Certificate in Crime Writing (Three-weekend series) with Graham Bartlett and Jo Furniss

Ref: SWE37328

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About this course

Please note that the course fee of £1230 (which covers all three units) is payable in advance of study or on booking.

This Certificate in Crime Writing course is delivered in three weekend course units, with self-directed study and a final submission of 5,000 words of fiction. It is delivered by two best-selling writers of crime and thrillers, Jo Furniss and Graham Bartlett.

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 writer's 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.

The first unit will include:
What is crime fiction?
Who is a 'detective'?
Meet your characters
Group work – dialogue
Capturing the zeitgeist
Point of View – whose crime is it anyway?
A piece of work to develop for Unit 2

Course Description

Unit 1

  • What is crime fiction?
  • Who is a ‘detective’?
  • Meet your characters
  • Group work – dialogue
  • Capturing the zeitgeist
  • Point of View – whose crime is it anyway?

Pre-course preparation
In advance of the first weekend, please would you read (and bring with you) The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. We will discuss it on Friday.
Please also read Brighton Rock by Graham Greene and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (please bring these texts with you also).

On Friday evening, during introductions, the tutors will ask you to consider these questions for discussion on the first evening:

  • Why have you chosen to do the certificate?
  • Tell us a crime novel that has inspired you and why
  • What do you want to get from this weekend?

We will build a fiction list over the three weekends. 

You may also wish to refer to the list of further reading around the three weekends of the Certificate, compiled by Jo and Graham and supplied with your booking confirmation.

Unit 2

  • The old and new rules of Crime Fiction
  • A sense of place (using the grounds of West Dean)
  • Building on weekend one – character arcs
  • Plotting murder
  • A chance to share your work
  • Feedback session on your writing
  • Understanding and writing a crime scene and murder investigation, with former detective, Graham Bartlett

Pre-course preparation
Please complete the work set at the end of Unit 1 and bring your writing with you.  There will be an opportunity to share or read aloud for those you wish to do so.

Unit 3

  • Suspense
  • Pacing
  • Editing and rewriting
  • Research and sourcing experts
  • Writing a pitch

Pre-course preparation
Following the completion of this third unit, you will be asked to submit the first 5,000 words of a work in progress for marking and feedback from the programme tutors.

Course Materials

What students need to bring

Your usual writing equipment, notebook and pen, and/or laptop.

Your copies of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie, Brighton Rock by Graham Greene and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn to refer to in discussion.

Timetable

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 7.15pm for registration. Students arriving earlier are welcome to purchase dinner in the College Dining Room from 6pm.
First Teaching session: 7.30pm - 9pm (attendance is essential)

Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am - 5pm
Morning session: 9.15am - 12.45pm including coffee/tea break
Lunch break: 12.45pm - 2pm*
Afternoon session: 2pm - 5pm including coffee/tea break
Teaching finishes: 5pm

Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm
Teaching finishes: 3pm

Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am.
Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required. *Lunch can be purchased on campus, view options.

General Information

Tutors

Graham Bartlett

Graham was a UK police officer for thirty years, where he rose to become a senior detective and Brighton and Hove’s police commander. Since retiring, he has become a police procedural and crime advisor helping authors and TV writers (including Peter James, Mark Billingham, Elly Griffiths and Dorothy Koomson) achieve authenticity alongside their drama.

Graham is a crime writing mentor and runs a series of popular and successful online crime courses.  He is a best-selling crime writer of non-fiction crime books, Death Comes Knocking and Babes in the Wood and he is also the author of the Chief Superintendent Jo Howe crime fiction series: Bad for Good, Force of Hate and City on Fire.

Jo Furniss

After spending a decade as a broadcast journalist for the BBC, Jo Furniss gave up the night shifts to become a freelance writer and expat. Her debut thriller, All the Little Children, hit the Amazon Charts and was one of the Top 25 best-selling Kindle titles of 2017. Her crime novels include the closed-circle mysteries, Dead Mile and Guilt Trip.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

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