This workshop is designed for crime writers of all levels working on all sub-genres. It’s suitable if you:

• Would like to make the arrest, custody and interview elements of your writing more accurate
• Want to know more about what happens to suspects post-arrest and debunk myths
• Would like insight from insider professionals
• Like experimenting with writing prompts and learning new techniques
• Enjoy the discipline of deadlines and peer feedback
• Want to join a friendly and supportive group of up to 30 learners
• Can dedicate 10am-4pm (UK time) to participate in the live workshop, or are happy to watch back the recordings afterwards.

This workshop allows you to:

• Understand what happens from the moment of arrest to charge
• Find out how long people can be detained, and on whose authority
• Be able to describe what a cell block looks, sounds and smells like
• Know what police can or can’t do to a suspect once they are detained
• Define the roles of the custody officer, gaoler, solicitor, appropriate adult, interviewer and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
• Write more gripping and effective interview scenes that hold a reader and pass muster in court
• Develop the professional skills writers require (eg discipline, attention to detail, ability to work to deadlines)
• Increase your professionalism in working with others
• Practise giving effective feedback to other writers and receiving critical notes
• Build greater independence, autonomy and critical judgment as you work on a final assignment.

Session 1: Morning session on Zoom –

10.00am Introductions and icebreaker exercise

10.15am Presentation, videos and exercises

10.30am Graham introduces the day’s themes, with practical interactive exercises throughout:

• The timeline from arrest to charge
• The law on treating suspects, their rights and restrictions
• The role of the custody officer with discussion between Graham and an experienced custody sergeant
• How it feels to be in a custody block
• Limitations on detention including use of bail
• How interviews are conducted, phased and escalated
• The role of the interviewer with a discussion between Graham and a homicide and organised-crime advanced interviewer
• Different styles of interview – including no comment, ‘should have stuck to no comment’ and the over-confident.
• Solicitors
• Charging decisions, the CPS and court #bartlettsbloopers – avoiding common mistakes crime writers make

12.15pm Interview Q&A

1.15pm Lunch

Session 2: Afternoon session on Zoom –

2.00pm Web chat with crime writer and defence solicitor-advocate, Nadine Matheson.

3.00pm Writing time

3.45pm Final Q&A

4.00pm Close

After the course ends, you can continue to chat and share work with your group on our forums. We’ll also upload recordings of the Zoom sessions for you to watch back. Graham will give individual feedback on your writing and answer queries in our online classroom during the week following the session.

Join our alumni community 

After your course, you can join our online alumni community – a friendly group of writers supporting each other as they continue to explore and develop their writing. There’s no cost for this. It’s easy to access via the online classroom, where you can:

• Revisit all your courses materials, including tutor notes, feedback, videos, podcasts and forum posts
• Rejoin your classmates, and continue working together in a private space
• Meet alumni from other courses to find beta-readers and share work on our critiquing forum
• Network with other writers working in your genre or area of interest
• Take part in regular ‘sit and write’ Zoom sessions, to push forward with your work-in progress
• Join our monthly live alumni events with our expert tutors and industry guests, including agents, editors, publishers, competition and festival organisers, and prizewinning writers

Feedback on your work

At the end of the course Graham will give feedback on the procedural aspect of your final submission. If you would like more detailed or ongoing feedback on your work or consultancy for an extra fee, please email [email protected] for details.

Taking things further
If you’d like to continue on to another Professional Writing Academy course, please get in touch for more details.