Advanced crime fiction workshop
Hone your understanding of the crime genre and push your fiction in new directions, on this advanced course for crime writers. This course is for experienced writers who are developing ongoing projects.
Choose a starting date
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
- Start Date: 23 Sep 2025End Date: 02 Dec 2025Tue (Evening): 19:00 - 21:00OnlineLocation: OnlineDuration: 11 sessions (over -11 weeks)Course Code: HW701Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £130.00
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This interactive workshop will focus on the most important elements of writing in the crime genre, from crafting murder mysteries to weaving in the tropes of hardboiled detective thrillers. You’ll receive peer and tutor feedback on extracts of your manuscript-in-progress, whilst learning from the stalwarts of crime fiction.
What will we cover?
- Structuring plot twists for crime fiction
- Developing your detective
- Building suspenseful prose
- Giving and receiving feedback on extracts of your crime fiction manuscript.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Write suspenseful prose, which includes well-structured plot twists
- Write effective setups and payoffs
- Create dramatic, well-rounded characters
- Write new passages in response to in-class exercises and homework
- Plan the next steps for your manuscript.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is an intermediate course and assumes some prior experience of writing crime fiction.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
This is a highly practical course with a focus on both group and individual work. We will have discussions about extracts from novels and short stories, you will produce your own material, and there will also be activities to complete outside of the classroom.
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
No other costs. Please bring writing materials or a laptop.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
City Lit runs a range of prose writing courses, including our top-level ‘Masterclass’ courses in fiction.
All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.