There’s nothing like a good psychological thriller – full of twists, turns, suspense and drama. If you’ve got an idea for a thriller, or want to improve the one you’re working on, you won’t want to miss this stimulating masterclass, specially curated by The Poison Tree author Erin Kelly. Speakers including Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train, acclaimed crime writer Claire McGowan, literary agent Juliet Mushens and MJ McGrath, author of the Edie Kiglatuk series, will teach you how the best psychological thrillers keep readers hooked from the very first page.
During the masterclass you’ll learn what recent bestsellers have in common – from Gone Girl to Before I Go to Sleep and Apple Tree Yard. Plus, you’ll receive advice on the writing process, and how to approach agents and publishers with your work. Altogether, it’s the perfect primer for anyone who wants to learn how to write a page-turner that both readers and publishers will love. Book your place now to ensure you don’t miss out on a ticket!
Course content
-
Erin Kelly, author of The Poison Tree, discusses the importance of the first chapter in the age of the Kindle
- Claire McGowan, author of the Paula Maguire series, advises how to build suspense in your novel through flashbacks, chapter breaks and switching viewpoints
- Bestselling writer MJ McGrath on action vs dialogue vs inner monologue – and what works where
- The Girl on the Train author Paula Hawkins, in conversation with Erin Kelly, discusses how she came up with the concept for the book, and what her agents and publishers advised during the editing process
- Literary agent Juliet Mushens discusses a recent publishing success and advises what makes a great psychological thriller
This course is for you if…
- You’ve started work on a psychological thriller, and want guidance on how to improve your writing and chances of getting published
- You have an idea for a psychological thriller that you want to write, and want advice on how to write a book with popular appeal
- You love reading crime fiction, and want to learn how top writers approach their craft
Sign up to our newsletter and you’ll be among the first to find out about our latest courses and special offers. You can also follow us on Twitter, and read our latest articles and interviews on our blog.
Curator profiles
Erin Kelly is the author of four acclaimed psychological thrillers. Her debut, The Poison Tree, was a Richard and Judy bestseller and a major ITV drama – Stephen King said he ‘wished he’d written it’. In 2014, Erin’s novelisation of the BAFTA-winning TV programme Broadchurch was an international bestseller. Erin also works as a journalist and teacher of creative writing, and lives in North London. Find out more about Erin on her website.
Tutor profiles
Paula Hawkins worked as a journalist for 15 years before turning her hand to fiction. Born and brought up in Zimbabwe, she moved to London in 1989 and has lived there ever since. The Girl on the Train is her first thriller. A number one bestseller in the UK and the United States, it has been sold in 44 territories and the film rights have been optioned by Dreamworks. Find out more about Paula on her website.
MJ McGrath is the bestselling author of the Edie Kiglatuk series of Arctic mysteries, which have been Times and Financial Times crime books of the year and twice nominated for the CWA Gold Dagger. Her psychological thriller, Give Me The Child, will be published in 2016. Find out more about MJ on her website.
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.
Juliet Mushens is a literary agent who represents bestselling fiction and non-fiction writers, including Jessie Burton, author of the international bestseller The Miniaturist, and Sunday Times bestselling crime writer James Oswald. Her first book, Get Started in Creative Writing for Young Adults, was published by Hodder in June. Find Juliet on Twitter here.
Details
This course has now passed – but we update our programme all the time. For information on our full range of masterclasses, sign up to our newsletter, follow us on Twitter, or keep an eye on our calendar.
To contact us, click here. Terms and conditions can be found here.
Returns policy
Tickets may be refunded if you contact us at least 14 days before the course start date. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.
