Solve the mystery of how to write gripping crime fiction with a two-day investigation into the genre led by top authors
Everybody loves a good, juicy murder. So it's little wonder crime fiction is one of the UK's bestselling literary genres. Whether your tastes tend toward the gritty Jack Reacher procedural or the witty Father Brown whimsical, over the course of a weekend, acclaimed novelists William Ryan and M R Hall, joined by Literary Agent David Headley, will give an intensive and entertaining overview of the building blocks of crime fiction. And whether you're an absolute beginner or a much more experienced writer, this course will be of real value. From understanding the types of fiction agents, publishers and readers are looking for to giving practical and incisive help with your plotting and characterisation, through a series of lectures and workshops, you'll learn how to drive your novel forward without giving everything away - and while keeping your readers gripped. You'll leave the course with a step-by-step guide to developing your crime novel, and invaluable feedback from three professionals at the top of their game on how to continue.
Outline of sessions
- What makes crime fiction tick
- The crime fiction market
- Introduction to plotting
- Technical aspects of crime writing
- Developing subsidiary characters and conflict
- How to create an original central charater
- Writing good dialogue
- What agents are looking for
- The three act structure
- Workshops on Plotting, Characterisation and Dialogue
This course is for you if...
- You're a beginner who wishes to learn about the conventions of plotting, character construction and how to build tension in crime novels
- You're an experienced author looking for insight into what publishers – and readers – of crime fiction are looking for
- You're a fiction author outside the crime scene who wishes to learn more about the literary mechanics of mystery and suspense
Tutor profile
M R Hall is a Bafta nominated screenwriter, producer and former criminal barrister. He has just been nominated for a second CWA Gold Dagger Award for his novel The Flight. The Chosen Dead is Hall's fifth novel featuring the brave but fragile Coroner Jenny Cooper and the trademark combination of intricate detail, perfect plotting, televisual narrative and flawed but believable characters.
William Ryan worked as a lawyer for a number of year, before turning his hand to writing. His Soviet Russian Captain Korolev novels - The Holy Thief, The Bloody Meadow and The Twelfth Department - have between them been shortlisted for the Theakstons' Crime Novel of the Year, the CWA New Blood Dagger, the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award, the Ireland AM Irish Crime Novel of the Year Award and the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger and been published in 17 countries. He teaches on the Crime Thriller Novel M.A. course at City University and lives in West London.
David Headley is the Managing Director of Goldsboro Books, an independent bookseller based in central London, and founder of the DHH Literary Agency. David represents a number of crime writers and has a reputation for championing debut authors, both as agent and bookseller.
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Testimonials from previous Guardian Masterclasses
Outstandingly good - very good resources and invaluable workshops
Both of the tutors were very interesting and thought-provoking. They handled the group well - i.e. giving us enough time to do things, but getting through a lot of material
Better than I expected - I've been on similar courses before, and this was the most stimulating and directly useful one I have attended. I feel ready to go back to my novel now and re-plot it from scratch
The session from David was very, very helpful. Not only informative about the agent's role but also very down to earth about the prospects of publication without being dismissive of the possibilities for people in the class
Both Matthew and William were excellent in conveying the practical concerns of the course, moving between concepts and small group work with skill. They work well together and generated a great atmosphere for learning.
I wasn't expecting so much insight or useful techniques. I've attended a distance learning course and I gained more in these two days than I did in three months of the distance learning course.
Details
Dates: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April 2014
Times: 10am-5.30pm. Check-in begins 30 minutes before the start time.
Location: The Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU
Prices:
☻Early bird special (a limited number of places at a reduced price for people who book in advance)£349
☻ Regular price £399
(all prices include VAT, booking fee, lunch and refreshments)
Event capacity: 16
Dress code: There is no dress code for Masterclasses. Please dress however you feel comfortable.
To contact us, click here. Terms and conditions can be found here.
Returns policy
Tickets may be refunded if you contact us at least 7 days before the course start date. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.