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What makes a romance? Who makes the rules? Who enforces them?

  • Saturday, February 07, 2026
  • 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • The Mizell Center, 480 S Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Registration

  • Premium Membership includes free entry to all General Speaker Meetings, Insider Workshops and Writing Labs for the year. You must be logged in to select this option.
  • Standard or Student members who register on or before the date of the preceding month’s Insider Workshop will receive an early registration discount of $25 off the regular $80 fee. You must be logged in to select this option.
  • Standard and Student members are provided a la carte access to Insider Workshops at the Member rate of $80. You must be logged in to select this option.
  • Non-Members pay $155 for each Insider Workshop. Please note that if you choose to join the Guild before registering for this event you will pay a $75 Membership fee, and then the Member rate of $80 for the event—the same $155 total, but you’ll then gain all the benefits of membership in the Guild (including the Membership rate of $80 at any future Workshop).
  • Reserved for facilitators only.
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Announcing our next In-Person Workshop

What makes a romance? Who makes the rules? Who enforces them?
Blake Allwood



Blake and his husband Shaun met on Valentine's Day in 1995, and they have been together ever since. Together, they fostered 12 children before selling their home and traveling the country in their RV with their two dogs. Blake’s books are often inspired by the places he’s visited. To date, Blake has written over twenty books.

Presentation Overview:

Most of us follow the beats that don’t fit the official criteria for a romance book, so who gets to decide what a romance is? Are they places like Amazon, Goodreads, or Bookbub? Or is it the audience? People like reviewers who can cause a book to tank in the market. In this workshop, we’ll explore questions like these and take some time for emotional writing.


Takeaways:

    1. Compare and contrast the differences between gay and straight romance novels.
    2. Discuss the role of emotional knowledge and how to use it.
    3. Introduce the Emotional Dictionary.
    4. Demonstrate how to write an intimate scene.
      REGISTER

      To receive a full refund minus a $25 cancellation processing fee, attendees must cancel their registration 5 days before the event. No refunds will be given after that time. To cancel your registration, go to palmspringswritersguild.org and click on the blue icon at the top right of any page. Enter user name and password and click "LOG IN". On the next screen click "My event registrations". Select event and cancel registration. 

      We may take photos and/or videos at any of our events for promotional purposes.

      Meeting begins at 12:30 p.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. 

      Ready to become a member of the Palm Springs Writers Guild? Please click here.

      Event Contact: Dak Kopec

      Email: DakKopec@mac.com