Discover how to weave ghosts, witches, shifters, monsters, and magic into unforgettable stories in this six‑week masterclass on paranormal and supernatural fiction.
Whether you’re drawn to steamy paranormal romance, gritty urban fantasy, cozy witch mysteries, or horror‑laced tales with a touch of heart, this course will help you turn your ideas into compelling pages.
Across six weeks, you’ll map your subgenre (paranormal romance, romantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal mystery, or horror‑leaning), build a supernatural world with clear rules, craft complex characters, and design plots that balance emotional stakes with otherworldly danger. You’ll also learn how to control tone—from cozy to gothic, low‑heat to high‑heat, eerie to full‑on terrifying—so your story lands exactly where your ideal readers want it.
In class, you’ll get live lectures, guided examples, and practical exercises. Learn how to capitalize on Romance‑centered (HEA/HFN or romantasy) narratives, or Supernatural‑centered (UF, mystery, or horror) with specific callouts and references for each genre.
By the end of this masterclass, you’ll have a mini‑portfolio for your project: a clear concept, worldbuilding packet, character sketches, a working synopsis or beat sheet, and a polished scene.
This isn't a one-size-fits-all lecture series. Every week, the curriculum splits into two specialized tracks. You choose what matches your project:
Track A: The Heart – For Romantasy and Paranormal Romance Writers.
We're going to focus on the friction of the forbidden. We'll cover the mechanics of fated mates, the power dynamics of "Why Choose" courts, and how to calibrate heat levels without losing the plot.
Track B: The Haunt – For Mystery, Urban Fantasy, Speculative, and Horror-Adjacent Writers. This track focuses on the investigation and the dread. We'll build out structures, long-arc conspiracies, and the rules that keep your characters (mostly) safe in the dark.
For AutoCrit Pro Members: Exclusive Week 7 Bonus Session – Learn marketing and platform strategy for Paranormal and Supernatural Fiction authors.
This Course Is For You If...
✔ You write (or want to write) fiction that features paranormal or supernatural themes.
✔ You're fascinated by obsession, power, and forbidden desire.
✔ You want to move beyond surface level tropes and build out fully realized systems of magic and lore.
✔ You love high stakes tension, morally grey immortals, complex power dynamics, supernatural lore, and the things that go bump in the night.
By The End You'll Be Able To...
✔ Identify where your story fits on the spectrum from paranormal romance to urban fantasy and horror, and understand the core reader expectations for each.
✔ Create vivid supernatural settings with consistent rules, factions, and secrets that can sustain a standalone or a series.
✔ Develop multidimensional human and paranormal characters whose powers, vulnerabilities, and desires drive conflict and theme.
✔ Outline a story that effectively blends supernatural stakes with either a strong romantic arc or a mystery/thriller/horror engine.
At its heart, Paranormal and Supernatural Fiction is a rebellion against the ordinary. It allows us to take the most human questions about power, mortality, love, and fear, and view them through a speculative lens. Readers crave the escapism. They want a world they can get lost in, but they need to trust that the world won't break its own rules.
Whether it's the yearning of a fated bond or the thrill of crossing a forbidden magical line, this genre allows writers immense creative freedom to explore within a rich, atmospheric framework. And, right now, it's thriving. From the surge of Romantasy to the enduring power of Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Horror, the market is hungry for stories that are both haunting and purposeful.
Learn The Secrets of Writing Paranormal and Supernatural Fiction
6 complete modules of craft guidance, featuring video lessons, live classes and module assignments.
Access to supplements and examples for key learning.
Easy-to-follow worksheets and reference guides
AutoCrit Pro Members will have an extra session of this course to discuss all things marketing for Paranormal and Supernatural Fiction.
Connect with like-minded authors and discuss course content.
When you purchase a course or workshop you have access to the course materials forever, so you can come back whenever you need a refresher.
Learn The Secrets of Writing Dark Fiction
6 complete modules of craft how-to's, featuring video lessons, live classes and module assignments.
Access to supplements and examples for key learning.
Easy-to-follow worksheets and reference guides
AutoCrit Pro Members will have an extra session of this course to discuss all things marketing for Dark Academia.
Connect with like-minded authors and discuss course content.
When you purchase a course or workshop you have access to the course materials forever, so you can come back whenever you need a refresher.
