This course is for anyone interested in beginning to write crime genre stories. Crime, including thrillers and mysteries, is the most popular form of fiction. It is also very flexible and wide-ranging, enabling writers to explore their areas of interest while keeping the reader gripped throughout with great storytelling.

During this course, you will explore the main strands of the crime genre together with other participants. You will learn about the ‘rules’ of writing crime fiction, how they vary between different types of story and where they can be stretched - or ignored altogether! It will consider how to quickly set a scene, how to develop your characters and how to develop tension.

This course is aimed at beginners, but also writers who have experience in other forms, but who have yet to experiment with authoring crime. It will include considering novels, short stories and in other forms of writing to keep readers compelled and entertained.

What students need to bring

• A laptop and/or notepad and pen

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above

Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.

6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).

8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.

Daily timetable

Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.

From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).

Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Last day

Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.

Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.

(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)

Terms & Conditions