Alberta Romance Writers’ Association (ARWA) is home to a community of passionate writers who want to build connections, hone their craft, and share their words. With a supportive and enriching community, we welcome writers of all genres!

ARWA hosts 8 virtual workshops a year, featuring a variety of writerly topics. Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting your writing journey, we offer presentations and workshops on how to improve your writing craft, research and publication processes, and marketing to reach more readers.

Every week, ARWA hosts virtual cowriting sessions! Work alongside fellow writers to help get those words written and edited. Additionally, a weekly informal pop-up groups to discuss craft and publishing topics.

Want to Join ARWA?

Join ARWA for just $60 CAD per year! Click here to find out more information.

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Program Calendar

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
CREATING TENSION IN YOUR SCENE – Tuesday discussion 7:00 pm
CREATING TENSION IN YOUR SCENE – Tuesday discussion
Oct 1 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
CREATING TENSION IN YOUR SCENE - Tuesday discussion
Using notes taken from a workshop given by Donald Maass, we’ll discuss how to add tension to your scene.  Bring along a scene you are working on to see if you have all the checkpoints, or use the notes to brainstorm a new scene.
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WRITING SUBTEXT – Tuesday discussion 7:00 pm
WRITING SUBTEXT – Tuesday discussion
Oct 8 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
WRITING SUBTEXT - Tuesday discussion
What is subtext?  How can you use it effectively?  Bring along an example of subtext – from a novel or movie – you find particularly effective for discussion.
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15
USING AI – Tuesday discussion group 7:00 pm
USING AI – Tuesday discussion group
Oct 15 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
USING AI - Tuesday discussion group
Those of us who are comfortable using AI (eg Chat GPT or Google Gemini) will share their knowledge/experience with those of us who are not.
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WRITING EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HOOKS – Christina Geertson 10:30 am
WRITING EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HOOKS – Christina Geertson
Oct 19 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
WRITING EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HOOKS - Christina Geertson
In her online presentation, Christina Geertsen, a Psychologist PhD, will discuss the emotional and psychological hooks that exist in complex erotic relationships and the challenge of writing erotica. As a couples and sexual therapist, Christina observed that many client resources are very mechanical manuals about sex.  She wanted something that might activate clients’ ‘erotic imagination’…
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SLIDING DOORS – Tuesday Discussion 7:00 pm
SLIDING DOORS – Tuesday Discussion
Oct 22 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
SLIDING DOORS - Tuesday Discussion
We’ve all had those thoughts… what if I’d taken this path in life instead of that one?  How could my life have turned out? The romantic movie Sliding Doors explores that question running two stories alongside each other. Will the heroine find her true love in both lives? Sliding Doors is available to watch for…
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WRITING THE ROMANCE GHOST STORY – Tuesday Discussion 7:00 pm
WRITING THE ROMANCE GHOST STORY – Tuesday Discussion
Oct 29 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
WRITING THE ROMANCE GHOST STORY - Tuesday Discussion
Bring along your thoughts as to what elements make a great romantic ghost story – eg Ghost, The Ghost and Mrs Muir, Brigadoon.        
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