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Creative Writing & Publishing

Certificate in Crime Writing

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Award: Certificate in Crime Writing
Duration: 1 year, part-time
School: School of Arts
Campus: West Dean

This course in Crime Writing is delivered in three weekend course units, with self-directed study and a final submission of 5000 words fiction. It is delivered by two of the country’s best and most successful writers of crime fiction, Domenica De Rosa (Elly Griffiths) and Lesley Thomson.

The course seeks to bring together all the key components of good crime writing into one continuing programme and to offer an insight into the writers’ toolkit necessary for developing skills and building your confidence.

Each weekend unit will be based in the inspirational environment of West Dean College’s historic rooms. It is aimed at writers who wish to commit to an extended programme of study without having to make a significant time commitment and who will benefit from a cohesive course that offers focus on the key elements of successful crime writing. It also offers a potential pathway to those interested in applying for the College’s Higher Education programmes in Writing and Publishing.

Course structure

This course is designed for writers who want an extended and cohesive course on crime writing. It offers a deeper and broader raft of teaching designed to enable the student to take on a piece of longer fiction. At the end of the third unit students will be asked to submit the first 5000 words of a Work In Progress for marking and feedback from the tutors.

On successful completion students will be offered an interview for the MA in Creative Writing and Publishing should they want to continue their studies and project. The MA is set up to facilitate the production of a completed novel.

Course aims

Introduction
You will be introduced to the key skills and knowledge that underpins successful crime writing. These will include the organisational skills required for plotting, character development and narrative technique. You will also be introduced to constructive and focused critical reflection of your work and support the development of rewriting/drafting skills.

Skills development
The course will offer a stimulating and varied learning environment to enable writers to develop their skills around voice, style, point of view, pacing and prose. Writing exercises will be used along with discussion, textual analysis and a review of the ‘golden rules of crime writing.

It will facilitate constructive critical thinking/reflection and cover editing, dialogue, suspense, and narrative drive: key skills in successful crime writing.

Contextual and critical studies
The course will offer insight into the traditions, theory and responsibilities of the crime writer. Enable you to make clear authorial and editorial choices about your developing work.

Course units

Unit 1: Character and Point of View | Tutor: Lesley Thomson and Domenica De Rosa (Elly Griffiths)
12-14 January 2024 | Weekend | Course code: SWE13106 

The first unit will include:

  • An introduction to crime fiction
  • What is a ‘detective’
  • How to build a character
  • Group work – scene construction
  • Point of View – understanding and experimenting with point of view (POV)

Unit 2: Plot and Place | Tutor: Lesley Thomson and Domenica De Rosa (Elly Griffiths)
26-28 April 2024 | Weekend | Course code: SWE13319 

This second unit will include:

  • The rules of crime fiction
  • Understanding environment (using the grounds of West Dean)
  • Building on weekend one – character and plot
  • Plot as a magic trick

Unit 3: Writing Your Book | Tutors: Lesley Thomson and Domenica de Rosa (Elly Griffiths) with Graham Bartlett
8-10 November 2024 | Weekend | Course code: SWE13529

The third and final unit will include:

  • The NEW ten rules of crime writing in the modern world
  • Suspense
  • Dialogue
  • Pacing
  • A session working with an expert detective on establishing and understanding the crime scene.

Final writing

At the completion of the course students will submit the first 5000 words of a piece they have developed on the programme for feedback from the programme tutors two months after the final unit.

Completion

Completion
On successful completion students will receive a Certificate of Completion and be offered an interview for the MA in Creative Writing and Publishing should they want to continue their studies and project. The MA is set up to facilitate the production of a completed novel.

Gallery

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    2021/22 Certificate in Crime Writing class. Image credit Nicola Goodwin
    2021/22 Certificate in Crime Writing class. Image credit Nicola Goodwin
    Lesley Thomson, The Death Chamber, 2018
    Elly Griffiths, The Stranger Diaries, 2018
    West Dean Campus Sussex Credit Mj Dearman

    West Dean campus
    School of Art Facilities Credit Chris Ison

    Facilities
    West Dean School of Arts Alumni Credit Thom Atkinson

    Alumni
    Funding your course

    Funding
    School of Art Credit Thom Atkinson.jpg

    School of Arts

    Explore and expand your work in a uniquely immersive environment with its own connections to art history. Our School of Arts students enjoy specialist studio spaces dedicated to painting and drawing, sculpture and tapestry and textile-based work as well as exceptional exhibition space.

    School of Arts

    Entry requirements

    The following qualifications will be considered for entry to the course: 

    • A commitment to attending all three units
    • Some experience of writing or attending a short writing programme
    • An interest in and awareness of the crime writing genre

    Please read our standard Terms and Conditions for short courses.
    Specific Terms and Conditions for this course include a commitment to attend all three weekend course dates listed, as alternative course dates cannot be offered for any that you are unable to attend. Therefore, no refund can be made for the course fee for any weekend you are unable to attend. 

    Fees

    2025/25 Course Fees - payable in advance of study

    • £1,080 (non-residential, payable in one instalment covering all three units)

    Accommodation for each course block is available at an extra cost. Find out more about our accommodation options and costs.

    We may routinely increase our course fees from year to year for one-year courses as well as courses lasting two or more years and may review and change such course fees without notice.

    How to apply

    To book a place or ask your questions about the course, please email [email protected] or call us on (01243) 818 300 and select option 2.

    Course information, including course codes, can be found in the Course structure.

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    Tutors

    Lesley Thomson, tutor at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation
    Elly Griffiths, tutor at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation

    Elly Griffiths

    Associate Tutor - MA Creative Writing and Publishing
    Tutor - Certificate in Crime Writing

    ELLY GRIFFITHS wrote four novels under her own name, Domenica de Rosa before turning to crime with The Crossing Places, the first novel featuring forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway. The Crossing Places won the Mary Higgins Clark award and five novels in the series have been shortlisted for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year. The Locked Room (Ruth #14) was number one on the Sunday Times bestseller list. Elly also writes the Brighton Mysteries, set in the theatrical world of the 1950s. In 2016 Elly was awarded the CWA Dagger in the Library for her body of work. Her first standalone mystery, The Stranger Diaries, won the 2020 Edgar award for Best Crime Novel. The second, The Postscript Murders, was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger. Elly also writes a children's mystery series,  A Girl Called Justice.  Elly teaches on the creative writing MA at West Dean College and on the crime-writing MSt at Madingley Hall, University of Cambridge.