MYSTERY COURSE
Mystery/Thriller Course

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE WRITING COURSE: Four sessions: Tuesdays from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., Beginning Tuesday, September 23rd and ending Tuesday October 14th, 2008: at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Maryland.

Rosemary and Larry Mild will teach WRT-374: "Writing Mystery, Suspense, and Thriller Fiction." Learn to create riveting plots, compelling characters, and evocative descriptions through writing exercises, discussion, and (optional) assignments. Bring your work-in-progress to the first (and every) class to share in a congenial, supportive atmosphere. Acquire skills to manage and market your manuscripts. Every student who brings work to class will be entitled to a gift from the literary grab bag that session.

COURSE OUTLINE:

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE MYSTERY & THRILLER.

II. ESSENTIALS OF PLOTTING THE MURDER MYSTERY/THRILLER, USING ORGANIZATIONAL TOOLS.

III-A. CREATING AND DEVELOPING PERFECT MURDER MYSTERY AND THRILLER CHARACTERS.

III-B. ELEMENTS OF MYSTERY/THRILLER DESCRIPTIONS, BREATHING LIFE AND UNDERSTANDING INTO STORIES.

IV. MARKETING AND MANAGING YOUR MYSTERY/THRILLER.

Classroom notes and helpful handouts can be downloaded from the following webpage: