ProWritingAid Is Hosting A Free Crime Writers’ Week From June 17th to the 21st, 2024!

Are you a speculative fiction author eager to branch out into new genres or integrate crime fiction elements into your writing? ProWritingAid’s Crime Writers’ Week 2024, from June 17-21, is the event for you. This virtual event offers an incredible opportunity to gain fresh insights, hone your craft, and expand your creative horizons, featuring bestselling and award-winning authors, expert-led workshops, and dynamic networking sessions. Best of all, it’s free from Monday to Thursday, with exclusive sessions for Premium and Premium Pro users on Friday.

Why Crime Writers’ Week?

Whether you’re aiming to explore crime fiction or seeking writing advice to enhance your speculative fiction work, Crime Writers’ Week provides valuable lessons and new perspectives. Discover how crime fiction techniques can add depth to your narratives, create tension, and develop compelling characters, all of which are essential elements in any genre. Be sure to sign up today! (Disclaimer: Registration for this event is free; attending is free. If you do purchase ProWritingAid through this link, we will get a small portion of the sale as a commission. If you don’t purchase it, the event is still free! I can’t stress enough how free this is!)

What’s in Store?

Live Sessions with Industry Giants
Engage with authors like Alex Segura, Jessica Brody, and Wanda M. Morris. Learn how they craft gripping stories that captivate readers across genres. These sessions will offer insights that can elevate your speculative fiction writing.

Workshops and Software Demos
Participate in hands-on workshops led by top experts. Learn how to utilize ProWritingAid’s features to refine your writing. From building intricate plots to crafting unforgettable characters, these sessions are designed to transform your storytelling skills.

Networking Opportunities
Connect with a diverse community of writers. Share experiences, collaborate, and find inspiration from fellow authors who are also exploring new creative avenues.

Highlighted Sessions for Speculative Fiction Authors

(Note: The FULL list of sessions can be found at the end of this post, these are the ones that might stick out for you though.)

• How to Write a Crime Story (June 17, 10:00 AM EDT / 3:00 PM UK): Anne Hawley and Rachelle Ramirez will guide you through the essentials of crafting a compelling crime story. These techniques can enhance your speculative fiction by adding layers of complexity and intrigue.
• Marketing Your Crime Novels (June 17, 12:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM UK): Sue Campbell shares her expertise on building a solid marketing strategy, applicable to all genres.
• Writing Twists and Reveals for Maximum Impact (June 17, 6:00 PM EDT / 11:00 PM UK): Samantha Skal reveals how to create plot twists that keep readers guessing, a skill valuable in any speculative fiction narrative.

Meet the Experts

This year’s event features a diverse group of speakers, offering unique insights that transcend genre boundaries:

• Sue Campbell: Known for her ability to help authors conquer marketing challenges and boost book sales, her advice is crucial for any writer.
• Anne Hawley: A developmental editor and historical fiction author, her techniques for crafting compelling stories can be applied to speculative fiction.
• Jessica Brody: Bestselling author and creator of the Save the Cat! Writes a Novel series, offering foundational storytelling techniques.

Additional experts include:

• Rachelle Ramirez: Expert in story structure and development, perfect for refining your speculative fiction projects.
• Dana Pittman: Specialist in weaving complex themes like love and redemption into narratives, enriching your speculative worlds.
• Ricardo Fayet: Co-founder of Reedsy, providing invaluable advice on book launches and marketing.
• Savannah Gilbo: Host of the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast, offering actionable strategies for improving your writing.
• Lucy V. Hay: Author and script editor, sharing tips on crafting psychological suspense and engaging narratives.

Premium Day: A Deep Dive

On Friday, June 21, Premium and Premium Pro users gain access to advanced sessions. These include live coaching, detailed workshops, and personalized feedback from industry experts. If you’re serious about enhancing your speculative fiction with crime fiction techniques, upgrading to a Premium membership is essential. If you’re interested in becoming a premium member, please use our link when signing up! (Again, a portion of the sale would go to us and there is so much you get for just attending for free!)

Register Now

Don’t miss this chance to transform your writing. Registration is free, with Premium Day offering exclusive content and networking. Sign up now and take your speculative fiction to new heights by incorporating crime fiction techniques.

