Captivating Crime Fiction with Elizabeth Haynes (six-week course)

Week one – Introduction

In the first week of the course, you will get to know one another, discuss what you’d like to achieve during the course, and share where you are currently in your writing journey. Together, you will start to delve into our understanding of crime fiction, covering its history, subgenres and popular tropes. For your main exercise this week, you’ll use a real historical event as inspiration for a novel. You’ll think about the structure of this novel and you’ll start to write a scene, with the option of sharing this with the group.  

Week two – Character Development in Crime Fiction

In the second week of the course you’ll focus on character. You’ll look at key characters from crime fiction and discover why they work so well, and you will use this insight to start to create your own compelling protagonist. You’ll then spend some time looking at the supporting cast of your book, including your antagonist.

Week three – Plotting and Structure

We’ll begin the third session by looking at different types of crime fiction, covering thrillers, procedurals, and whodunnits. We’ll look at some examples of traditional crime plot devices and what makes them work, as well as the delicate balance between making plot twists believable without giving them away. Then, you’ll identify where your story is struggling by looking at the typical structures of crime fiction novels, and you’ll experiment with writing a cliffhanger ending. 

Week four – Setting and Atmosphere

Using the tools you’ve learned so far in the course, you will create a hook in an opening scene. Together, we’ll discover the importance of mood and tone to set your story and you’ll work on getting the balance of description right. We’ll explore how authors research and create authentic settings for their stories, particularly when it comes to procedure, historical crime, or stories taking place in unfamiliar locations.  

Week five – Writing Suspense and Tension

In the penultimate week, we’ll examine techniques for creating suspense and tension, such as pacing, withholding information, and escalating stakes. We’ll look at how crime fiction authors use dialogue to develop characters and build tension, and you’ll write an interview scene which builds tension towards a climax. 

Week six – Editing and Publishing

In the final week of the course, there will be the opportunity to focus on whatever the group would benefit from the most. This could include individual feedback on your work, how to finish and edit a novel, or how to find an agent. We’ll also look at how to continue writing beyond the routine of the course, finding your place in the world of crime writers, and giving yourself the permission to write.