Long
Island
Romance
Writers
Upcoming Workshops
Join LIRW for monthly classes and workshops via Zoom! Most classes are free for members. Non-members may sign-up for classes for a fee by clicking REGISTER below
or emailing longislandromancewriters@gmail.com
April 18, 2026
11:30AM EST
Lyla Bellatas: Dealing Dynamic Plots
Free for members; $10 for non-members - includes recording
Dealing Lenormand cards to climb out of writing ruts. Lenormand cards provide 36 concrete narrative elements that combine like words in a sentence to reveal the flow in a situation. Lyla approaches Lenormand not as mysticism, but as craft architecture. When approaching narrative as a fusion of art and science perspective alters and shatters stale routines. Use the deck to generate unexpected narrative possibilities, dive into backstory, diagnose stuck scenes, and creating unpredictable obstacles.
Lyla Bellatas pens spicy contemporary romances full of humor, heat, and heart. Born Armenian American in the NYC suburbs her books embody the diversity and rich culture she couldn’t live without. With a BS in Engineering, an MBA in Marketing and having read tarot and Lenormand professionally for over thirty years her writing is inspired by magic and anchored in practicality.
She’s published two books in her Real Fling Series, a few short stories included in erotic romance anthologies and is on schedule to publish a paranormal series this year.
Swept off her feet by a handsome Greek, she met racing, Lyla found her happily ever after as a wife, mother of a spirited daughter, and writer. With their cat and puppy, they live in the NYC suburbs, loving the fast-paced, brutal, honesty, and energy that define NYC.
May 9, 2026
TBD
Stacy Juba: From Flat to Fabulous: Reviving Characters with Dynamic Body Language
Free for members; $10 for non-members - includes recording
Are you tired of characters who always nod, sigh, and shrug? This hands-on workshop will show you how to use physical action to express emotion, heighten tension, and layer in subtext, without overexplaining or cluttering the page. When every character reacts the same way, it dilutes your voice and your scenes lose impact. But it doesn't have to be that way. We’ll break the pattern with practical tools that help you write clearer, deeper, more human character reactions. Through easy-to-follow slides and published novel excerpts, you’ll see how body language, posture, and micro-gestures can bring your scenes to life.
We’ll cover:
• How to replace stale habits like excessive staring, gazing, or repeated mentions of “eyes locking”
• 9 types of nonverbal communication, from movement to touch, that add emotional depth
• When to show vs. tell, and how to spot the difference
• The most common body-language mistakes I see (after working with 200+ writers as a developmental editor)
You’ll leave with a printable recap, a sharper eye, and concrete techniques to turn flat reactions into dynamic moments. Whether you’re drafting or revising, this workshop will help you write characters who feel real.
Stacy Juba, a seasoned author, freelance developmental editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers, helps authors write better, edit smarter, and get organized. Stacy published her first novel at the age of eighteen, and over the years, has written sweet and sassy romantic comedies, mysteries featuring determined women sleuths, and fast-paced young adult novels. She is the creator of several online courses for writers, including Book Editing Blueprint, The Organized Author, the Energize Your Writing Toolkit, and Inside Voices: Why Characters Should Talk to Themselves and How to Do it Right. Visit her website at https://www.shortcutsforwriters.com/
June 6, 2026 (Part 1)
Part 2 within 30 days TBD
TBD
Patty Blount presents: Getting Started with Scrivener
Free for members; $20 for non-members - Includes both parts & recordings
Part 1 of 2:
A 2-Hour Hands-On Workshop for Writers. If you're tired of wrestling with long Word documents, have ever lost a chunk of work, or are struggling to keep track of your research and revisions, this is the workshop for you!
Scrivener — the writing software trusted by novelists, memoirists, and screenwriters worldwide — is built the way writers think: in scenes, chapters, and fragments you can reorganise freely.
Delivered over 2 sessions, Part 1 is a hands-on workshop where you'll learn to navigate Scrivener's three-panel interface, build and restructure a manuscript with drag-and-drop ease, plan your story visually on a digital corkboard, store research alongside your draft, and set yourself up for revision success — all in two hours.
Part 2 of 2:
We'll tackle revisions and Scrivener's Compile process, which exports your manuscript to eBook, PDF, or Word formats suitable for publication.
No prior experience with Scrivener required. All skill levels welcome. Whether you're a Pantser or a Plotter, a Windows or a Mac user, this workshop can help you get started with Scrivener.
Patty Blount grew up quiet and invisible in Queens, NY, but found her superpower writing smart and strong characters willing to fight for what’s right. Today, she’s the award-winning author of edgy, emotional contemporary romance. Powered by way too much chocolate, Patty gives a voice to characters society would prefer to ignore…characters facing situations like rape (SOME BOYS, 2014, SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW, 2018), bullying (SEND, 2012), and grief (NOTHING LEFT TO BURN, 2015). She enjoys hearing from her readers so visit her website or follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Read…roar!…revel.