Summing It Up:

ProWritingAid’s Crime Writers’ Week 2024 is more than an event; it’s a gateway to new creative possibilities. Whether you’re delving into crime fiction or seeking to enhance your speculative narratives, you’ll find invaluable resources, support, and inspiration. Mark your calendar, register today, and unlock new perspectives that will elevate your writing to the next level.

Full Event Schedule and Details

How to Write a Crime Story

 

June 17 (10:00 AM EDT / 3:00 PM UK)

 

Presented by Anne Hawley and Rachelle Ramirez of Pages & Platforms

In the How to Write a Crime Story webinar, you’ll learn how to:

• Identify and incorporate the essential elements of your Crime Story idea to bring it up to a professional-level draft.
• Create a protagonist with a singular, clear desire (motivation).
• Create Crime-specific pressure and conflict that causes the protagonist to change.
• Establish your Crime Story stakes (what the protagonist has to gain and lose).
• Define a Crime story premise that is reflected in every scene.
• Include the specific characters, situations, moments, and emotions the Crime reader expects to find.
• Determine whether your Crime story needs to be primarily plot or character-driven.
• Better understand the kind of Crime story you’re writing with a review of over 30 Crime Story examples you can study for their use of essential elements, point of view, tone, word count, characterization, setting, description, backstory, and blurbs.

Marketing Your Crime Novels

 

June 17 (12:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM UK) 

 

Presented by Sue Campbell

 

One of the toughest parts of being an author is tackling your own marketing. Too often, writers rely on tactics without having an underlying strategy.

 

Book marketing and mindset coach Sue Campbell of Pages & Platforms will help you understand the foundation of every good book marketing plan. Sue works with award winning and best selling authors, traditionally published and self-published, to help them build an engaged audience, spread their message and sell more books.

 

In this free webinar you will learn:

• Why marketing your book using a slapdash playbook of tactics from the internet is likely to fail
• Your number one book marketing goal
• The foundational 4-part book marketing strategy that will actually grow your audience of crime readers

 

Building the Puzzle Behind Your Mystery’s Plot

June 17 (2:00 PM EDT / 7:00 PM UK)

 

Presented by Lori Puma

 

How do you craft the investigation at the heart of your mystery so it keeps your sleuth (and your readers) guessing until the end? In this free webinar, you’ll learn how to create and revise the investigatory puzzle at the center of your mystery novel.

 

We’ll cover:

• What puzzles need to keep mystery readers guessing
• Three common puzzle problems in mystery manuscripts (and how to solve them)
• Crafting the clues you need for surprising plot twists and a satisfying puzzle
• How to integrate and refine your puzzle and plot to thrill readers

 

10 Tips For Writing Your Own Psychological Crime Thriller

 

June 17 (4:00 PM EDT / 9:00 PM UK)

 

Presented by Lucy V. Hay

 

Join author and script editor Lucy V Hay for a thrilling talk where she delves into “10 Tips For Writing Your Own Psychological Crime Thriller.” Explore the intricacies of crafting suspenseful plots, complex characters, and unexpected twists that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Learn how to master the art of psychological suspense and create a gripping narrative that will leave a lasting impact on your target reader.

 

Writing Twists and Reveals for Maximum Impact

June 17 (6:00 PM EDT / 11:00 PM UK)

 

Presented by Samantha Skal

 

In a session geared toward writers both in the planning and revision stages, this presentation will cover what twists and reveals are, how to ideate them (even if your manuscript is mostly written and you’re stuck), and how to hit the genre expectations readers want without falling into predictable tropes.

The Strategies Behind a Successful Book Launch

June 18 (10:00 AM EDT / 3:00 PM UK) 

 

Presented by Ricardo Fayet

 

The first few weeks after launch often hold the key to a book’s lifelong success. To make sure you make the most of your launch period, you’ll need a proper plan in place. In this workshop, Reedsy’s co-founder Ricardo Fayet will show you how to craft and execute the perfect launch strategy for your next release. In particular, he’ll teach you:

• how to nail your product page
• how to collect reviews even before you launch
• how to research and leverage retailer metadata
• a proper strategy to tickle the retailers’ algorithms
• the most effective tactics you can leverage to boost your sales numbers right after launch

 

Cardboard Characters? How to Avoid 2D Characters and Make Your World Come Alive

 

June 18 (12:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM UK)

 

Presented by Rachel Arsenault

 

You’ve got your protagonist and your culprit, but what about everyone else? Instead of staring at a blank page trying to come up with characters, I’ll give you a clear strategy to design a compelling cast that will add texture to your dialogue, create intrigue around the investigation and animate your story world.

