Dates: Course begins Monday 7 March 2016
Course fee: £2,000
The psychological thriller is arguably the most exciting genre around at the moment, with novels such as Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train setting new sales records.
Over three months, writer and lecturer Claire McGowan will take you through the essential building blocks of a compelling novel, covering everything from the initial idea and the essential criteria of a psychological thriller, to the submissions and pitching stage. The course will look at characterisation, suspense, structure, voice and viewpoint, plotting and pacing, dialogue and style, all the way through to self-editing and polishing. Students will also learn how to harness and manage their creativity, overcome barriers to writing, and stay motivated.
By the end of the course students will have gained a thorough grounding in all aspects of the psychological thriller, have written at least 12,000 words of their novel, and have a clear plan for progressing. Individual feedback and workshopping are also offered.
If you’re interested in signing up for How to write a psychological thriller and would like more information please email masterclasses.support@theguardian.com or contact us on +44 (0) 20 3353 3099 between 9.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. If you’d like us to contact you, please click here and tell us what time works best for you.
Course programme
The course will comprise twelve weeks of seminars on a particular topic. Each week three students will also be workshopped, with the class reading a sample of their work in advance to discuss it as a group.
Week 1: Introduction to the Psychological Thriller - Monday 7 March
The first session will involve getting to know each other as a group, setting writing goals, discussing reading experiences, and clarifying genre expectations. We will also look at the defining characteristics of the psychological thriller, examples of current bestsellers, and what makes a book fit into the wider crime genre.
Introductory exercises will be set during this workshop.
Week 2: The Killer Premise - Monday 14 March
Concept and premise are often what sells a thriller nowadays. We’ll look at the essential elements of story, how to know if you have one that will work, and how you can strengthen your premise and concept to make your really book stand out. Exercises will involve crafting blurbs and elevator pitches.
Suggested reading: Plot and Structure, by James Scott Bell; Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
Week 3: Shady Characters - Monday 21 March
The psychological thriller is often a character-driven novel. How do you create memorable yet believable characters that the reader will root for? How do you work with characters who may have committed terrible acts? We will also look at different methods for building up character, and how to assemble a supporting cast.
Easter break
Week 4: Viewpoint, Voice, and Narration - Monday 4 April
The suspense in a psychological thriller often comes from the use of viewpoint. We will explore narrative devices such as the unreliable narrator, multiple narrators, and the concept of psychic distance, and also look at the use of voice.
Week 5: Structure and Plot - Monday 11 April
In this session we will start to look at techniques for structuring a novel, and the narrative choices that have to be made. We’ll also look at plotting approaches and techniques, pacing, the use of jump cuts and other devices, and how to select your scenes.
Week 6: The Art of Suspense - Monday 18 April
All novels must have suspense, in order to keep the reader turning the pages. We’ll look at the core questions that create suspense, and also a variety of tools and tricks to build it up. We will also explore how other genres and media have borrowed storytelling techniques from the psychological thriller.
Week 7: A word about style - Monday 25 April
The session will look at your novel from a sentence level up, exploring style, language use, register, syntax, and grammar. It will also look at the crucial importance of dialogue.
Week 8: Analysis of a scene - Monday 2 May
The scene is the building-block of your novel, and this session looks at how to make each one pacier and more dramatic. We’ll also look at setting and location choice, and the impact of the weather and external circumstances. We will also cover showing versus telling, or summarizing versus dramatizing.
Week 9: Research - Monday 9 May
How much research should you do – if any? How do you research professional worlds such as the police, medicine, and so on? How do you use this research and incorporate it into your work? The session will look at different authors’ handling of research.
Week 10: Editing - Monday 16 May
Once you have a first draft, it will be time to look at your work with critical eyes. This session explores how to balance creativity and criticism, what aspects of your work you should hone during a second draft, and how, and what, you should cut.
Week 11: What happens next - Monday 23 May
This session will touch on what happens after your book is ready. Does it have potential for a series, and if not when should you start thinking about your second book? It will also look at pitching and packaging your work, how to submit, and how to find an agent.
Week 12: Living as a Writer - Monday 30 May
Finding the time and motivation to write is the greatest obstacle most authors face. This session explores our fears and hopes about writing, and offers a range of treats and tricks to help you reach a first draft, and make creativity part of your lifestyle. We will look at building self-confidence and overcoming limits, so that students can forward with all the tools they need to be writers.
Profile of the course tutor
Claire McGowan is the author of The Fall, and the Paula Maguire crime series. She was previously Director of the Crime Writers’ Association and now teaches on the first ever crime-writing MA at City University. She also writes romance as Eva Woods. Find Claire on Twitter here.
Assessment
Writers who successfully complete the course will receive a successful completion certificate from UEA, which will be made on the basis of ongoing assessment and a final submission of at least 3,000 words.
Timings and specifics
The course will have places for 12 participants who will meet for one three-hour session per week (6.30pm - 9.30pm) for a period of three months at the Guardian Building, 90 York Way, Kings Cross, London N1 9GU.
Refunds
Refunds will not be given to students who miss sessions or drop out of the course once the full fee has been paid.
More information
If you would like more information about the course or have any questions please email masterclasses.support@theguardian.com or contact us on +44 (0) 20 3353 3099 between 9.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. If you’d like us to contact you, please click here and tell us what time works best for you.
