Creative Thursday

A day-long crime fiction creative writing workshop

The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival’s creative writing course for aspiring writers. Creative Thursday gives you the chance to hone your novel and short story writing skills with a day-long programme of workshops and seminars led by bestselling crime writers, publishing industry professionals and real-life crime experts.  

2012 Creative Thursday
Thursday 19 July
Time - 9am – 5.30pm
Price - £99 per person
Book Now - Tel: +44 (0)1423 562303 

9am
Registration and Welcome from 2012 programming chair Mark Billingham.

9.30am
Workshop A - 2 hr Intensive Writing Workshop: Forensic Research
Join acclaimed author Stuart MacBride for this in-depth focus, with expert input from Lorna Dawson, Professor Dave Barclay and Dr James Grieve, forensic scientists from The James Hutton Institute in Scotland.

Workshop B - 2 hr Intensive Writing Workshop:
Plot Development
Let experienced creative writing teacher Greg Mosse take you on a journey through successful plotting techniques. Devising a complex mystery peopled by plausible suspects, Greg’s focus will include work on suspense and novel structure.

11.45am
The Road to Publication – Success Stories
Authors (some of whom have sat where you are right now!) share their own stories of how, by various routes, they finally got the attention of major publishing houses. Their editors will also divulge what it was about the authors and their work that made them want to publish.

You will get the opportunity to hear from Creative Thursday alumna Mari Hannah and her editor at Pan Macmillan Wayne Brookes; as well as e-publishing sensations Mark Edwards & Louise Voss and their editor at HarperCollins Kate Bradley.

12.45pm
Lunch

1.45pm
Workshop B - 2 hr Intensive Writing Workshop:
Plot Development
Let experienced creative writing teacher Greg Mosse take you on a journey through successful plotting techniques. Devising a complex mystery peopled by plausible suspects, Greg’s focus will include work on suspense and novel structure.

Workshop A - 2 hr Intensive Writing Workshop:
Forensic Research
Join acclaimed author Stuart MacBride for this in-depth focus, with expert input from Professor Lorna Dawson, Professor Dave Barclay and Dr James Grieve, forensic scientists from The James Hutton Institute in Scotland.

4.00pm
The Dragons Pen – Dare you enter?
Four brilliant publishing professionals. Two minutes to convince them your synopsis and first chapter are worth reading. One audience full of your fellow would-be writers watching how you fare. Our literary version of the popular TV show, the Dragons’ Den, is not for the faint-hearted.

We are offering a lucky few Creative Thursday participants with a completed concept for a crime novel the opportunity to pitch their book to two powerhouse agents, Jane Gregory of Gregory and Company and Sarah Lutyens of Lutyens & Rubenstein, and highly-esteemed publisher Jon Wood of Orion (4th Dragon TBC soon.)

Fail to excite the Dragons’ interest and you’ll be going back to the drawing board – but if your pitch rouses their keen instincts then they will vie with each other for the privilege of being the first to read a synopsis and first chapter of your work. But be prepared… it takes a lot to impress our Dragons!

Places to pitch to the Dragons are limited due to time restrictions. Sadly not all participants will have the opportunity. Register your interest upon booking to be in with a chance to pitch. To be as fair as possible, names put forward will then be drawn out of a hat at the event. 

To book your place on Creative Thursday 2012, call the Festival Office on 01423 562303 or email crime@harrogate-festival.org.uk