One-day masterclass
Crime fiction, in its many and diverse forms, is one of the most popular genres in the world. From The Woman in White to The Dry, blockbuster crime novels dominate bookselling, while every year thousands of new titles become somebody’s new favourite read.
When a reader picks up a crime novel, they might end up on mean streets of LA, in the outback or the Shetlands, Siberia or a Greek island, a small country town, or the back lanes of Fitzroy. It can be the story of an amateur sleuth unravelling a mystery, or a forensic expert on the trail of a serial killer, but it might also be a reimagining of a historical crime with more questions than answers, or a meditation on social issues or grief or violence or guilt. Or all of the above.
The world is your (possibly poisoned) oyster.
This masterclass focuses on some of the key genre elements so beloved of crime fiction: place, character, voice and plot, all seen through the lens of a constantly evolving genre. It also provides space for those who want to reimagine or subvert genre tropes.
Who’s it for?
This is a one-day masterclass for aspiring and emerging writers, people in the early stages of their crime-writing careers – or any writers who are interested in writing compelling crime fiction.
What will you learn?
In this masterclass, through active teaching, group discussion, and practical writing exercises you will:
- Identify key genre traditions, tropes and expectations
- Focus on foundations and techniques for creating compelling characters and distinctive narrative voices
- Discuss the role of place in crime fiction
- Consider diversity, representation, and gender issues in crime fiction
- Learn about planning and structuring a crime novel and its plot.
You’ll also receive an invitation to our private online writing community to keep in touch with each other and up-to-date on writing and publishing opportunities.
Your teacher
I’m the President of Sisters in Crime Australia, have judged the annual Davitt crime writing awards, and published academic articles about recent crime fiction. I’m a fan of Victorian greats such as Wilkie Collins, historical crime such as Sulari Gentill’s Rowland Sinclair series and Robert Gott’s Murder series, as well as modern mysteries from Peter Temple’s The Broken Shore to the many excellent recent novels set in small Aussie towns with way too many murderers. My next novel, co-written with Sharmini Kumar, is Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective. My other forthcoming crime novels feature girl bushrangers, and archaeologists digging up more than they can handle. You can read more about me here.
Class dates:
Saturday 16 November, 2024 (completed)
Most detective story readers are an educated audience and know there are only a certain number of plots. The interest lies in what the writer does with them.
Kerry Greenwood, creator of the Phryne Fisher mysteries,
The Age, 25 February 2003
New Page Writing Retreats & Masterclasses 