing ideas on paper

• Published authors looking to expand their writing skills

• Anyone craving a creative project but looking for some accountability and community to get started

The overview

• Tuition:

  • Full Tuition: $450

  • Can’t Quite Afford Tuition: $350 (limited space provided for folks who cannot afford the full tuition cost)

  • There are no partial scholarships or payment plans available for this program.

• Registration Details: As soon as you buy your ticket, you will receive an email from programs@notsorryproductions.com confirming your spot and sharing the Zoom link for the class.

  • Please note that this email could become lost in your spam folder, so it would be helpful if you add programs@notsorryproductions.com to your address book.

  • You’ll receive an email from the course TA 48 hours prior to the first class meeting.

• Dates: Sundays from 2pm-3:30pm ET, from October 5th to November 23rd, 2025.

• Recording: Classes will be recorded for asynchronous viewing, but the course is best experienced if you attend each session live.

• Enrollment: There is no registration limit to this course, so the class could be anywhere from 10-100 folks, with ample opportunity for small group interaction.

• Refunds: 90% refunds can be issued to participants if they can no longer join. Full refunds are not available.

• Questions? Email Courtney at programs@notsorryproductions.com, and she’ll return your message within 2-3 business days.

What You’ll need for this program

• Reliable wifi, a notebook/journal, and something to write with

• An open mind and willingness to show up in a community of writers

PROGRAM LOGISTICS

• Eight, weekly live sessions on Zoom, Sundays from 2pm-3:30pm ET. Program runs October 5th through November 23rd. 

• The Sundays in October are dedicated to learning and planning developing a strong sense of the Romantasy genre elements as well as planning your novel. The Sundays in November are dedicated to writing the novel itself.

• The course registration will close on Wednesday, October 8th.

program structure

Julia will guide students through a series of hands-on exercises as well as facilitated discussion and conversation, and you will walk away with a Romantasy novel of your own and a supportive community of fellow writers.

• Targeted writing prompts

• Peer collaboration and group feedback

• Templates and tools for organizing your draft

• Ongoing support and inspiration from a like-minded community of writers and thinkers

Faculty bio

Julia Argy - Instructor - she/her

Julia is a writer from Massachusetts. Her debut novel, The One, was published by Putnam in April, 2023. She graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Statistics and from the University of Michigan’s Helen Zell Writers’ Program with an MFA in Fiction.

Julia loves a long hike, sustainable clothing, and reading in her limited spare time. She inhales Romantasy novels by listening at three times speed—she’ll slow it all down for her students this fall as they write their own novels to be devoured!