Have you dreamt of writing a crime or mystery novel but haven’t put pen to paper (or fingertips to keys)? Have you started one but aren’t sure how to develop it? This workshop is for you!

There are no available registration dates at this time.

Have you dreamt of writing a crime or mystery novel but haven’t put pen to paper (or fingertips to keys)? Have you started one but aren’t sure how to develop it?  In this weeklong workshop, we’ll immerse ourselves in the genre, identifying the pillars found in virtually all of its captivating, suspenseful, page-turning stories. We’ll also deconstruct the work of the genre’s most popular authors. What makes their stories “work”? What elements can we bring to our writing? Where is the line between crime and mystery fiction?

We’ll spend much of our time breaking down your submitted manuscripts and writing in-class exercises. We’ll also look at structure, plotting, character development, and point-of-view; plus, we’ll hone a few techniques that help put a novel in can’t-put-downable territory: planting clues, creating plot twists, and “hiding” surprise endings.

John will spend a half-hour with each workshopper, one-on-one, giving feedback and discussing individual goals.

Whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced writer, if you love crime and mystery fiction, you’re welcome in this workshop.

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Instructor: John Florio

John Florio is a freelance writer in Brooklyn, NY. His debut novel, Sugar Pop Moon, received a starred review from the Library Journal, was an editor’s choice for the Historical…