Writing Workshops

How to Write a Literary Thriller with Nicola Maye Goldberg (July 2024)

$445

6 sessions

Out of stock

Once a week Wednesdays, 7:00 pm EDT - 9:00 pm EDT July 10 to August 14, 2024

Online via Zoom

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Literary thrillers contain elegant prose, thematic richness, and propulsive plots. In this class, we will examine different elements of the genre, including character, style, tone, and voice. We will also discuss plots and subplots and how to brainstorm plot twists, manage disparate timelines, and generate suspense throughout a novel.

Course Outline:

The Secret History by Donna Tartt will be our touchstone, and all students should read it prior to the first class. Students will also receive a number of other book recommendations depending on what the instructor feels will be most useful for their projects. We will also use Raymond Chandler’s “Ten Commandments for the Detective Novel,” and discuss what writers of literary fiction can learn from more traditional mysteries and thrillers.

Each student will have the opportunity to workshop both an outline for a novel and an excerpt. The workshops will focus on character, voice, and setting as well as building and sustaining suspense. Previous workshop experience is recommended, but not a requirement.

We will also discuss the challenges unique to the genre and how students can meet them as they continue the writing process. By the end of the class, students will be ready to write a full-length literary thriller.

Level: Advanced

This course will be held online via Zoom.

Led by

Nicola Maye Goldberg

Nicola Maye Goldberg

Nicola Maye Goldberg is the author of Other Women and Nothing Can Hurt You. Her work has appeared in Vogue, New York Tyrant, Joyland, and elsewhere. She has taught at Catapult and Columbia University. She lives in New York City.

About this series

Writing Workshops

We strive to make our classes the most inviting and rewarding available, offering an intimate environment to study with award-winning, world-class writers. Each class is specially designed by the instructor, so whether you’re a fledgling writer or an MFA graduate polishing your novel, you’ll find a perfect fit here.

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