Course Overview

This is an introductory course aimed at participants who are at the beginning of their writing career and who are interested in writing crime fiction.  It is suitable for people who are looking for a pathway into writing. It will offer straightforward and accessible tools to aid participants in developing a writing practice, unlocking creativity, and finding their own writing voice. Participants will learn about elements of a crime novel, creating a story, plot, structure, characterization, dialogue, setting and pace. Participants will learn how to self-edit, to evaluate their own work and to give positive and constructive feedback to the other writers in the group. Participants will do short writing exercises in class as well completing weekly writing assignment outside of class time.  Participants will learn to develop a writing practice to enable them to continue their writing career.

Course Schedule 

Classes will be delivered online on Tuesdays 7-9pm for six weeks from 28 September to 2 November.

Week 1: Elements of the crime novel. Sub-genres. Starting your writing practice.

Week 2: Characterisation; creating characters who are memorable, credible, and interesting. POV (point of view) narration.

Week 3: Plot and structure.

Week 4: Dialogue, use of language and imagery: expanding the world of the character.

Week 5: Setting. Expanding the world of the character.

Week 6: Continuing your writing practice.

Course Lecturer

Suzanne Walsh is a writer with more than a decade of experience as a facilitator and tutor. Suzanne was placed third in the Michael McLaverty Short Story Competition, has been shorted listed for the Fish Short Story Competition and highly commended and short listed in the ‘Over the Edge’ Short Story Competition. She has had flash fiction published in the Irish Times. Her work has been broadcast on ‘Arena’ Arts Show on RTE Radio 1 and subsequently published as part of an anthology of new writing in ‘New Planet Cabaret’.  She was selected for the ‘Meet the Agent’ Competition as part of the Dublin Literature Festival. She has had two short plays staged at Cork Arts Theatre.  She has recently been longlisted for the Anthony Cronin Poetry Competition.  Suzanne received a First Class Honours in the Higher Certificate in Creative Writing for Publication from NUI Maynooth in 2008.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years old at course commencement.

Assessment

Short courses are not assessed. Students will receive a UCC Certificate of Attendance upon completion.

Closing Date for Application

Friday 17 September

Contact Details for Further Information

Regina Sexton, Phone: 021-4904700, Email: shortcourses@ucc.ie