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
Week 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.
Week Two: Trip to National Archives (2-hour) 6 May 2023, Saturday, 10.00 - 12.00 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.
Week 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.
Week Four: Feedback and Sharing (3-hour workshop) 18 May 2023, Thursday, 7.00 pm - 9.00 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.
REGISTRATION DETAILS
Cancellation:
The workshop can be cancelled or postponed two weeks before the workshop date if the minimum number of participants is not met. Participants will be fully refunded for workshops cancelled by us.
Participants who are unable to attend a workshop they have registered for are to inform us of the reason two weeks before the workshop date. They will be fully refunded in the event of extenuating and mitigating circumstances (E.g. illness, bereavement, accidents) . Those who inform us up to 5 working days before the workshop date will receive a 50% refund. Those who did not turn up at the workshop will not receive a refund.
Upon registration, you are deemed to have read and understood the cancellation and withdrawal policy and accept the terms contained therein.
Please note there is no lift to the venue.
