Upcoming Events
Interview on "Nights with Simon" ONE FM
Ever dreamed of becoming a novelist? Simon Lim puts the spotlight on Tracey Morton, a Singapore-based Irish-Australian novelist and writer. Tracey has a Masters in Crime and Thriller writing from the University of Cambridge. Her more recent novel is titled "Someone is Coming", published by Monsoon Books. Her collection of short stories "Halfway Up a Hill" was published by Kitaab. Tracey has even been shortlisted for the Virginia Prize for fiction - for her novel, "The Queen, The Soldier and The Girl". Tracey is currently working on a new crime novel set in Singapore and Australia - just after World War II. Get to know Tracey Morton (T.A. Morton) as she shares about her writing, her giving a masterclass in Crime Writing at the Singapore Book Council, and more. Download and listen to this podcast, which was first heard on "NIGHTS WITH SIMON" on ONE FM 91.3, a station of SPH Media.
Crime Writing 101: Research and Craft
When and where
Date and time
Thu, 4 May 2023 19:00 - Thu, 18 May 2023 21:00 +08
Location
Goodman Arts Centre 90 Goodman Road Block E, #03-32, Singapore Book Council Training Room *Please note that there is no lift access to the Training Room Singapore, 439053
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About this event
14 days 2 hours
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Synopsis
This course will inspire participants to create their own crime fiction stories. It also aims to inspire current and future crime writers and aims to highlight the importance of researching by making use of the Singaporean Archives and its resources.
Participants will be encouraged to think differently about using research in terms of fiction writing and demonstrate how much can be learned by looking at the past. The course also aims to instill research techniques that participants can use later on if they wish to continue writing.
Workshop Outline and Schedule
Session One: Introduction (2-hour workshop) 4 May 2023, Thursday, 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm
The tutor will ask the following questions: What is unique about researching crime? Why is it essential to research before writing a crime story?
Participants will work in small groups and examine an array of old cold cases taken from Singapore Archives. Then, the class will come together and discuss the cases.
The tutor will ask the class to break down the cold cases and ask them to consider another way to tell this story through another creative voice by using writing exercises.
Session Two: Trip to National Archives (3-hour) 6 May 2023, Saturday, 10.00 - 1.00 pm
This week, we will go to the archives and learn how to use their resources. Participants will be asked to come to the archives with keywords around an idea for a story. Then, they will listen to and testimonies, look through the newspaper archives, and take notes in hopes that it will spark an idea.
This trip is inclusive of a demo by National Archives' staff, tutorial on how to write credit lines to acknowledge the use of archival materials followed by Q&A for use of the facilities.
Session Three: Ignite the Muse (2-hour workshop) 11 May 2023, Thursday, 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm
Participants will read through notes and start to work with the materials they gathered at the archives through writing exercises given by the tutor. This will allow them to find a point of view that can lead to the beginning of a story. We will also discuss the importance of a story's setting, place and time period and whether the setting could be considered another character.
Session Four: Feedback and Sharing (3-hour workshop) 18 May 2023, Thursday, 7.00 pm - 10.00 pm
Participants will share their work, and we will discuss their stories. The tutor will also give instructions (if needed) on how they can continue their work.
An Introduction to the World of Crime Writing
This workshop will aim to provide a greater understanding of the world of crime writing:
A broad overview of the history of crime fiction and nonfiction.
Examine and highlight the sub-genres of crime fiction and nonfiction, including true crime, and cover the various other genres of crime writing.
Explore the roots of crime writing, the first detective story, the golden age of crime, thrillers and conclude with today's popular cosy crime genre.
Writing exercise will include:
Handouts that will contain paragraphs taken from the sub-genres in crime writing, the workshop will discuss and highlight the differences and their effectiveness in portraying the genre and crime overall.
An array of crime themed writing exercises to enable participants to begin to develop their own crime story, with instructions of how to continue after the workshop has ended.
This workshop is open to anyone curious about the workings of crime writing, whether they be a writer or not.
Panellist at the Times Lit Festival in Bangalore
T.A. Morton will speak at the Times Lit Festival in Bangalore.