Author re-launches online crime fiction course

[John Dean]

Best-selling crime novelist and creative writing tutor John Dean has launched the latest version of his online Crime Fiction Course.

The course, which runs in eight parts and can begin at a time and date to suit the writer, helps emerging authors to improve their writing and aims to increase their chances of being successful, either in competitions or admissions to publishers and agents.

Several emerging writers who have completed the course have gone on to secure publishing contracts.

John, who lives in Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland and has run the course for a number of years, including throughout the covid lockdowns, has updated its content to take into account the latest thinking on crime writing as well as changes in the publishing industry.

The course sees him share the experience gained from more than than twenty five years as a crime writer. In that time, he has had 24 novels published and is currently published by London-based The Book Folks. He is the creator of the best-selling DCI John Blizzard and DCI Jack Harris series.

When students enrol, they can either choose to complete a series of writing exercises or base the course on existing novels, either method supported by ongoing one-to-one feedback taking in everything from plotting, creating characters, how best to use sense of place and how to write with pace.

John, who is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association and is the organisation’s Libraries Champion in Scotland, said: ‘Writing can be a lonely pastime and my aim is to help emerging writers to improve their technique and their chances of being successful in what is a very competitive market.

‘Crime fiction remains hugely popular and opportunities are opening up for emerging writers all the time, particularly as new publishing companies spring up and grow through outlets like Amazon, meaning that they are constantly looking for new talent. Hopefully, I can help aspiring writers to take advantage of those opportunities.

‘Because the course is online, it does not matter where the writers live. In recent years, I have worked with writers everywhere from Croatia to Australia and New Zealand, as well as in the UK, and have been delighted to see several of them go on to secure contracts with publishers. It’s very gratifying to see them in print.’

There is no official certificate of qualification at the end of the course. For further details, you can contact John at [e-mail] or ring 07889 554931. His website also contains plenty of free material about the craft of crime writing and can be found at www.johdean.ning.com