Creative Writing Course: Mystery Writing

What you'll learn

Solve your own mystery with our writing short courses online and in Sydney!

Do you love to snuggle up with a cosy mystery? Or perhaps you prefer an action-packed suspense, or a cyber thriller? Do you enjoy learning about law enforcement through a police procedural? Or perhaps are attracted to the ordinary, everyday amateur sleuth? Do you want to learn how to write a complex, twisty story? Or perhaps you're already writing one, and you are wanting to learn how to get your novel published?

Mysteries are one of the most widely-read genres—across the globe and with both young and old, male and female readerships. In this course you’ll learn the difference between the mystery, suspense and thriller, as well as some of the core fundamentals that contribute to a mystery story. You’ll learn how to plot an intriguing, complex and engrossing reading experience for the avid mystery reader.

Learn the tools and techniques to craft complicated crimes, clever villains, and the smarter detectives who thwart them by using their powers of observation and deduction. The workshop includes a series of structured in-class activities with positive feedback in a supportive environment as students learn the fundamentals of crafting a mystery plot in this practical, interactive one-day course in Sydney.

If you want to write mysteries and build a career as a mystery writer, then this is the course for you.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this mystery writing course, you should:

• Develop an understanding of different genres of mystery, suspense and thriller
• Define what kind of mystery story you are writing
• Understand the development of the mystery, and the interaction between villain and hero
• Understand how to use elements of mystery when building your plot
• Develop plot and structure best suited for your works that will hook the reader

Course content

What will be covered in this course of mystery novel writing?

Week 1: Define and differentiate between mystery, suspense and thriller – and how to develop a unique hero and villain with great conflict

What is a mystery, suspense and thriller – and how they’re different. How to create a protagonist and antagonist that will drive conflict and story, and how to set up a series hero.

Week 2: Story structure, plot & tension

The basic 3 act structure, plot, and the differences between a mystery, suspense and thriller plot. How to build tension and suspense.

Week 3: Plotting the perfect crime – and how to solve it

How to plot a crime, and develop means, motive and opportunity for your cast of character, and how to reveal those to readers.

Week 4: Cast of characters, and key elements of mysteries

How to construct a victim, suspect and witness, how to reveal false clues, red herrings and how to plot out your own mystery, suspense or thriller.

Intended audience

Who is this mystery writing course for?

This course is for the beginner mystery writer wanting to learn the techniques to craft a mystery novel, as well as those with some experience who are looking to upskill.

Course venue

Online via Zoom

• Zoom details will be emailed to you 
• Requirement: A device and stable internet connection

Course materials

What to bring to class

A notebook and pen/pencil