Stories that flirt with trauma, taboo, and temptation are usually the ones people can’t stop thinking about. They keep us up at night, they make us uncomfortable, and they make us come back for more.
But writing them? That’s where things get tricky. Push too far and you lose your reader.
Play it too safe and it’s not dark at all.
Trauma & Temptation: Writing Dark is a live, 6-week course about how to write in the shadows without losing your grip. We’re going beyond craft-light, surface-level fluff, and into the reasons why we’re drawn to the dark in the first place.
Along the way, you’ll discover how to build characters who live in the grey, and how to write the kinds of scenes that hit your reader in the gut and make them whisper, “Holy shit, I know I shouldn’t want this – but I do.”
If you’re ready to write stories that tempt, terrify, and refuse to let go — this is where you start.
Please be aware that the content discussed in this course could be potentially triggering. You should be able to tell by now if this is or isn’t for you.
This Course Is For You If...
✔️ You write (or want to write) dark romance, grimdark fantasy, horror, or thrillers.
✔️ You're fascinated by obsession, power, and forbidden desire.
✔️ You want to push boundaries without crossing into reader betrayal.
✔️ You're tired of surface-level "rules" and want a real conversation about writing dark.
By The End You'll Be Able To...
✔️ Write morally grey characters readers can’t get enough of.
✔️ Understand how to incorporate dark themes as intentional craft tools, not just shock fodder.
✔️ Better balance creative freedom and responsibility in your storytelling.
✔️ Implement strategies to understand your target audience and market your work... without watering it down.
We’ll be talking about trauma, taboo, kink, obsession, violence, consent, and the blurred edges between fear and desire. The conversations will be raw. The examples will be explicit.
If you’re uncomfortable exploring those subjects in depth, this isn’t the course for you. Content discussed in this course could be potentially triggering.
If you’re ready to step into the shadows, to look at the psychology behind what makes readers lean in when they should pull away, and to explore how to write it with both power and responsibility – then this is exactly where you need to be.
Recommended Skill Level: Intermediate
Dark fiction isn’t a mere passing trend. It’s everywhere — from BookTok obsessions to Kindle charts to fan communities that all thrive on taboo, trauma, and temptation. Readers aren’t shying away from the shadows, they’re running toward them.
The demand is real. The competition is fierce. And the writers who know how to navigate the line between dangerous and exploitative, thrilling and alienating are the ones readers trust and follow.
This is your chance to learn from three USA Today bestselling authors who’ve not only written dark stories but built careers on them. To get honest, unfiltered guidance on the questions most classes won’t touch:
• How far is too far?
• How do you balance lighter themes of redemption, hope, and love inside of dark fiction?
• What makes a villain unforgettably magnetic, versus just vile?
If you’ve been circling those questions on your own, it’s time to stop guessing. This course will give you the clarity, craft, and confidence to finally write the stories you’ve been afraid to touch.
🔥 Don’t wait. Step into the dark. Spots are limited — and once they’re gone, they’re gone.
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 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 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.
