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.
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.
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.
