Writing Crime Fiction: Next Steps
18-week online writing course begins Monday 19 September 2022
Join Nicola Upson, CWA Dagger shortlisted author of the Expert in Murder series, for an 18-week in-depth online creative writing course. This intermediate course builds on the expertise acquired at an introductory level and will lead you through the elements of writing a crime fiction novel.
In this course you will read deeply from a wide variety of crime fiction texts, you will take place in a series of live zoom sessions and a 1-1 tutorial, and you will broaden the possibilities of your crime fiction writing. By the end of the course, you will have up to 9,500 words of a crime fiction novel.
Classes are capped at 15 places to ensure a high-quality experience.
What the course covers
Module 1 – Firm Foundations
This module will give you the foundations you’ll need for the rest of the course. You’ll look at your favourite crime novel with analytical eyes, you’ll explore where ideas come from, and you’ll have a go at writing a few different story openings in contrasting styles. For your assignment, you’re asked to submit up to 1,000 words of the opening of a crime story – either your current work in progress or inspired by one of the exercises.
Module 2 – A Sense Of Place
In this module, you will explore the importance of place and the role of setting in crime fiction. You’ll look at iconic crime fiction locations and the way they impacted on the story, you’ll discover the functionality of setting as a writer, and you’ll create a sensory description of setting. For your assignment, you’ll bring all of this together in a 1,500-word crime scene.
Module 3 – Who Do You Think They Are?
This module focuses on writing character. You’ll go out and observe people in the real world, you’ll examine the delicate line between heroes and villains, and explore motive and credibility in crime fiction. Your assignment this week will be to introduce your main character to your reader, bringing together everything you’ve learned from this module.
Module 4 – Finding Your Way
In this module, you’ll look at some of the key techniques of all fiction: plot, point of view, and conflict. You’ll also look at techniques specific to crime fiction, including tension and pace, menace and suspense, and the way you manage time. For your assignment, you’ll pull all these together to write an engaging section of narrative.
Module 5 – How Far Will You Go?
This module tackles the difficult elements of crime fiction: murder, violence, and gore. You will find your comfort zone and explore why you read and write things you might find difficult. You’ll look at different perspectives, you’ll find the body in your narrative and you’ll also look at different types of crime fiction that aren’t centred around death. Rather than an assignment, you’ll submit a piece of work you’ve been struggling with or want feedback on and have a 1-1 tutorial with your tutor.
Module 6 – The Sense of an Ending
This module will be split between the creative aspects of bringing your story to a close, and some practical aspects of making your work as good as it can be and taking the first steps towards publication. You’ll discuss the perfect final chapter, you’ll tie up loose ends, and you’ll read your work aloud as an editing tool. You’ll also submit questions to an agent to find out about the next stage if you’re looking to publish your writing. Your final assignment will be the first draft of an ending of your work.
By the end of the course you will have
- Written almost 10k words of a crime novel
- Discover the importance of locations in crime fiction
- Explored the use of tension and pace
- Discussed murder and violence in crime fiction
- Heard from a literary agent
- Understood the foundations of crime fiction writing
Applying to the course
This is an intermediate-level course. To apply, we ask that you submit:
- A 500-word sample of your work
- A one-paragraph introduction to yourself.
Email learning@nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk to apply.
- Please format your email’s subject line: ‘[your name] application for Crime Fiction’.
- Application deadline Midday GMT Wednesday 7th September.
- Applications are assessed and places are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
Committing to an 18-week course is a big decision for any writer. If you have any questions at all please do get in touch at learning@nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk.
About your tutor
Nicola Upson’s debut novel, An Expert in Murder, was the first in a series of crime novels whose main character is Josephine Tey, who – along with Agatha Christie – was one of the masters of Britain’s Golden Age of crime writing. She was shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger in 2018 for Nine Lessons and longlisted in 2021 for The Dead of Winter.
How it works
All you need is a computer and an internet connection. You can find out more about the requirements here.
The course will run for 18 weeks and there will be 12 modules. Each module will consider an aspect of poetry and participants will work through some writing exercises. At the end of each module, the tutor will set an assignment. You will receive written feedback from your tutor for all 12 modules with hints and tips on how to strengthen your poem.
There are two scheduled Zoom sessions, dates are to be announced.
Designed by the University of East Anglia and the National Centre for Writing.
18-week online writing course begins Monday 19 September 2022 Join Nicola Upson, CWA Dagger shortlisted author of the Expert in Murder series, for an 18-week in-depth online creative writing course. This intermediate course builds on the expertise acquired at an introductory level and will lead you through the elements of writing a […]
Online Writers Centre Norwich