Crafting Mood Using Voice, Tone, and Setting

 

April 23 (2:00 PM EDT / 7:00 PM UK)

 

Presented by Kerry Savage

 

In this workshop, we’ll explore how to leverage voice, tone, and setting to immerse readers in the ‘mood’ of your story. evoke an emotional experience, and create un-put-downable narratives. Topics will include defining authorial voice vs. character voice, how tone can set and manipulate reader expectations, and how to unleash the transformational power of setting. Using examples from best-selling novels and masters of crime fiction and with exercises to get the creative juices flowing, writers will learn how to access these critical tools to take their writing to the next level.

 

The Heart of Darkness: Exploring Themes of Love and Redemption in Crime Narratives

 

June 18 (4:00 PM EDT/ 9:00 PM UK) 

 

Presented by Dana Pittman

This workshop looks at how themes of love and redemption can be woven into crime stories, adding layers of complexity and humanizing characters involved in dark deeds. It offers insight into using these themes to provide a deeper emotional impact and connect with readers on a more profound level.

Networking Session

June 18 (6:00 PM EDT / 11 PM UK)

 

During this networking session, you will have the opportunity to meet other people in the crime writing community through speed dating. We will be sending you into breakout rooms in groups of 4 or 5.

 

Edit Your Way to a Thrilling Crime Novel Using Technology

 

June 19 (10:00 AM EDT / 3:00 PM UK)

 

Presented by Hayley Milliman

 

Unlock the full potential of your crime novel in “Edit Your Way to a Thrilling Crime Novel Using Technology.” This session dives deep into how you can use ProWritingAid to help you refine your manuscript to perfection. You’ll learn how to harness the advanced features of ProWritingAid to enhance your crime novel’s suspense, clarity, and overall readability. ProWritingAid’s Director of Community, Hayley Milliman, will guide you through the process of:

 

• Identifying Common Pitfalls: Discover how to spot and correct common mistakes in grammar, punctuation, and style that can detract from your novel’s impact.
• Strengthening Your Narrative: Use ProWritingAid’s tools to tighten your plot, develop compelling characters, and maintain a gripping pace that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
• Analyzing Readability: Utilize readability reports to make sure your novel is accessible and engaging to

 

And more!

A Conversation With Wanda M. Morris

June 19 (12:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM UK)

 

Hosted by ProWritingAid

 

Wanda M. Morris is the award-winning author of All Her Little Secrets, which has been praised by Karin Slaughter as “brilliantly nuanced” and reviewed by The Boston Globe, LA Times, New York Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Seattle Times, and South Florida Sun Sentinel among others. Her second novel, Anywhere You Run, won the Anthony award for Best Historical Novel of 2023 and was longlisted for the prestigious Mark Twain Voice in American Literature Prize. She is married, the mother of three, and lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

A Conversation With Louisa Luna

June 19 (2:00 PM EDT / 7:00 PM UK)

 

Hosted by ProWritingAid

 

Louisa Luna’s seventh novel, TELL ME WHO YOU ARE, will be released in June 2024 by MCD Books at Farrar, Straus & Giroux. She is the author of the Alice Vega series: TWO GIRLS DOWN, THE JANES, and HIDEOUT, which won the G.P. Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award at the 2023 Edgars. Her other novels include BRAVE NEW GIRL, CROOKED, AND SERIOUS AS A HEART ATTACK. She was born and raised in the city of San Francisco and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.

Red Herrings: How to Hide Clues + Plant Secrets

June 19 (4:00 PM EDT / 9:00 PM UK)

 

Presented by Savannah Gilbo

Join Savannah to learn how to use red herrings to mislead and surprise your readers! She’ll talk through how to misdirect readers while planting clues, how to keep secrets from readers while still playing fair, and how to pull off an amazing plot twist—with plenty of examples from popular novels, too!

