Lights, Action, Christmas!
Writing the Holiday Romance
December 2, 3, 9 & 16, 2025
8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific)
Click above to play the video!
What would the holidays be without a happily-ever-after romance? From Hallmark to Lifetime to Netflix — and even holiday books! — this genre is wildly popular, with plenty of opportunity for aspiring and established writers.
This is one of our most beloved Story Summit classes, and this year we're offering FOUR big evenings designed just for you!
You’ll learn:
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The dos and don’ts of plotting a classic holiday romance.
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Specific elements movie producers look for in a holiday script.
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Effective ways to crank up tension between characters.
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Tried-and-true tips for adding unique twists.
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Key considerations to help you craft a memorable meet-cute.
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And more!
And remember...if you have to miss a class, no problem. You can listen to the recording at your convenience.
This course is for screenwriters, novelists, and fans alike — for anyone who wants a behind-the-scenes look at the making (and marketing) of holiday joy.
The course will overflow with writing tips, inside secrets, and specific instructions to help you write YOUR holiday movie. Plus, we’ll have a one-night class December 9 on creating a pitch-perfect one-pager to sell your holiday screenplay. AND you can apply to pitch your project to holiday movie producers via Zoom on December 16.
Just think... you might get a film contract for Christmas!
Our Esteemed Christmas Faculty
From magic to mistletoe, our faculty members know holiday storytelling inside and out.
The course will overflow with writing tips, inside secrets, and specific instructions to help you write YOUR holiday movie.
Emmy Award-winning writer for Netflix, Hallmark, and Lifetime Christmas movies, including A Christmas Prince and author of bestselling holiday novel, A Ruff Royal Christmas.
Writer of The Christmas Card, which started the holiday movie craze, and 17 other Christmas movies
Writer of the Hallmark movie Believe in Christmas and author of over 200 romance novels.
The Holiday Market
Holiday movies have become big business, with more of them in demand every year. And that means producers are looking for new material year-round. Whether you’re a seasoned holiday screenwriter, you’re new to the genre, or you simply can’t get enough of holiday movies and want to learn how they’re made, this class is for you.
From the memorable meet-cute to that all-important happily-ever-after, our Story Summit experts will teach you the ins and outs of holiday screenplays and help you polish your script until it shines.
Who doesn’t need a love story at this time of year?
Stories of holiday romance have a greater impact than we may realize. Often, it seems, their combination of beauty, love, humor and happy endings help people get through tough times.
One participant, for instance, told us she couldn’t have gotten through chemotherapy without them.
Others turn to Christmas movies when they feel lonely or they’re missing a loved one.
Another said she and her mom get together every year to watch their favorite Christmas films. It’s one of their most delightful holiday traditions.
The truth is, these stories bring us together and restore hope.
So if they hold a place in your heart—as a writer or a viewer—please join us. You’ll fall in love with happy endings all over again, making this a true holiday celebration.
See What People Were Saying After One of our Past Holiday Classes:
Here's What You Can Expect on
Night One: A Star-Studded Learning Experience
Creative Insights from Joany Kane
Joany Kane, the creative mind behind Hallmark’s record-breaking The Christmas Card, will grace us with her presence. Kane didn't just pen an Emmy-nominated masterpiece; she ignited the global Hallmark Christmas phenomenon. Since The Christmas Card, she has penned seventeen produced Christmas movies. She’ll share about the craft behind creating heartwarming holiday stories, offering insights into the evolving landscape of Christmas films she helped pioneer.
Of course, we’ll have our holiday friend Shelfie on hand for trivia questions and prizes! We’ll award prizes for the ugliest sweater, the ugliest holiday mug, and the best Zoom background (real, not virtual). And don’t be surprised if we have special cameo appearances!
Night Two: The Business of Making Holiday Magic
Finding Your Christmas Mojo
We'll begin the evening with a visit from Joany Kane, who will join us at the top of the session. From the writer who helped define the modern Christmas movie, we’ll explore the architecture behind these beloved stories — the emotional engines, the structural rhythms, and the non-negotiable “musts” that make a holiday screenplay sing. Joany will walk us through the craft of shaping heartwarming worlds, balancing sentiment with surprise, and building the kind of timeless Christmas magic that keeps audiences returning year after year.
We'll then have screenwriter, Maggie Dallen, tell her Christmas mojo story. Maggie took this Christmas class (under another name) three years ago. Inspired, Maggie wrote her first script ever, Believe in Christmas. Flash forward: the script got produced and it had its world premier last Thanksgiving on the Hallmark channel! Maggie will be talking about applicable, actions on how to get your screenplay produced
In the second part of the night, Karen Schaler will step in with practical tips on what to do once you have a script in hand, how to find the right people to pitch, where to send your work, and how to start opening doors in the industry — including Karen's Special 5 Tips to Christmas Success.
