
Crime Writing: Making it Real
Surveillance and Covert Policing Workshop
A LIVE ONE-DAY ONLINE WORKSHOP FOR CRIME WRITERS – LEARN THE INSIDER SECRETS OF COVERT POLICING AND HOW TO USE THEM TO ENRICH YOUR STORIES
Led by Police Advisor Graham Bartlett, former senior detective and Sunday Times bestselling author, this live interactive online workshop will unveil the ways police track down criminals, using the latest technologies and undercover methods, including digital footprints.
Graham will show you how to weave these tactics into your crime fiction to add essential pace, drama and authenticity.
During the day you’ll cover topics including how police use informants, undercover officers, mobile phones, banking, social media, CCTV, vehicles and a whole host more to surveil suspects. You’ll try out techniques using writing exercises and prompts, learn to examine video footage like an insider and have the opportunity to join Q&As in a friendly and supportive online group.
Your final writing exercise will help you figure out how to use your new-found knowledge to accurately keep your antagonist below the radar for as long as your plot requires.
While Graham is not allowed to divulge the most secret tactics, this workshop will put you ahead of your peers and provide you with the tools to write gripping and explosive chases.
This workshop is part of our Crime Writing: Making it Real course series with Police Advisor Graham Bartlett, helping writers craft authentic crime stories.
NEXT COURSE
Start date: 8 October 2022
Duration: 1 day
Skill level: All
Session length: 1 day
Sessions: 1
Price: £90 (inc. VAT where applicable)
BOOK MY PLACE
Graham’s advice has been invaluable in ensuring the procedural accuracy of my books. Quite simply the best in the business. Friendly, approachable and an unrivalled source of policing knowledge.
Timetable for the workshop
This workshop is suitable for crime writers looking to take their stories to the next level and explore authentic police procedural techniques within the genre.
It’s suitable if you:
- Write crime fiction and would like to ensure accuracy and detail in your depictions of crime procedure
- Are keen to add depth and authenticity to your plotlines and characterisation
- Want to kickstart a new crime novel idea
- Enjoy reading crime fiction and want to start writing it
- Want to join a friendly and supportive group of online learners
- Can dedicate 10am-4pm to participate in the live workshop
This one-day online interactive workshop will take place as a live Zoom lecture in our online classroom. You’ll learn in a small group of up to 20 participants with one specialist tutor and a dedicated moderator.
Teaching includes:
- Interactive Zoom lectures
- Live Q&A sessions
- Practical exercises to help you hone your authenticity
- Writing prompts and formulas
- Downloadable tutor documents
- Healthy screen breaks throughout the day
You will need a laptop or computer* with:
- A reliable broadband internet connection
- Speakers or headphones
- The latest version of Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge or Safari
- Access to Zoom video conferencing platform. Download free
- QuickTime Player, latest version. Download free
- A notebook and pen or pencil if you like to make notes by hand
* You can access the course from a tablet or smartphone, but we recommend using a laptop or computer, as this makes it easier to share your work files with your writing group.
Join our alumni
After your workshop, you have the opportunity to rejoin your classmates in a private alumni area where you can access an archived version of the course materials, forum posts and captured video lectures. Here you can also continue to share writing and ideas with your cohort.
Feedback on your writing
If you would like Graham to give feedback on your work, please email info@profwritingacademy.com for information.
When writing crime fiction, feel free to gloss over the detail, but never plunge your reader into a procedure or describe an activity unless it’s spot on.
The message is: Don’t guess. There are plenty of people you can ask. I do all the time if I’m not sure.
Ready to start writing?
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