Plotting the Perfect Crime With Save the Cat!: The 5 Beats That Will Make or Break Your Novel

June 19 (6:00 PM EDT / 11 PM UK)

 

Presented by Jessica Brody

 

Unlock your novel’s potential and plot your way to success in just 5 beats! Join us for an inspiring and empowering workshop led by acclaimed writing teacher and story coach Jessica Brody, author of the bestselling plotting guides, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel. By breaking down the storytelling process into 5 foundational beats, Jessica will reveal the key elements that make any novel successful and show you how to apply them to crime fiction. Whether you’re a beginner writer or seeking to enhance your storytelling skills, by the end of this presentation, you’ll walk away with a simple, easy-to-follow blueprint that you can use to outline, write, or revise your crime novel.

 

How to Write a Bestseller

June 20 (10:00 AM EDT / 3:00 PM UK)

Presented by Suzy K. Quinn

1 million-copy bestselling author, Suzy K Quinn, shares 5 secrets of bestseller success.

The Art to Crime Keywords and Categories

June 20 (12:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM UK)

 

Presented by Hank Marcacci

In this session, we’ll dive into the details of how Keywords and Categories work on Amazon, tactics crime authors can use to gain traction, and optimizations for effective sales results.

Included topics are:

• Finding profitable keywords that crime readers actually search for on Amazon
• Identifying niche bestseller categories while avoiding devastating ghost categories
• Learning how to become a category bestseller without spending thousands
• Strategies to make a book more discoverable to target readers

…plus more!

Writing Different Worlds

June 20 (2:00 PM EDT / 7:00 PM UK)

Presented by Alex Segura

Bestselling novelist and comic book writer Alex Segura shares the secrets of writing your own original stories and adventures in complex, shared universes.

Serial(ized) Killers: How to Expand Your Story Into a Series

June 20 (4:00 PM EDT / 9:00 PM UK)

 

Presented by Tom McGee

Serialized storytelling lets you leverage all the character and worldbuilding you’ve done in your first story and expand it out into a long form story that will keep readers coming back for years to come… but how do you do that when the case is solved in the first story? Come learn how to create series-style plot and character arcs that can connect your individual stories and help them build to an ongoing resolution that will keep readers hooked. Hosted by Wattpad’s Creator and Content Education lead, Tom McGee.

Networking

June 20 (6:00 PM EDT / 11:00 PM UK)

 

Presented by ProWritingAid

DIY Ransom Note. During this networking session, attendees will be placed into small breakout groups to complete a ransom note writing activity.

Authorship 101: The Beginner’s Guide to Managing Your Author Business

June 21 (10:00 AM EDT / 3:00 PM UK)

Presented by Ashley Guion and Jasmine Wallace

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the complexities of launching your author career? Do you find yourself lost in a sea of conflicting advice from various sources? Do you want to arrange a meeting with a CPA but don’t even know what you need to ask them to get the most out of your billable conversation?

Unlock the roadmap to entrepreneurial success in the literary world. From a quick breakdown of tax structures to simplifying bookkeeping essentials, we’ll set you on the ‘write’ path 🙂

Discover the key distinctions between hobby and self-employment income, and gain clarity on whether you need an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Delve into fundamental tax concepts like income and estimated taxes, issuing 1099s, and other surprise requirements, empowering you to make informed decisions with confidence because, in the eyes of the government, ignorance is no excuse.

Understand the implications of self-employment taxes for you and your family’s financial landscape, along with basic knowledge of sales tax obligations as a business owner.

With expert information and practical wisdom, you’ll establish a rock-solid foundation for your author journey. Bid farewell to confusion and overwhelm and embark on the path to a thriving and sustainable author business.

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense First Pages Review + AMA

June 21 (12:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM UK)

Presented by Samantha Skal

Book coach and MTS expert Samantha Skal will live-coach three writers’ first pages in this 50-minute session, followed by an AMA session for anything MTS related.

Creating Credible Crime Fiction

June 21 (2:00 PM EDT / 7:00 PM UK)

Presented by Graham Bartlett

Former top cop and now bestselling crime writer, Graham Bartlett, will take you through why you don’t have to sacrifice drama for authenticity. He will show you how good research and understanding build brilliant stories and characters your readers will love. With time for your questions, this is a session you don’t want to miss.

Networking

June 21 (4:00 PM EDT / 9:00 PM UK)

 

Hosted by ProWritingAid

During this networking session, you will be placed into small break-out rooms to get to know each other and discuss your takeaways from the week.