Stage 32 8-Part Screenwriting Lab: Write Your Romance TV Pilot

2026 is a huge year for romance on TV — from Heated Rivalry to Bridgerton to The Summer I Turned Pretty to Off Campus, audiences keep showing up big for a well-built romance. And you don't need to be writing a full-on romance to benefit — plenty of today's biggest shows aren't romances at all, yet a strong romantic thread is exactly what hooks audiences. Whether it's your anchor storyline or just one thread among several, this lab gives you the skills to make it land.

Writing romance that sells takes more than chemistry between two leads. Buyers want compelling characters, authentic conflict, and a story engine that can carry multiple seasons — and that's exactly what you'll build here, whether you're writing a contemporary romance, adapting your own novel, or strengthening a subplot inside a larger project.

It's easy to get so focused on your central will-they-won't-they that everything else — supporting characters, arcs, a driving engine — never fully develops. You'll avoid that here, walking away with material that's emotionally engaging, commercially viable, and ready for the marketplace.

You'll work directly with Anna Henry, an independent producer and Stage 32 educator with 20 years in TV development. She began at CBS and ABC before moving into development and management, where her clients have set up projects at Netflix, Amazon, Starz, and HBO. Her credits include Netflix's Seven Seconds, Starz' Vida, HBO's The Deuce and Big Love, NBC's This Is Us, and The CW's Jane the Virgin. She even taught drama pilot structure for Netflix's Creating Content for the Global Marketplace Initiative — so you're learning from someone who knows exactly what buyers want right now.

She's not just teaching the marketplace, either — she's currently partnering with a major production company to package a project she developed with a Stage 32 writer in the romance category. It's exactly the kind of opportunity this lab helps you build toward.

Over eight sessions, you'll build your world, characters, and story engine; construct a pilot balancing multiple storylines; map your season arc; and write scenes that feel cinematic, not expository. Three rounds of one-on-one consultations sharpen your work along the way. You'll walk away with a finished pilot script (or revised outline) and the confidence to bring your romantic material to market.

This interactive lab is held on Zoom and goes deeper than a Stage 32 webinar. As soon as you sign up, you'll connect by email with your Educator, who's available for any question about your craft or career for the full duration of the class — like having a mentor on demand. Can't make a live session? Recordings post to your Library within 48 hours. Plus, you'll have a dedicated lounge to connect with fellow classmates.

Praise for Anna's Education:

"Her individual feedback is incredibly challenging — it geared me up to confront many of my assumptions about my story and dig deep to find better alternatives." — Maureen T.

"Anna has a clear, information-packed teaching style that shows the way forward in definitive steps... Her knowledge of industry trends is particularly helpful." — Karen B.

"Her feedback is so detailed and helpful. I highly recommend the course." — Bianca B.