Karen is a three-time Emmy Award-winning screenwriter, producer, bestselling author, journalist, and national TV host. She has written features for Netflix, Hallmark, and Lifetime, including the Netflix Original sensation A Christmas Prince, which started the franchise. She also turned her hit Christmas Camp Hallmark movie and books into real-life trademarked sold-out Christmas Camp experiences for grownups that she hosts at resorts, hotels, and destinations worldwide. Her stories will inspire you to think beyond the holiday movie and explore a whole world of writing, producing, publishing, and telling Christmas stories.
Night Three: Creating a One-Pager that Sells
Karen Schaler, also known as Christmas Karen, will lead you step by step through the process of creating a one-page pitch to sell your holiday screenplay. In this two-hour session, you'll learn how to write and format a successful pitch, understand the core materials you need to sell your work, and polish everything until it shines. She'll break down loglines, one-sheets, and the essential elements every writer should have ready when approaching producers or executives. This session alone is priceless, giving you the tools you need to successfully market your script.
Night Four: Making Your Pitch
Imagine pitching live to the best of the best holiday movie producers. We will have several Christmas producers on the panel. You may have that opportunity, as we’ll choose students to present themselves and their one-pagers to three producers who are actively looking for new material.
Here’s How the Four Nights Will Unfold
Tuesday, December 2
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Introduction to the Christmas Movie Genre
- Brief history and evolution of Christmas movies.
- Importance and influence of the holiday season in storytelling.
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Understanding Core Themes and Tropes
- Popular themes in Christmas movies (e.g., redemption, family, magic, love).
- Essential Christmas movie tropes (e.g., Christmas miracles, the 'real' Santa, hometown holiday returns).
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Crafting Compelling Characters
- Developing a relatable protagonist and supporting cast.
- The role of antagonists in Christmas movies (e.g., Scrooge characters, the Grinch)
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Plot Development & Story Arcs - The significance of the "Christmas Magic" moment.- Ensuring a balance between conflict and heartwarming resolutions.
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Brainstorming & Workshop: Crafting Your Premise
- Faculty offers feedback on Christmas movie ideas.
- Peer and instructor feedback on feasibility, uniqueness, and adherence to Christmas spirit.
Wednesday, December 3
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The Business of Christmas Movies - Overview of the growing demand for holiday content.- Major buyers in the industry: Hallmark, Lifetime, A&E, Netflix, and Apple. Discussion on each platform's unique style and preferences for Christmas content.
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Understanding Buyer Preferences
- Deep dive into what each major buyer (Hallmark, Lifetime, A&E, Netflix, Apple) typically looks for in Christmas content, and how to tailor your pitch accordingly.
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Holiday Marketplace Strategy
- Find the right producers and chart your festive path
- Build a Top Ten Wish List that feels perfectly gift wrapped
- Discover producers outside IMDb and spot new Santas
- Track trends and titles that make your story sparkle
- Reach out with warm holiday cheer, not cold spam
- Avoid landing on the Naughty List
- Keep your writing sleigh moving strong
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Workshop: Plot and Character Brainstorming - Group feedback focusing on character arcs, climax, and resolution.
At the end of these sessions, participants will not only have a blueprint for their Christmas movie script but also a clear understanding of the business and how to approach the key players in the industry.
Tuesday, December 9
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Basics of a Marketable Pitch
- How to tailor it for different buyers.
- Discussion on contracts, rights, and potential earnings from selling scripts to major platforms. -
Refining Your One-Pager
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Wrap-Up & Next Steps
- Tips on refining and continuing the pitch process.
- Encouragement for future scriptwriting and selling endeavors.
After this class, you may apply to do pitch your project to one of three holiday producers on Tuesday, December 16 in front of a live audience (via Zoom).
Tuesday, December 16
Live Pitching to Four Holiday Producers
We’ll select students to pitch to three holiday producers who are actively looking for scripts. If you’re selected, we’ll even work with you ahead of time to hone your pitch and prep for your big moment.
It’s going to be a VERY jolly class!
For this festive time of year, we want to make our Christmas class extra special. That’s why we have several gifts and surprises in store.
AND the course will be filled with good cheer and fun surprises, making it a holiday event you don’t want to miss.
If you love holiday romance, there’s no place you’d rather be December 2, 3, 9 and 16.
Disclaimer: How To Write A Christmas Movie is not sponsored by Hallmark Channel, nor is Story Summit affiliated with the Hallmark Channel. Guest instructors are subject to change.
A Sampling of Our Faculty's Movies
Today Price Only $397
for 8 hours of instruction and celebration
Story Summit Membership subscribers receive this class at no additional cost. Just register and the discount will be applied automatically. Please make sure you're logged in to receive the discount. Not a subscriber yet? Join here.
Please note: Our classes are designed specifically for live participation, so your attendance is important. If you need to miss a class for any reason, you’ll receive a passcode-protected link to watch the recordings after the course is over.
For a limited time, you also get...
3 Special Gifts
Special Gift #1 - A chance to win a special Christmas gift.
Special Gift #2 - Table Reads
We'll hold your place at our Holiday Table Read on December 21.
Special Gift #3 - Access to our private Facebook group
You'll get to know faculty members and other participants in our private Story Summit Facebook group.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Peek at Our Past Virtual Classes
