Crime, Mystery and Suspense Writing

Make a killing with your first novel.

Want to know what makes a good mystery thriller? Would you like to create stories that have readers sitting on the edge of their seats?

The Cengage Education Crime, Mystery and Suspense Writing course gives aspiring thriller writers everything they need to know to get started. You’ll learn to develop and strengthen your ideas, create interesting characters, use conflict and develop tension in your stories.

The course also lays the groundwork for marketing your finished work and turning writing into a career.

On completion of your course:

Upon completion of your course you will be awarded a Cengage Education Crime, Mystery and Suspense Writing Certificate.

* Terms and conditions apply
Course Number 94620
Course Type Correspondence
Course Duration Max 18 months
Study Hours Approx 110 hrs
Qualification Cengage Certificate

Assessment details

  • 12 written assessments

Entry requirements
Cengage Certificate, Statements of Attainment, Certificate I & Certificate II courses

No entry requirements apply to these courses.

English Language Requirements:

If English is your second language and you did not complete the last two years of secondary education in English you are required to provide evidence of English language competence before enrolling. Examples of appropriate evidence are:

Evidence

Example

IELTS

Overall score of 5.5

TOEFL

530 (paper), 197 (computer) or 71 Internet.

Evidence of employment in an English speaking country.

12 month period of employment: Letters of Appointment, Letters of Reference, Testimonials, Performance Appraisals etc

Not sure if you meet the entry requirements?
Please call 1300 853 033

Subjects You’ll Cover

An overview

  • What this course will offer you
  • The popularity of mysteries and crime
  • Which sub-genre will you choose?
  • A quiz for the aspiring mystery/crime Writer

The characters in your crime story

  • What comes first - the character or the plot?
  • Characters in a situation
  • Some tips on getting readers to like your sleuth
  • 'Collecting' characters

The villain

  • A worthy opponent
  • Criminal profiling
  • Sociopaths and psychopaths
  • Where to find information which will help you create a good villain

Plotting your mystery novel

  • The best way to plot your story
  • The beginning: that vital idea
  • Subplots
  • Some tips on plotting and editing

Clues, red herrings and crime scenes

  • Laying the trail
  • How to hide clues
  • The crime-scene
  • How police deal with people in crisis

Background, atmosphere and Mood

  • The background to your crime novel
  • A trick to make your background come alive
  • The professional environment
  • Examples from well-known Authors

Building suspense: How to use conflict, pace and and tension

  • How to create suspense right from the start
  • Ways to create suspense
  • How to maintain tension and conflict throughout your novel
  • Controlling pace through scenes

Writing mysteries for children

  • What you should know about writing mysteries for children
  • Short books or long books?
  • Pitfalls in writing for children
  • The basics of a workable children's book

How to write true crime

  • Writing the true crime novel
  • Sources of information
  • Planning the book
  • Writing technique for true crime

The Crime Writer - ABC

  • Humour
  • Overview: What your story should deliver
  • Redrafting

Marketing your work and building your career

  • Submitting a manuscript
  • Agents - should I have one, what do they change, where do I find one
  • Give Editors what they ask for
  • How you can help promote your book

Writing effective dialogue

  • The importance of good dialogue
  • How do you write effective dialogue?
  • Troubleshooting: How to fix dialogue that doesn't work
  • How to make dialogue and narrative work well together

* Fortnightly payment plans also available –     call our Sales team on 1300 853 033 .

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