How to Plan a Murder
We are really looking forward to welcoming you to ‘How to Plan a Murder’ with William Ryan.
This one-day online crime novel workshop is aimed at writers who have either completed their crime novel or are working on a first draft, as well as beginners who hope to turn a promising idea into something more. It will focus on developing a victim, an investigator and a group of suspects – all from scratch. You will then use this cast of characters to create the outline of a crime novel - from the crime to its resolution. The course will explore the construction of a crime novel using multiple breakout sessions to give practical guidance and advice that can be taken away and applied to your own work.
Course Outline:
Session 1: William will explain how to develop a victim. How were they murdered? Why were they murdered? What was it about the victim that gave the other characters motives for their murder? Who do they appear to be? Who are they really? What is it about the victim that will motivate the investigator.
This will be followed by a breakout session in which the attendees will develop a potential victim for the story to be developed over the course of the day.
Session 2: William will discuss how to develop an investigator. Who do they appear to be? Who are they really? What is in their character or situation that makes the crime important to them? Is there something in their backstory that is relevant to the crime? What is it about them that will create conflict and tension with the other characters? Are they a lone wolf or a team player? Are they new to the setting or part of it?
This will be followed by a breakout session in which the attendees will develop potential investigators.
Session 3: William will explain how to create a dramatic world around the victim and how to populate it with suspects. Who do they appear to be? Who are they really? Are they honest with the investigator, or dishonest? What are their conflicts with the victim and the other suspects? How to use the suspects to create challenges and obstacles for the investigator. How to manage parallel lines of investigation.
This will be followed by a breakout session in which the attendees will develop suspects and a dramatic world to confine the story.
Sessions 4 onwards: William will explain how to develop a convincing crime story with a beginning, a middle and an end; as well as momentum and tension. How to introduce the characters, the crime, setting and give the story momentum. How to develop and maintain multiple lines of investigation. How to create escalating challenges and obstacles for the investigator. How to use narrating points of view to create tension, explain motives and mislead. How to construct false endings and midpoint moments, inciting incidents, twists and turns. How to maintain the focus of the investigation as your story builds to its climax.
This will include 3 breakout sessions in which the arc of the story will be developed by the participants. You will finish the course armed with tools to create your own crime novel or redraft one that is already written.
The key details of the session are below, as well as the link you’ll need to join this online masterclass.
When: 28th February, 10:30am-4:30pm UK time
Where: Online
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81610798258?pwd=pMa4GJButMIwWXpMaAo6I7nmWpV79Z.1
Meeting ID: 816 1079 8258
Passcode: 879586
We will be recording the core sessions of the workshop, but not the breakouts. You’ll have access to the core session recordings for two weeks once circulated.
Bill will be in touch via email the week of the event to circulate materials and prep!
