Mystery Writing I is a comprehensive ten-week workshop incorporating instructional lectures, practical writing exercises, and constructive critique of student projects. The course accommodates beginning writers and those seeking to strengthen their foundational knowledge and skills.
Nothing captivates readers quite like a compelling mystery, which explains why countless readers eagerly consume narratives featuring their preferred investigators and protagonists. Mystery encompasses diverse storytelling approaches, featuring amateur sleuths, intellectual puzzle solvers, law enforcement officers, private investigators, legal professionals, intelligence operatives, plus ordinary people navigating unexpected danger. If criminal activity functions as a central narrative element, the work qualifies as mystery.
Creating engaging mystery narratives requires combining the abilities of fiction writers with the specialized techniques of mystery craft. This course examines the varieties of mystery fiction and their particular requirements, along with general fiction fundamentals and marketing approaches for your work.
Whether you seek to compose short mystery stories or novel-length narratives, craft classic puzzle narratives or contemporary crime fiction, we will provide tools for engaging and captivating mystery readers.
Important Course Notes:
- Writers focusing on mystery can pursue general Fiction I courses, or at advanced levels Novel II First Draft or Novel II Critique, or specialized genre courses in Science Fiction & Fantasy, Romance, or Mystery.
- Young adult novel writers may pursue Fiction and Novel courses, specialized genre workshops, or our Children's Book courses covering the complete range of children's literature.
This course provides a comprehensive grounding in mystery genre fundamentals and supports the development of short stories or novel-length mystery fiction. Course components include:
- Instructional lectures and core concepts
- Practical writing exercises and assignments
- Peer critique sessions with feedback (each student presents work twice)
Online course modules
- Week 1: Mystery Writing Fundamentals
- Historical origins of mystery narratives. Exploration of classical mystery tradition. Examination of contemporary crime fiction. Investigation of true crime narratives and nonfiction. Short stories, novel-length works, and series development.
- Week 2: Central Plot Dynamics
- The protagonist character, desires, and stakes. Antagonist development and opposition. Narrative twists and revelations.
- Week 3: Character Creation
- Determining character revelation. Character behavior and motivation. The confidant or sidekick character. Antagonists and villains. Complex female characters.
- Week 4: Point of View and Voice
- First-person perspective and limitations. Experimental second-person approaches. Third-person variations and applications. Developing a distinctive voice.
- Week 5: Dialogue Techniques
- Compression and brevity. Implied meaning and subtext. Dialogue strategies and techniques. Managing exposition through dialogue.
- Week 6: Descriptive Language and Atmosphere
- Using language for visual effect. Sensory details and particularity. Establishing temporal and spatial context. Creating mood and emotional tone.
- Week 7: Advanced Plot Development
- The central incident or catalyzing event. Historical information and backstory. Raising stakes and tension. Strategic clue placement. Genre conventions and avoiding clichés. Plot consistency and avoiding holes. Climactic sequences and resolution.
- Week 8: Revision and Authenticity
- Revision approaches and techniques. Maintaining authenticity and credibility.
- Week 9: Moral Framework and Theme
- Narratives exist within established moral systems. Understanding and employing the theme. Creating moral centers. Exploring moral complexity and ambiguity.
- Week 10: Professional Publishing and Marketing
- Contemporary publishing realities. Manuscript submission procedures and processes. Marketing and selling your mystery work.
Note: Specific content varies among individual course sections.
About Online Instruction
- Online workshops bring together students from worldwide locations to Gotham, New York City's most accomplished writing institution.
- An asynchronous course structure allows flexibility rather than real-time meeting requirements. You can complete work according to your schedule, though the course material advances weekly with expected accomplishments within each designated week.
- Online participation is available from anywhere with internet connectivity. Our student base is predominantly United States-based, though we welcome learners from countries throughout the world.
- Comprehensive technical support is available throughout the course.
- An important advantage of online learning is permanent retention of all course materials for your reference and continued professional development. You can preserve and review all written and visual content indefinitely. (Course materials are provided as text and images rather than video.)
