Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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11:30am MDT

The Six Foundational Elements of Romance Fiction

Sunday April 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT

El Paso

This course teaches romance fiction from a structural standpoint. You’ll learn about goal, motivation, and conflict, which are the cornerstones of fiction writing. But then we dive deeper to cover character arcs, flaws and stakes, which are vital in character-driven stories like romance. You’ll understand how each element hinges on the others to build the infrastructure of your story, and you’ll gain the confidence to utilize these elements to improve your own books. Recommended prework is to watch the 2010 film The Proposal, starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. It's not required, but that's the film we'll use for a deep analysis at the end of the presentation.

Faculty

Jessica Snyder

Jessica Snyder is a romance editor, author coach, and digital nomad traveling the US with her giant dog, Arrow. She's a Gallup Strengths enthusiast who loves kickass heroines, tropes flipped on their heads, rotisserie chicken, and getting stamps in her passport.

Sunday April 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
El Paso

Craft of Writing

Moderator Jodi Anderson

Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2026

11:30am MDT

Jessica Snyder

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